Hi parents!
Airport day was a fantastic start—we had a blast meeting everyone as the group came together! It’s always fun watching the initial nerves fade as guys start bonding, sharing laughs, and getting to know each other. Oh and we have a 16th birthday to start the trip off right! Tonight, we’re camping at Gros Ventre Campground, with sweeping views of the Tetons as our backdrop. We’ll settle in with a good dinner, maybe play a few games, catch the sunset, and likely crash early after a long day of travel.
Tomorrow kicks off our preparation for the adventure ahead. We’ll spend the morning in Jackson getting organized and prepping gear. We’ll also stop by a few fly shops to chat with locals and pick up some flies. Spirits are high, and the crew is ready to tackle the challenges ahead—two days of hiking will take us deep into the wilderness to our base camp at Hawk’s Rest, right near the confluence of Atlantic Creek and the Yellowstone River. From there, we’ll explore everything the Thorofare has to offer and hopefully connect with some of the biggest native cutthroat trout in the country. But more important than the fish are the memories and friendships we’re already beginning to build—ones we’ll carry long after the trip ends.
The Thorofare is truly a place unlike any other. I’ve been lucky enough to make the journey into this vast, remote corner of the lower 48 for the past four years, and each time I return, I’m reminded of just how wild and powerful it is. With jaw-dropping scenery, untouched wilderness, and some of the best fly fishing anywhere, it leaves a lasting impression on everyone who makes the journey. The hike to get there is no joke, but the reward is more than worth it.
Of course, as much as we could go on about how special this place is, we—the leaders and guides—want to take a moment to introduce ourselves:
My name is Cole Hauswirth, and I will be the trip director for the Thorofare Expedition. I grew up in San Francisco and spent much of my early youth fishing around California. I have participated in every single Thorofare trip since its inception, and it is consistently one of the highlights of my year. I just graduated Cum Laude from Colorado College, where I studied economics and classics, and wrote a thesis focusing on tackling agricultural water use in the Colorado River. This will be my fourth year working for Lillard Fly Fishing Expeditions and my ninth year with the program, including my time as a camper. Every moment has been an incredible experience. Fly fishing and conservation have been significant parts of my life, largely inspired by my time as a camper with Lillard. These passions continue to shape my journey, and I am excited to share them with my campers with the hopes of creating a lifelong passion. When I am not fishing, I love to ski, backpack, and play golf. I am also a certified Wilderness First Responder.
Hi, I’m Andrew Notter! I recently graduated from Occidental College in Los Angeles with a degree in biology. I intend to pursue a career as a fisheries biologist. I currently live in Lake Tahoe California. I am extremely passionate about conservation, photography, and fly fishing. Lillard Fly Fishing Expeditions has supplied me with the perfect opportunity to pursue all three. This is my first summer with Lillard Fly Fishing, last summer I did research on steelhead in a remote field camp in Alaska. Fly fishing is what inspired my love for conservation and I look forward to building that same passion in the campers. I also played 4 years of collegiate soccer and led my team to the school’s first ever Sweet 16 appearance.
Hi I’m Joe Shippen from Atlanta, Georgia! I am a rising sophomore at Elon University studying finance while being a Cadet for my ROTC program and will commission as an officer in the US Army following my graduation in 2028. I have always been into fly fishing and the outdoors as my father always took me out growing up. This is my fifth year with Lillard and my second year guiding. I went on 3 Lillard trips as a camper and learned and grew from those trips so much. My experience and knowledge from my time as a camper has carried me far in my professional and personal life. I always love to help campers learn new skills, make new friends, and create awesome memories for life. I’m really into conservation and wildlife, so I hope I can get some campers interested too! I am super stoked on the opportunities we will have at some awesome fish and cool spots during our trip. I have also recently gotten certified as a Wilderness First Responder. I’m looking forward to an epic summer!
Hello, my name is Evan Frits, I am from Seattle, Washington and currently am a sophomore at Colorado College in Colorado Springs. I am studying mathematical economics with a minor in philosophy. When I’m not fishing, I love to play the banjo, snowboard, play basketball, and spend time outside camping and backpacking. I was a camper at Lillard for four years and this will be my second year guiding. Lillard has been a huge part of my summers and my life since I was thirteen and the experiences that I had continue to shape me as a person. My experiences at Lillard advanced and facilitated my love for fishing and the outdoors which I continue to pursue every day. I am so excited to have the opportunity to help others create amazing memories just like I have. For this trip, I am most looking forward to fishing in Yellowstone National Park. It's an incredibly beautiful area and I feel lucky every time I get the opportunity to fish and explore inside the park.
We couldn't be more excited about this group and this trip. No doubt it will be an awesome time!
Until next time,
The Thorofare Crew
