First Trek Above The Trees

The high country is finally open and Eric and I took advantage of the mostly snow free trails to find our way into some of the mountain lakes.  We have been anxiously awaiting access to these mountain trout havens.  Getting our high country packs together and our legs on the trails, we ventured in and found some beautiful cutthroats and brook trout on various lakes scattered throughout the back country.  Trekking poles were helpful on the snowfields.  It was hard to believe the sheer amount of snow that was remaining in the mountains.  One stream that can normally be walked and fished was covered with a snow cave for quite a lengthy portion of it.  The fish were willing and we enjoyed a fine day in the mountains exploring everything we could in a day trip for the first time this year.  I will have to make as much effort as possible to hike into the high country before the fall snow begins to fly in September.  A monster storm was approaching us just as we were hiking out in the afternoon.  It is good to see the mountains are back to their normal selves.  On the way home we managed to spot four different bull moose.  They are out thick in the evenings feeding in the marshy creek bottoms.

Eric and Xena on the trail

A Marmot assessing our threat level

Bear River Cutthroat Trout

One of the many lakes we fished

Beautiful brook trout were everywhere

Eric on the shores of a brookie lake

A buck that walked past us with no concern at our presence

Brook trout were taking hoppers

The storm approaching over some of the snow fields