FISH CATCHING TRAVEL
The Wade Right Fishing Belt
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We never ate in higher class place than this. Breathtaking!
This was our 3rd trip to Pagosa Springs, and we covered the miles both in the truck and on foot. The temps were in the mid 40’s at night, up to 90 during the day. And it was interesting to be sleeted/snowed on once. You never know. With each visit we expand our range and it never fails to impress. Pagosa is situated in a valley on the edge of the San Juan National Forest, which is an astounding 1,878,846 acres. It is a quirky town full of some interesting characters and no shortage of things to do. And bordering the forest is both the Uncompahgre National Forest and the Rio Grande National Forest, combining to provide endless outdoor opportunities that would take a lifetime to explore.
There is something I can only describe as primal when you are deep in the forest. That feeling must be forever embedded in our genes. That “thing” is what drives some folks to climb mountains, hike, camp, hunt the elusive Big Horn, and a host of other pursuits in the outdoors. To get that close to our world evokes a inner stirring that is deep in our collective memory. For us it is becoming the activity we enjoy the most, every time we are deep in the outdoors that feeling strikes a deeper chord.
Being really “high”, pun intended, has a special feeling. You can feel it in your lungs, your muscles, your soul. Turn you head one way, then turn around, no painting or picture can ever compare. But just maybe it can bring back “that feeling.”
All you can do is thank your creator for this gift.
What makes some of these special is not their quality, or lack there of, but the fact that only with effort can they be seen. When you are there, looking out over some of the most vast and raw wilderness this country has to offer you can only be humbled.
And nothing beats sharing it with the best person I have ever known.
The Columbine. The state flower of Colorado.
The cowboy told us with the late spring the mountain wildflowers were in late bloom.
One of our experiences that made this trip was meeting a “real” cowboy. This was a real man, hat and cattle at over 9,000 feet. As we were hiking the trail a couple of 4wheelers came around the corner. They were 4 of the nicest folks you would ever meet. He has the cattle lease on the mountain and he shared so much knowledge with us, including identifying the flower we just photo’d as the state flower. He pointed out areas on the surrounding mountains where no motorized anything is allowed. They hunt elk in high mountain base camps and he knew it all. He gave us a tip which we followed to the riverside in the picture above. He and his friends were the kind of folks who made Colorado, and this country, what it is.
Aspens are the mangroves of the mountains. Standing in an old grove as the sun rises is awe inspiring.
On several of our hikes as we headed to over 9,000 feet we traversed through aspen groves. It is hard to not be in awe of how cool these trees are. And the rest of the forest changes based on altitude as you climb. From grassy valleys, to the snow line, it constantly changes in character and beauty.
Sorry for the poor quality but they were over a mile away.
We saw this bunch of elk driving the first day. Later a cow crossed the road at daylight as we headed to the Opal Lake trail which was all we saw that week. That was it until the drive home through Chama New Mexico when we got lucky and saw 3 big herds. This time of the year elk head to the high country, and as high and out there as we were on our hikes it surprised me that we did not see any then. Of course the mule deer were literally everywhere with the bucks in full velvet. But one of “those moments” happened on the way to hike the Opal Lake trail. Nancy spotted a brown spot so we stopped and glassed. It was a momma mule deer feeding her spotted fawn as she licked it clean. To cool for words.
We literally saw hundreds of mule deer. Love the hopping get away.
And in the area there are tons of lakes.
One thing that surprised me in Colorado, the amount of lakes and rivers within a short drive of most places. Trout, bass, pike, and a host of others are all available within a short drive of Pagosa. I intended to fish some but there was still snow on the high mountains and the rivers were “blown out’ as they say. (Hey I can fish tomorrow, I can not hike the mountains.) Suffice to say fishing was down this year, but floating was in full swing. There are a few trips were fishing takes a back seat, and this was one. But all that water feeds the wilderness and all the wildlife keeping it healthy. Plus standing 10,000 feet high as the sun peaks over the mountain tops, the sound of rushing pure water, should touch your soul, it does ours.
We took 3 major hikes and each one was special for where they were and our experiences on each. But my favorite was to Opal Lake, which is over 9,ooo feet. Beginning at daylight as usual you could feel the altitude, but it got easier, and more beautiful with each step.
Up the trail we go.
There was water everywhere in the high elevations. Opal Lake.
The aspen that lined the trail were something in the early morning light. What a hike to end the trip.
Opal Lake is normally a beautiful opal color but with the late snow and runoff much of the water there, and the rivers, were not a “normal” color. But that was of no consequence, it was in the doing. The only sounds, creeks running, song birds, and peace and quiet. It renews the soul, putting us in our natural place in this world, far away from our everyday existence.
For the first time in a long time I did not look at the computer, watch any tv, or answer my phone all week. And guess what? I did not miss a thing. And our last evening we went to the end of the line for supper with Chago and his friends and family at his cabin. Isolated in a stunning valley, with the Continental Divide so close you could touch it, the beauty seen out the front glass of his cabin could never grow old. Our thanks to him for his hospitality. Be sure we will be crashing your party again!
A nice summer day in the Rockies. You know you are up there.
Rocky Mountain high! A special place.
And I have to add a couple of general comments on OUR lands. There has been a push in some parts of our government to sell off some of our public lands. Unfortunately most of that push comes from commercial interests who have their own agenda. That is so wrong. If nothing we should be protecting all of it, this is all we have left. We have to protect these areas, while leaving access open to all. Whether 4wheelers, hikers, hunters or fishermen, and others, we all have to respect each other and band together to save what is left. As the song says: “This land is your land, this land is my land……”
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And speaking of the woods next up in a couple of months is the mountains of Oregon. We have already booked some fly fishing lessons, and the Boss is going to give it a go, then 4 hours of fishing on the Deschutes River, one of the great western trout waters. We hope to get a day of salmon fishing on the coast. Of course we will be hiking some great mountains and just enjoying the forest. So we are beginning to do some research on the area, good planning means good results. Really looking forward to that trip.
As I finish this the weather is on TV, and it is somewhat depressing. The heat index is 111 degrees in Victoria and it will be that and more for the week. Tomorrow is back to real life. Detail the truck, finish putting stuff away, you can never take to much stuff, mowing the grass, and the rest of the mundane tasks of life. Now where the fishing will occur I am not sure, I have not thought that far ahead, still reeling from the 16 hour drive back. Like all things worth doing some sacrifices must be made, and we want the 4wheel drive so unless it sprouts wings the drive is part of it.
So after getting my stuff together tomorrow it will be some bay fishing this week. The fish are biting and who knows, I just might try some croaker. So keep stopping and thanks for reading my stuff.
Good Luck and Tight Lines
