Hello Parents!
Our trip is rolling along—memories are being made, and plenty of fish have been caught! We’re out of the backcountry and settled into Mammoth Hot Springs Campground along the Gardiner River. Everyone’s freshened up and in high spirits after their showers and laundry, with some claiming it was the best shower they’ve ever had.
We’ve covered some ground since our first update. After moving into Yellowstone National Park—our home for the remainder of the trip—we completed our first backcountry leg to Grebe Lake. It was an epic adventure that included some stellar fishing.
Before that, we spent two nights at Madison Campground, which featured card tricks, KanJam (a frisbee game), hammock hangs, campfire stories, laughs, and even a morning visit from a curious fox strolling through camp. We kicked things off by fishing the Firehole River—a rather warm body of water, fed in part by the steaming outflow of Yellowstone’s geysers. While it may not sound like ideal trout habitat, we got into them, landing brown trout and rainbows on hoppers and nymphs. It was a beautiful stretch of water that even hosted a small herd of bison and made for an awesome start to our time on the water.
The next day, after a chocolate chip pancake breakfast, we hiked into Ice Lake. Windy conditions challenged us—a great learning experience for any fly fisher—but we still managed to hook into a few native grayling, a bluish-grey fish best known for its sail-like dorsal fin. Afterward, we moved on to a new spot where everyone had the opportunity to catch a native Westslope Cutthroat. That afternoon, we learned how to properly pack a backpacking pack, stocked our fly boxes, and finished the day with chicken quesadillas and a well-earned night of rest.
The next morning, we packed up camp, grabbed a quick breakfast, and hit the trail toward Grebe Lake. Our five-person crew, including us three guides, hiked four miles to our campsite and handled it like champs. We set up camp right on the lake—a front-row seat for any fly fisherman. Once camp was set, we went over bear safety, bathroom etiquette, Leave No Trace principles, wildlife ID, and general backcountry procedures. We collected firewood, set our bear hangs, and built a fire—mostly to keep warm and fend off the mosquitoes.
With the prep work done, rods were rigged, and the crew wasted no time getting into the water. They immediately began hooking into Westslope Cutthroat and grayling, fishing until the sun went down. Everyone pitched in on a backcountry dinner of chicken pesto tortellini, followed by s’mores around the coals. We cleaned up, hoisted the food bags, and fell asleep to the sound of wind in the trees.
The next morning, we woke to rising fish and rising excitement. After some instant oatmeal and funny dream recaps, everyone grabbed rods and fished hard right from camp. Fish were being landed left and right—William, Tripp, Cam, Tommy, and Sam were hollering up and down the shoreline, cheering each other on. Big Westslope Cutthroat (some pushing 20 inches) and the occasional grayling came to hand.
After a full morning of fishing, we gathered around the campfire for lunch—bagels and peanut butter, summer sausage, and cheese—and took a breather before gearing up for the evening hatch. Even off the water, the group’s energy was awesome. Everyone was laughing, belting out song lyrics, and scheming about how to catch a world-record grayling from Grebe Lake.
The rest of the day included more fishing, exploring around camp, collecting wood, and observing wildlife like muskrats and tundra swans—protected species here at Grebe. That night, we drifted off to the sound of rain on the tents and slept through a rowdy thunderstorm. Luckily, all the tents were well-pitched, and rain covers were put on backpacks before bed, so spirits stayed high.
We woke to a chilly, wet morning, but the group’s energy didn’t falter. Excitement for showers, clean clothes, and the promise of pizza helped boost morale. After breakfast, we packed up and hiked out in record time. With no cell service in the park, we handed over a paper map and had the campers navigate us to Mammoth Campground—a task they crushed without a single wrong turn.
This evening, we’ll swing by the fly shop, grab pizzas in Gardiner, and head to the park for some frisbee. We’re incredibly impressed with this crew and love watching the connections and camaraderie continue to grow. We guides feel lucky to have such a stellar group of young men and are excited for what’s ahead.
In the coming days, we’ll fish the Upper Gardiner, visit the Mammoth Visitor Center, celebrate a birthday, and eventually head to Bridge Bay Campground in search of new water. After that, we’ll kick off our second backcountry leg into Slough Creek—one of Yellowstone’s most iconic fly fishing destinations—which the campers have been hyped about all week.
We’ll share more in the next update. Thanks for following along!
