Heimdallr

Yeah, it's a machete. My friend brought it and it was a piece of crap. For the extra 2 pounds I should have brought my short axe. I agree about the weight thing. I was packed as light as I could be for solely myself. He definitely could have been lighter. One tent would have been alright, his weighed about 5 pounds, probably close to 10 with the tarp he brought.

I enjoy the hiking and just being outside so it wasn't a TOTAL loss.

My friend couldn't make it all the way to the lake on the first day so we found a cool spot to set up near the trailhead to the lake to camp for the night. The next morning my friend figured he was still too fatigued, sore, and not in good enough shape to make it to the lake. I was very disappointed, but I knew it was wise not to try and force someone to do something they weren't capable of in such a situation. That would just be a recipe for disaster. So the 2nd day we started heading back. On the way back we stayed at one of the horse camps for our 2nd night. It rained and hailed most of the day. I only got to do about 30 minutes of fishing total on the way back the 3rd day. I had fun on the trip, but it was ultimately quite disappointing. I didn't reach my goal and didn't really do any fishing. It was especially frustrating because I was capable of doing the hike and would have completed it if I had gone alone. In the end it was definitely a good experience, though.

A couple weekends ago a friend and I attempted to make the 20-30km hike from the Hummingbird Equestrian Area to Lost Guide Lake. Crossing of Hummingbird Creek. Very Cold. Some of the gorgeous scenery.

Great pics and post. Looks like an awesome spot.

Maybe a bamboo rod could have saved me from breaking my Scott earlier this year.

Same for me.

Awesome fish and pics!

Great post. made me laugh! That is indeed one piggy of a brown.

I awoke to about 3 inches of snow with it still snowing very heavily. Part of me definitely wanted to fish anyway because I had travelled all this way and, well, because I'm just like that. Thankfully, rationality prevailed and I packed up camp for the hike out. Cold air had settled into the basin where the lakes are and it was uncomfortably chilly to say the least. I was also not, in the least, prepared for snow. Once I got out onto the open slope and the air was much warmer (probably around zero) the hike got much more enjoyable. The mountains looked gorgeous and the air was so crisp I almost forgot I had come for the goldens. The hike out in the snow actually ended up being my favourite part of the whole experience. Fair warning to the golden trout if they are reading this: next year, IT IS ON.

Last Saturday I made the long drive down to Barnaby Ridge to do the hike to Southfork Lakes. I left Red Deer at around 7:30 and after a quick stop at Wholesale Sports to pick up some 7x tippet and size 18 flies (neither of which I can get in Red Deer) I arrived at the trailhead around 1:00pm. I quickly geared up and began my ascent. Absolutely beautiful hike and the incline is indeed a killer, but manageable. Unfortunately, I had to stop and stay at the first lake (I wanted to hike into the 2nd) as it started to rain shortly after I arrived and I decided to make camp and go gung-ho to the 2nd lake first thing in the morning. I also didn't get much fishing done as setting up the camp and starting a fire in the rain so that I could eat occupied most of my time before dark. I did, however, see a few risers and witness a small, but gorgeous trout swimming in the shallows. I went to sleep with it raining fairly heavily, but excited for the next day's fishing. Tragically, the gods had other plans for me...

Cool pics for sure.

Neat video. I too was looking for a Bull Trout twist. Either way, looked like a healthy cutt. You tuckered out the poor lil' gaffer.

Wicked Browns. I love that closeup pic!

Sounds like an intense moment, should make for a good memory.

Glad to see you got into some fish, and good ones at that!

Cool shots. I like your picture taking style. The place looks gorgeous and it looks like you had a great time. Thanks for posting!

Thanks Bigtoad. I can't really read the coordinates in that image, but I could always do the same thing. And yes, Google does like to **** around every once in a while.

That is a monster of a brookie. Amazing! And the legend continues...

Great pics. That is a piggy of a brown. End of a skunk I'll say!

Thanks Smitty. Bigtoad said it's the only trail heading directly South and that it is just after a boggy section. So that, combined with the sign, should help me out a lot.

Thanks BBT. I remembered that topic just after I posted this and I have been in contact with Bigtoad.

Great pics Steve, thanks for sharing! I always enjoy your picture posts.

Thanks for the info Smitty. Good to know I'm not going to really need anything super specific to get into some fish. If you don't post that you talked to your horse guy I'll remind you in a week or so. It's really just the turnoff to the lake that I'm worried about. I've found the trail head to Ranger Creek before.

Releasing the people's names opens a huge can of worms regarding privacy and information that I don't think anyone here really wants. While I do totally condemn those that drove around the man, there is a psychological precedent for this kind of thing. Bystander Apathy Effect: http://psychology.wikia.com/wiki/Bystander_intervention I don't know, in the end someone should have stopped.