Sunday

WY/MT Trip Day1: Fan Creek

Wow, what a trip that was!  This will be the trip to remember for years to come.  As I am sitting down to organize our trip, I am having a trouble figuring out where to begin as too many good things lingering in my head.  Not only Patty became a full blown angler during this trip but fact that we were able to truly enjoy the whole experience together made this very special. To top it all that, not a single typical husband and wife bickering during the trip.  I think the secret is to hire guide to occupy your spouse and relieve you from half fast guide duty which ultimately frustrate you due to lack of your skill as... patient husband.

We wanted to throw in different activities other than fishing to this trip and one of the thing popped out was the horseback riding.  Being an animal lover, Patty even with her limited experience on a horse, wanted to try the ride.  We found an outfit that specialize in horseback riding and fly fishing in West Yellowstone and decided to explore Fan Creek and it's trail, which is a popular horseback riding destination.

Met up with Yana who was our guide for the day at the west yellowstone and drove out to the trail.  Yana is born and raised in Montana with winning personality.  Upon introduction, Yana with smile told us that she never fished in her life.  Hmmm...It's going to be a challenging day... I thought.

 We prepped the horses at the trail head.  Little Wolf for Patty and Running Wolf for me.  LW and RW was great horses.  Little stubborn but sweet animals. 
 We rode about 6 miles, mostly in lower meadow crossing the creek a few times which added some excitement. 
 
 This region is also experiencing drought and unusual high temperature which I assume effecting the feeding and habitat arrangement as I did not see any spooked fish dotting away. 
 Amazing view of Fan Creek from the trail.  We did not run into anyone during our ride.
 Running wolf trying to get Patty's attention.
 Ran into this lone grizzly on the trail.  Most of the time, he ignored us but what a nerve wracking experience.
Even though we didn't catch anything, (later we found out from a local flyshop that due to the heatwave, the most of fish travelled to upper meadow) this was a great way to begin our trip as not only we got to experience long trail ride on horseback and ran into a bear on our first day. 

Even with sore bottom, Patty couldn't stop talking about our experience on the way back to our motel.  I can feel the excitment from her tone and thought to myself "Yup, this is going to be a great trip!"...

3 comments:

  1. That winding river, the seemingly ever expanding prairies... man what a beautiful place to be with your wife. And to stand on those old rivers must have been such a great experience. People feel lucky in different ways and at different times, but I bet you and Parry felt pretty lucky to be there. I hope to go there with you one day and fish my friend.

    "Nothing can be done well at a speed of forty miles a day. The multitude of mixed, novel impressions rapidly piled on one another make only a dreamy, bewildering, swirling blur, most of which is unrememberable. Far more time should be taken. Walk away quietly in any direction and taste the freedom of the mountaineer. Camp out among the grass and gentians of glacier meadows, in craggy garden nooks full of Nature's darlings. Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. As age comes on, one source of enjoyment after another is closed, but Nature's sources never fail. Like a generous host, she offers here brimming cups in endless variety, served in a grand hall, the sky its ceiling, the mountains its walls, decorated with glorious paintings and enlivened with bands of music ever playing. The petty discomforts that beset the awkward guest, the unskilled camper, are quickly forgotten, while all that is precious remains. Fears vanish as soon as one is fairly free in the wilderness." - John Muir

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  2. Wow! You guys did it. I envy you not because you were in such amazing place, but you were there with your partner.

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