How to recon the water and find a fishing spot.
Wet-wading practice. He’s a tough little dude, walking on those sharp rocks with no shoes on!
Lunch on the trail is the best!
Drink water!
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Backcountry Training for the little guy.
We didn’t go fishing today like I had planned. Instead, it was a fun day hiking up City Creek close to home. But it was sooo much more than that! This was training Paul for things he’ll be doing a few years down the road (next year even?!?!). It was a lot of fun. Alas, it didn’t wear him out, though, and he didn’t take a nap, and we ended up looking at camp trailers as a distraction during some afternoon errands.
How to recon the water and find a fishing spot.
Wet-wading practice. He’s a tough little dude, walking on those sharp rocks with no shoes on!
Lunch on the trail is the best!
Drink water!
How to recon the water and find a fishing spot.
Wet-wading practice. He’s a tough little dude, walking on those sharp rocks with no shoes on!
Lunch on the trail is the best!
Drink water!
Friday, July 29, 2011
Good set of maps and books
The Yellowstone Association has a really good price on the maps set for Yellowstone National Park at
http://www.yellowstoneassociation.org/store/product.aspx?productId=1154&categoryId=31
I also recommend getting the two books below, one for general fishing guidance and one for trails and campsite guidance.
http://www.yellowstoneassociation.org/store/product.aspx?productId=1154&categoryId=31
I also recommend getting the two books below, one for general fishing guidance and one for trails and campsite guidance.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Kids’ Camelback “Scout” Review
After Paul did so well on our little introductory hikes last week in Yellowstone, I knew it was time to get him a backpack. He’s a HUGE fan of the Camelback hose and drinking out of them (actually, most kids love it). And I’m tired of carrying around all of his stuff…Soooo, welcome to the real world, kid, now it’s time to carry your own stuff (!) 
We checked out the bags available at the local sporting goods store that is locally owned and operated, and we found the Camelback “Scout” to be the best option for us. As far as Paul is concerned, as long as it had a hose he could drink out of, it was good to go. I wanted it to be able to carry some stuff, too! Eventually, Paul came around to liking the idea of being able to carry his own stuff, too. I knew he liked this one because he wore it around in the store for thirty minutes.
We haven’t done any hikes with this backpack yet, but Paul likes hit. He has been wearing it nearly all waking hours since we bought it. He keeps it handy to drink out of, which is also very good right now as we are in full-on POTTY TRAINING mode, and constantly drinking water has made success on the potty an easy thing to do. So, this purchase is already a big check in the win column.
As for size, it is admittedly a bit bigger than I wanted. But this was the smallest version that had any cargo capacity. Paul is 35 pounds and about 38-40" tall, and the backpack works ok for now, and he'll grow into it. I wanted him to carry a couple diapers, a change of clothes, and some snacks. This carries all that and has more than enough room without getting too heavy. I think Paul will be wearing this backpack for at least three or four years before it gets too small.
Fifty ounces of water is a lot for a little kid to carry around. If a gallon of water is 64 ounces and weighs nearly ten pounds, then this 50 ounces comes in at around eight pounds. Paul weighs 35 pounds, so that water is nearly 25% of his body weight and would be equivalent of me at 180 pounds carrying 45 pounds or 4.5 gallons of water. That’s A LOT! It looks like he can handle it, and he doesn’t seem to mind too much, but I’m only filling it about 2/3 full for him until he grows some more.
The pack has 763 cubic inches of storage space, which is pretty big. The adult version of a M.U.L.E. has only 439 cubic inches. The bag currently has three diapers, a little container of wipes, several cereal bars, a couple of small cars, and a few small books, and it’s only about half full. Of course, with the weight of these items and a 2/3 full bladder, it’s at the edge of being too heavy for him.
The main “competition” I saw when deciding what to buy was another Camelback called the “mini-mule.” I have an adult M.U.L.E. from many years ago that I still use and love, but this kid’s version has almost no cargo capacity (listed at 153 cubic inches) and certainly nowhere near what the “Scout” has.
All in all, I think this was a great purchase for $50, and I can’t wait to get Paul out on the trail with it!
Paul drinks from the hose. He loves his Camelback hose!
