Seasons Change

Hard to slow down here in Big Sky country. Winter moved along fast, and now spring's approaching hastily. Not that I'm complaining...lots of fishing trips, flies tied, and even a bluegrass party at the house this winter. My brother Trav and I have been playing some music of our own, and scheming trips into the backcountry for this summer. Here's some iPhone pics of the Montana winter. 

Beartrap.

Trav scaling a wall in Beartrap Canyon, barefoot.

Passenger seat tying. 

The Montana Mongrel's been catching lots of browns lately.

I also took my first trip to the West Coast this winter, visiting my good friend Lauren, who is pictured here taking a glug from the sacred flask.

Bleu and I made the trip in mid February, and we were both stunned by the incredible greenery Oregon had to offer in the middle of winter. 

Even caught a few fish on the Crooked River, near Bend. 

The Geo Metro was once again in beast mode this trip, braving a wicked snowstorm on top of Lookout Pass in Idaho, and then completing the 2,000 or so round-trip journey. Thankfully for Bleu and I, its muffler fell off the day AFTER we returned home. 

January on the MO

A few photos from last weekends mission to the Missouri with my friends Nort and Ryan. The air temp never got above the mid 20s, and we were the only fly fisherman on the river. Around 2 p.m., after about an hour of braving stiff winds ripping off Holter Lake, we took a coffee/beer break in Ryan's truck. That turned out to be a solid move, as we fished til' dark, landing plenty of big rainbows on little pink patterns. Anything pink, they were on it. My goal of fishing clear through my first Montana winter has worked out much better than I could have fathomed.. If I had time to get excited about the amazing skiing others have been enjoying lately, I probably would. But for now, fuck skiing!

Not this buck's first rodeo.

Romanticizing about next weekend's trip to the Bighorn.

Bastard

My good friend Nate Thomas posted this pig of a cutthroat pic a couple days ago, the same day (see title) that I started classes for what will be my final year of college. The caption from his Facebook page goes as follows:

"Life is simple these days, I haul gravel and catch 22" cutthroat trout on my 15 minute break from hauling gravel."

Thank you, Nate, for making every hour spent in MUSIC 225 go by that much slower.