My Quest For Golden Trout Or How I Learned To Find Snow Beautiful

[Heimdallr]

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...

 

 

[Heimdallr]

 

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.

 

[CF8]

Wowsers! Thats a good dump of snow... Awesome pics though.

[Weedy1]

Looks like a memorable trip. Don't forget the skis next year!

[CanuckCamper]

Awesome report. Half the the fun is being there.

[jksnijders]

 

Nice pics. And again, that hat is badass.

[Bandi]

Well, you know "Man plans, God laughs". You didn't get those golds, but you surely got some shiny photos. For me that would do the trip, too. Fantastic images and the cloudy weather helped you avoid blow-outs and brought out the colors.

[McLeod]

 

Thanks for sharing. You just never know what the mountains will throw at you !

[SteveM]

Awesome; just...awesome!!!

Way better story than,"Hiked to the lake, caught lots of Goldens, etc., blah, blah, blah...".

 

[beedhead]

Awesome dude!!, Well that ya did it, sorry bout the snow man...Great pics and story!....At least ya know your way up there for next time...

 

Cheers...Jeff..

[jasonvilly]

Should have brought a snowboard.....combing two seasons into one...

[Birddog]

I thought those things only happened to me!!! great pictures.

[brownonbow]

Great story, hope that doesn't happen to me this weekend though.

[BBBrownie]

That sounds familiar to some of my golden experiences...Took the wrong trail and ended up at the wrong lakes looking for Rainy Ridge the first time. Second trip hiked to Coral Lake and it ended up being epic to say the least, snowed the entire two day hike in. They make you work for em! Luckily, my second and third ettempts were successful, try again!

[H2O]

Wow, that must have been beautiful (yet regretfully cold) to be up there with all that snow. Congrats.

[captnhighliner]

That's crazy weather. I can't imagine waking up in another season. That's why I do more day trips in Alberta.

[trailhead]

That is a real tough experience. I can believe that would happen up in that area. Just so you feel better I have been up there twice now and still have no goldens to show for it.

[maxwell]

epic dude!!! thanks for posting!