Side-view of the pack shows it comes to just below his waist. This hasn’t interfered with his walking yet. It is a bit big on him, but he’ll grow into it quickly. There is a side pocket for other items, too.
Front-view shows see-thru window for identification/contact cards for the kids. Or you could put your map in it.
Another see-thru window in the main compartment. I guess I’ll put a backup identification card in here.
From Amazon...
We checked out the bags available at the local sporting goods store that is locally owned and operated, and we found the Camelback “Scout” to be the best option for us. As far as Paul is concerned, as long as it had a hose he could drink out of, it was good to go. I wanted it to be able to carry some stuff, too! Eventually, Paul came around to liking the idea of being able to carry his own stuff, too. I knew he liked this one because he wore it around in the store for thirty minutes.
We haven’t done any hikes with this backpack yet, but Paul likes hit. He has been wearing it nearly all waking hours since we bought it. He keeps it handy to drink out of, which is also very good right now as we are in full-on POTTY TRAINING mode, and constantly drinking water has made success on the potty an easy thing to do. So, this purchase is already a big check in the win column.
As for size, it is admittedly a bit bigger than I wanted. But this was the smallest version that had any cargo capacity. Paul is 35 pounds and about 38-40" tall, and the backpack works ok for now, and he'll grow into it. I wanted him to carry a couple diapers, a change of clothes, and some snacks. This carries all that and has more than enough room without getting too heavy. I think Paul will be wearing this backpack for at least three or four years before it gets too small.
Fifty ounces of water is a lot for a little kid to carry around. If a gallon of water is 64 ounces and weighs nearly ten pounds, then this 50 ounces comes in at around eight pounds. Paul weighs 35 pounds, so that water is nearly 25% of his body weight and would be equivalent of me at 180 pounds carrying 45 pounds or 4.5 gallons of water. That’s A LOT! It looks like he can handle it, and he doesn’t seem to mind too much, but I’m only filling it about 2/3 full for him until he grows some more.
The pack has 763 cubic inches of storage space, which is pretty big. The adult version of a M.U.L.E. has only 439 cubic inches. The bag currently has three diapers, a little container of wipes, several cereal bars, a couple of small cars, and a few small books, and it’s only about half full. Of course, with the weight of these items and a 2/3 full bladder, it’s at the edge of being too heavy for him.
The main “competition” I saw when deciding what to buy was another Camelback called the “mini-mule.” I have an adult M.U.L.E. from many years ago that I still use and love, but this kid’s version has almost no cargo capacity (listed at 153 cubic inches) and certainly nowhere near what the “Scout” has.
All in all, I think this was a great purchase for $50, and I can’t wait to get Paul out on the trail with it!
Paul drinks from the hose. He loves his Camelback hose!
Side-view of the pack shows it comes to just below his waist. This hasn’t interfered with his walking yet. It is a bit big on him, but he’ll grow into it quickly. There is a side pocket for other items, too.
Front-view shows see-thru window for identification/contact cards for the kids. Or you could put your map in it.
Another see-thru window in the main compartment. I guess I’ll put a backup identification card in here.
From Amazon...
Product Description
Amazon.com
The Scout from Camelbak is a kid's specific hydration pack ideal for young explorers who want to head out on the trail with cargo and hydration. The 50-ounce Antidote Reservoir with Quick Link System keeps kids hydrating without reminders, while 763 cubic inches of capacity carry the kid essentials without bulk. Equipped with a lightweight air mesh harness and a diamond mesh back panel, the Scout provides seamless support and comfort in kid-specific sizing.
Pack Specifications:
 Antidote Reservoir with Quick Link System. |
- Hydration Capacity: 50 ounces (1.5 liters)
- Cargo Capacity: 763 cubic inches (12.5 liters)
- Torso Length: 14 inches (36 centimeters)
- Pack Weight: 13.4 ounces (380 grams)
- Diamond mesh back panel
- Air mesh harness
- Large main pocket for layers
- Organizer pocket for trail map, sunglasses
- Carries: extra layers, food, trail maps, sunglasses
- Low-profile design for unmatched stability
- Air-light fillport cuts weight
- HydroGuard technology to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria and prolong reservoir life
- PureFlow tube
- Patented Big Bite Valve for easy drinking
- Easy-to-clean wide-mouth opening
- Quick-seal cap tightens in just a quarter turn
Product Description
The ideal pack for the young explorer who wants to head out on the trail with cargo and hydration.
