Jfet
AH legend
I spent my youth reading Outdoor Life and Field and Stream. I would day dream about going out West into the mountains and fly fishing in a cold mountain stream. Hot steamy July days in San Antonio, TX were a long ways from the mountains of Wyoming. Like many of us in our fifties I finally got to live a dream.
I have been able to fly fish in places like Colorado before but that has always been with a guide. This trip, PB and I, did it on our own. We rigged our own lines. Tied on our own flies (very strong reading glasses recommended). Found our fish on our own.
Day 1 July 2: Throckmorton Texas
Arrived at the 3BH Ranch around 6pm to check trail cameras and protein feeders. Found bridge over North Elm Creek washed out. Time to start improvising.
Over the years hunting on the ranch I always thought this was an old ford on the creek. The 3BH Ranch actually straddles The Great Western Cattle Trail. The Great Western was used by more cattlemen to drive their herds north than the Chisum Trail. We find evidence from these cattle drive on the ranch often. So it was time to go back into time in order to get to camp.
Day 2 July 3: Durango CO
This is good place to stop after a 12 hour drive. We stayed at the Gen. Palmer Hotel in downtown Durango. Neat old hotel from late 1800’s they have done a great job restoring this hotel. PB got a chance to walk main street and shop. (win points). The Seasons Restaurant is OUTSTANDING! (more points)
Day 3 July 4: San Juan Mountains and Ouray CO
Started Independence Day in Durango by watching the Silverton Durango small gauge train getting ready to depart. Done that trip in years past. Ya’ll need to do it.
After breakfast PB bought a new pair of Chaco sandals she had spotted the evening before. (jackpot)
We then headed north on HWY 550, The Million Dollar Highway. Our destination was Ourey, CO and fireworks for Independence Day. However, we can’t just drive to Ourey the easy way. There are far to many interesting dirt roads in this part of world.
After turning a one hour drive up HWY 550 into a 5 hour adventure on back roads we arrived in Ourey. This is a small town that made its name in the heyday of mining industry in Colorado. Today, it is a gathering point for four wheel drive enthusiast. We stayed at the Twin Peaks Motel. Which harkens back to traveling days of the 1950’s and 60’s. It is the ideal spot to sit and watch fireworks. All, the guest brought out chairs onto the lawn or sat on their tailgates and enjoyed the fireworks going off directly above them.
INDEPENDENCE DAY
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,”
I am a firm believer that these words do not just apply to us, U.S., but to all of us. It would benefit us that we study these ideas and their meaning. After, recent rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court we need to revisit the idea that we are born with these rights because God gave them to us. There is a higher authority than our goverments.
Day 4 July 5:
Drive to Jackson Wyoming. A long drive.
Day 5 July 6
Up early and get into downtown Jackson. Eat breakfast on the square.
Go shopping as the stores open. Target species, dress for PB to wear as MOG (mother of groom). This is tolerable to FOG (father of groom). By noon there are way to many tourist. A whimsical idea for trophy room
Time to head south to Alpine, WY and the Greys River
The plan was to fish on the Greys River. This is a major tributary of the Snake River. It is a beautiful 56 mile long free flowing alpine river. It is home to Snake River Cutthroat Trout.
In Wyoming there is the Cutt Slam below is a link that explain this challenge.
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/web2011/fishing-1000209.aspx
At this point pictures are worth a thousand words.
Sunset on The Greys River
Morning on The Greys
Due to rain in the mountains we spent most of our time on the Little Greys River
Always fun to cook outdoors
The Greys River Road is 100 miles of back woods road that takes you into beautiful country with no traffic. There are also countless other forest service roads to explore.
So I think I have found my rhythm. Africa in odd numbered years. Flyfishing in Wyoming in even numbered years
I have been able to fly fish in places like Colorado before but that has always been with a guide. This trip, PB and I, did it on our own. We rigged our own lines. Tied on our own flies (very strong reading glasses recommended). Found our fish on our own.
Day 1 July 2: Throckmorton Texas
Arrived at the 3BH Ranch around 6pm to check trail cameras and protein feeders. Found bridge over North Elm Creek washed out. Time to start improvising.
Over the years hunting on the ranch I always thought this was an old ford on the creek. The 3BH Ranch actually straddles The Great Western Cattle Trail. The Great Western was used by more cattlemen to drive their herds north than the Chisum Trail. We find evidence from these cattle drive on the ranch often. So it was time to go back into time in order to get to camp.
Day 2 July 3: Durango CO
This is good place to stop after a 12 hour drive. We stayed at the Gen. Palmer Hotel in downtown Durango. Neat old hotel from late 1800’s they have done a great job restoring this hotel. PB got a chance to walk main street and shop. (win points). The Seasons Restaurant is OUTSTANDING! (more points)
Day 3 July 4: San Juan Mountains and Ouray CO
Started Independence Day in Durango by watching the Silverton Durango small gauge train getting ready to depart. Done that trip in years past. Ya’ll need to do it.
After breakfast PB bought a new pair of Chaco sandals she had spotted the evening before. (jackpot)
We then headed north on HWY 550, The Million Dollar Highway. Our destination was Ourey, CO and fireworks for Independence Day. However, we can’t just drive to Ourey the easy way. There are far to many interesting dirt roads in this part of world.
After turning a one hour drive up HWY 550 into a 5 hour adventure on back roads we arrived in Ourey. This is a small town that made its name in the heyday of mining industry in Colorado. Today, it is a gathering point for four wheel drive enthusiast. We stayed at the Twin Peaks Motel. Which harkens back to traveling days of the 1950’s and 60’s. It is the ideal spot to sit and watch fireworks. All, the guest brought out chairs onto the lawn or sat on their tailgates and enjoyed the fireworks going off directly above them.
INDEPENDENCE DAY
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,”
I am a firm believer that these words do not just apply to us, U.S., but to all of us. It would benefit us that we study these ideas and their meaning. After, recent rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court we need to revisit the idea that we are born with these rights because God gave them to us. There is a higher authority than our goverments.
Day 4 July 5:
Drive to Jackson Wyoming. A long drive.
Day 5 July 6
Up early and get into downtown Jackson. Eat breakfast on the square.
Go shopping as the stores open. Target species, dress for PB to wear as MOG (mother of groom). This is tolerable to FOG (father of groom). By noon there are way to many tourist. A whimsical idea for trophy room
Time to head south to Alpine, WY and the Greys River
The plan was to fish on the Greys River. This is a major tributary of the Snake River. It is a beautiful 56 mile long free flowing alpine river. It is home to Snake River Cutthroat Trout.
In Wyoming there is the Cutt Slam below is a link that explain this challenge.
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/web2011/fishing-1000209.aspx
At this point pictures are worth a thousand words.
Sunset on The Greys River
Morning on The Greys
Due to rain in the mountains we spent most of our time on the Little Greys River
Always fun to cook outdoors
The Greys River Road is 100 miles of back woods road that takes you into beautiful country with no traffic. There are also countless other forest service roads to explore.
So I think I have found my rhythm. Africa in odd numbered years. Flyfishing in Wyoming in even numbered years
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