Monday, July 25, 2011
The Backcountry Bucket List is now available on Kindle.
The Backcountry Bucket List is now available on Kindle. It's also available at www.smashwords.com and in the near future on iTunes, Barnes & Noble, and other e-book reader stores.
"Things you GOTTA do in the backcountry before you die. I took the idea of the "bucket list" and applied to my favorite things to do in the backcountry. If you don't know, a "bucket list" is a list of things to do before you die. In this case, it's things you need to do in the backcountry. This book provides a nice list of cool things to do if you often get bored in the backcountry. Most of these things will rock you out of your rut and make you FEEL ALIVE! Plan your trips with these bucket list things in mind. There is more to the backcountry than summiting popular mountain-tops."
Also available is Yellowstone's Backcountry Cutthroats.
"The basic how-to for planning your backcountry river fishing adventure in Yellowstone National Park’s backcountry. When and where to go. How to setup your trip to make sure you have a place to put your tent (legally!) because you can’t just put down for the night anywhere you want. This guide gives you an overview of the process to reserve a campsite and the major areas to fish for each time of the year. You’ll also find the websites and other resources for current detailed information. Sorry, but this guide won’t give you the secret holes with trophy fish or any type of fishing techniques to catch that trophy fish, and it doesn’t tell you how to backpack. This book focuses on fishing the rivers in the backcountry. You also get a top-secret review of the easy way to get to the upper Yellowstone River, above the lake!"
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Gear Info: SPOT Connect
I don't have a SPOT Connect, but it sure looks cool. It is satellite positioning with a text capability.
Imagine you are on a solo trek into the backcountry, and extended fishing trip in grizzly country or the Appalachian Trail or the John Muir Trail or the Pacific Crest Trail. Or you are out on an extended backcountry skiing tour with plans to set up a tent in the middle of the winter. Turn this thing on and it reports your position on a map that your family, friends, and all your blog readers can read. You can also send very simple text messages to just say your o.k. so those same people can stop worrying if you froze to death, broke a leg, or became grizzly lunch. And yeah, you can update Twitter and Facebook.
A few years back, I took a Globalstar satellite phone on the John Muir Trail with me just so I could tell family that I was ok. That brick and some extra batteries weighed about five pounds. That combined with my other then-amateur backpacking skills put my pack weight over the top such that I wasn't able to do the whole thing.
This SPOT connect weighs 4.9 oz (with batteries!) and connects to your smartphone via bluetooth. Of course, you'll have a small solar power device for your phone, so no extra weight there.
$169.99 for the blue-tooth device.
$269.98 for the stand-alone device and a year of service.
I don't think I'd ever buy one, but if you have a fly shop, bike shop, ski shop, white water rafting shop, or any other kind of adventure shop, I'll bet there is a good market for renting these things. I'd pay a couple bucks a day to let my wife know that I'm trotting along ok in the backcountry. I'd certainly pay up to about 75% of what a satellite phone would cost if I was using this on an extended trip...probably up to $100 for a month of backcountry time.
Imagine you are on a solo trek into the backcountry, and extended fishing trip in grizzly country or the Appalachian Trail or the John Muir Trail or the Pacific Crest Trail. Or you are out on an extended backcountry skiing tour with plans to set up a tent in the middle of the winter. Turn this thing on and it reports your position on a map that your family, friends, and all your blog readers can read. You can also send very simple text messages to just say your o.k. so those same people can stop worrying if you froze to death, broke a leg, or became grizzly lunch. And yeah, you can update Twitter and Facebook.A few years back, I took a Globalstar satellite phone on the John Muir Trail with me just so I could tell family that I was ok. That brick and some extra batteries weighed about five pounds. That combined with my other then-amateur backpacking skills put my pack weight over the top such that I wasn't able to do the whole thing.
This SPOT connect weighs 4.9 oz (with batteries!) and connects to your smartphone via bluetooth. Of course, you'll have a small solar power device for your phone, so no extra weight there.
$169.99 for the blue-tooth device.
$269.98 for the stand-alone device and a year of service.
I don't think I'd ever buy one, but if you have a fly shop, bike shop, ski shop, white water rafting shop, or any other kind of adventure shop, I'll bet there is a good market for renting these things. I'd pay a couple bucks a day to let my wife know that I'm trotting along ok in the backcountry. I'd certainly pay up to about 75% of what a satellite phone would cost if I was using this on an extended trip...probably up to $100 for a month of backcountry time.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Re-use Huggies Wipes Container to Make a Fly-Box!
I make an effort to recycle and re-use when possible, mostly because God has demanded that we take care of what He gave us. So, when I realized last year that we have A LOT of Huggies wipes containers going into the recycle box, I thought there had to be a way to reuse it. I thought I’d try making a fly box out of it, and I was successful.
This is a really easy way to expand your carrying capacity for flies, and it is really inexpensive. Here are the steps….seriously very simple!:
1. Find empty containers of the Huggies wipes that come with a box of diapers. Ask anyone with kids! You want the thin container that comes free with a box of diapers, not the really thick box that is purchased separately.
2. Get a pad of fly box refills.
3. Open the empty wipe box.
4. Apply fly box refill to one side. You can try both sides, but I find that putting flies on both sides results in squashed flies. If both sides will have nymphs, then you should be able to do that with no problem.
5. Go fishing!
This is a really easy way to expand your carrying capacity for flies, and it is really inexpensive. Here are the steps….seriously very simple!:
1. Find empty containers of the Huggies wipes that come with a box of diapers. Ask anyone with kids! You want the thin container that comes free with a box of diapers, not the really thick box that is purchased separately.
2. Get a pad of fly box refills.
3. Open the empty wipe box.
4. Apply fly box refill to one side. You can try both sides, but I find that putting flies on both sides results in squashed flies. If both sides will have nymphs, then you should be able to do that with no problem.
5. Go fishing!
Monday, July 18, 2011
Gear Review: Mountainsmith Lumbar Pack
I’m a pack freak, and I’m always tempting myself by looking at new backpacks. Mountainsmith almost always ends up in my hands if I walk out of a store with something in my hands. Last week while in the local ACE Hardware store that has a nice outdoor section and some fishing flies that I was after to prep for this past trip to YNP, I sauntered over to the backpack section to tempt myself.
For the past two years, I’ve been wearing a small lumbar pack in conjunction with my Camelback while out fishing for a day. The lumbar pack holds two fly boxes, tippet, “float goop,” clipper, and hemostap. The Camelback holds bigger stuff like a rain jacket, lunch, toilet paper and shovel, camera, a couple more fly boxes, and of course a water bladder. The nice thing is that I can leave the Camelback in place most of the day, and when I need to change flies or add tippet, I just spin the lumbar pack around to the front for easy access to my stuff.
But I wanted more space in the lumbar pack, and the Mountainsmith Kinetic II Lumbar Pack is the sweet spot in size. I can now put my camera and two more fly boxes into the lumbar pack. It’s just nice to have easy access to those things,especially the camera(!).
On another note, the tag says this bag saved eight plastic bottles from the landfill. If that's really true, I guess that's one more reason to buy this bag if you're looking for something like this.
For $40, this thing sits nicely on my hips and carries really everything I need constant easy access to. It obviously doesn’t hold everything I need for a day in the backcountry; that’s what the camelback is for.
This lumbar pack, when combined with my Camelback, provides a perfect combination of access to my stuff during the day.
For the past two years, I’ve been wearing a small lumbar pack in conjunction with my Camelback while out fishing for a day. The lumbar pack holds two fly boxes, tippet, “float goop,” clipper, and hemostap. The Camelback holds bigger stuff like a rain jacket, lunch, toilet paper and shovel, camera, a couple more fly boxes, and of course a water bladder. The nice thing is that I can leave the Camelback in place most of the day, and when I need to change flies or add tippet, I just spin the lumbar pack around to the front for easy access to my stuff.
But I wanted more space in the lumbar pack, and the Mountainsmith Kinetic II Lumbar Pack is the sweet spot in size. I can now put my camera and two more fly boxes into the lumbar pack. It’s just nice to have easy access to those things,especially the camera(!).
On another note, the tag says this bag saved eight plastic bottles from the landfill. If that's really true, I guess that's one more reason to buy this bag if you're looking for something like this.
For $40, this thing sits nicely on my hips and carries really everything I need constant easy access to. It obviously doesn’t hold everything I need for a day in the backcountry; that’s what the camelback is for.
This lumbar pack, when combined with my Camelback, provides a perfect combination of access to my stuff during the day.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
YNP trip summary July 14-17, 2011
A quick note about the trip to the park this past weekend. A great time interspersed with some trying family times that any parent of a 2 1/2 year old and 3 month old knows about.
First things first…I saw some salmon flies at the confluence of the Yellowstone and Lamar.
Yellowstone River: Wow! 9,000 cfs is A LOT of water.
Lamar River: High and muddy. We spent some time on the sandbar just about the beginning of the canyon. Paul loved hanging out on the rocks…which ones to throw?!?!
Gibbon River: Fished west side of the bridge and caught a few 8 inch brook trout. Nice day and a little bit of wind. Nice to be out fishing in the park!
Wildlife: saw more bears than normal, with grizzly sightings every day but Sunday and all of them in the northeast part of the park. Saw a few elk and of course lots of bison in the Lamar River. Didn’t see any wolves…I never get to see wolves
.
So, with no fishing available, what did we do?
Thursday: drove to Roosevelt, checked in, settled in, sat on the porch.
Friday: Morning coffee on the Roosevelt Porch. Fished Gibbon River.
Saturday: Morning coffee on the Roosevelt Porch. Took Paul hiking for the day. Started the day on the rockbar on the corner just above the beginning of the canyon…lots of fun.
Morning rain and rainbow in Lamar Valley
Paul has fun on the rockbar in the Lamar River.
Lamar River is high and muddy.
Then went up the upper Soda Butte Creek area. Wow, that place is truly beautiful! We did a little one mile out and back walking along the creek (small river!).
Soda Butte Creek looking northeast.
Then we hiked to the confluence of the Lamar and Yellowstone, something I’ve been wanting to do for several years but simply haven’t done it. It’s a nice and easy walk, about fifteen minutes with not terrible steepness, but there is some SIGNIFICANT exposure to a cliffside that can plunge you straight down into the river with no hopes of coming out….little kids need their hand held at a minimum or on shoulders or in backpacks for a real sense of safety.
Salmon flies out and about at the confluence of Lamar and Yellowstone River!
Sunday: Morning coffee on the Roosevelt PorchWe packed up in the morning and then headed over to Canyon because I wanted to see what 9,000 cfs looks like going over the fall. Wow! We also stopped at the Canyon Visitor Center so I could look at the terrain model that is so AWESOME. Then we headed home so I can pack to travel again first thing Monday morning for work.
That’s alotta watta!
First things first…I saw some salmon flies at the confluence of the Yellowstone and Lamar.
Yellowstone River: Wow! 9,000 cfs is A LOT of water.
Lamar River: High and muddy. We spent some time on the sandbar just about the beginning of the canyon. Paul loved hanging out on the rocks…which ones to throw?!?!
Gibbon River: Fished west side of the bridge and caught a few 8 inch brook trout. Nice day and a little bit of wind. Nice to be out fishing in the park!
Wildlife: saw more bears than normal, with grizzly sightings every day but Sunday and all of them in the northeast part of the park. Saw a few elk and of course lots of bison in the Lamar River. Didn’t see any wolves…I never get to see wolves
. So, with no fishing available, what did we do?
Thursday: drove to Roosevelt, checked in, settled in, sat on the porch.
Friday: Morning coffee on the Roosevelt Porch. Fished Gibbon River.
Saturday: Morning coffee on the Roosevelt Porch. Took Paul hiking for the day. Started the day on the rockbar on the corner just above the beginning of the canyon…lots of fun.
Morning rain and rainbow in Lamar Valley
Paul has fun on the rockbar in the Lamar River.
Lamar River is high and muddy.
Then went up the upper Soda Butte Creek area. Wow, that place is truly beautiful! We did a little one mile out and back walking along the creek (small river!).
Soda Butte Creek looking northeast.
Then we hiked to the confluence of the Lamar and Yellowstone, something I’ve been wanting to do for several years but simply haven’t done it. It’s a nice and easy walk, about fifteen minutes with not terrible steepness, but there is some SIGNIFICANT exposure to a cliffside that can plunge you straight down into the river with no hopes of coming out….little kids need their hand held at a minimum or on shoulders or in backpacks for a real sense of safety.
Salmon flies out and about at the confluence of Lamar and Yellowstone River!
Sunday: Morning coffee on the Roosevelt PorchWe packed up in the morning and then headed over to Canyon because I wanted to see what 9,000 cfs looks like going over the fall. Wow! We also stopped at the Canyon Visitor Center so I could look at the terrain model that is so AWESOME. Then we headed home so I can pack to travel again first thing Monday morning for work.
That’s alotta watta!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Lunch at Trout Hunter enroute to YNP
Traditional lunch stop here along the Henry's Fork in Island Park at the Trout Hunter. Life is good!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Heading to the Park tomorrow!
Woohoo! Staying in Roosevelt...no backcountry this year cuz of the kids. I used to think that the kids shouldn't matter and that they will do great. But now I'm considering that they should at least be potty trained to minimize the risk of a bear wanting to check out that smell ("wooohoo, that smell" for you Skynyrd fans). Then again, what did the Indians do back in the day?
In any case, looking to fish the Gibbon probably. Lamar is forecasted to come down alot, and maybe just maybe it will be fishable downstream a bit from the bridge (fingers crossed) on Saturday.
I have a couple posts planned for the next few days. As I get into fishing mode, it gets alot easier to put some electrons down. One is a review of a new lumbar pack, and the second is a homemade fly case.
In any case, looking to fish the Gibbon probably. Lamar is forecasted to come down alot, and maybe just maybe it will be fishable downstream a bit from the bridge (fingers crossed) on Saturday.
I have a couple posts planned for the next few days. As I get into fishing mode, it gets alot easier to put some electrons down. One is a review of a new lumbar pack, and the second is a homemade fly case.
Monday, July 11, 2011
YNP Water still REALLY high
Well, we’re headed to the park this weekend for some fishing and other exploring. This is the annual trek to the Black Canyon area of the Yellowstone and a bit of fishing on the Lamar between the bridge and confluence with the Yellowstone.
The water is still REALLY high. The graphs don’t lie:
Most recent instantaneous value: 9,440 07-11-2011 18:30 MDT
Yellowstone at the Lake Outlet
Daily discharge statistics, in cfs, for Jul 11 based on 81 years of record more
| Min (1934) | 25th percen- tile | Median | Mean | 75th percen- tile | Max (1982) | Most Recent Instantaneous Value Jul 11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1370 | 3250 | 4190 | 4380 | 5440 | 7670 | 9440 |
** That’s over 20% higher than the previous maximum in 1982!!
Lamar River at Tower
| Min (1931) | 25th percen- tile | Median | Mean | 75th percen- tile | Most Recent Instantaneous Value Jul 11 | Max (1943) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 354 | 856 | 1400 | 1590 | 2060 | 3940 | 4120 |
Not at an historic max, but close to it and more than double the median.
Where to fish? Well, I’m thinking we’ll head over to the Gardner, Gallatin, or Gibbon River to check out the lesser stream flows.
Gardner River Most recent instantaneous value: 672 07-11-2011 18:45 MDT
| Min (2007) | 25th percen- tile | Median | Mean | 75th percen- tile | Most Recent Instantaneous Value Jul 11 | Max (1943) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 136 | 209 | 287 | 331 | 428 | 672 | 798 |
That’s still pretty high for the Gardner River, but small enough to be fun, I think.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
YNP Bear Attack
Yellowstone National Park released a PR about a grizzly attack and death. See
http://www.nps.gov/yell/parknews/11073.htm Very sorry to hear, and my prayers are with the family.
The Park says this happened along Wapiti Trail, which is east of Canyon area. This is area is not covered in the Yellowstone's Backcountry Cutts book.
http://www.nps.gov/yell/parknews/11073.htm Very sorry to hear, and my prayers are with the family.
The Park says this happened along Wapiti Trail, which is east of Canyon area. This is area is not covered in the Yellowstone's Backcountry Cutts book.
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