Descent into Dark Canyon: Kids Wild Fishing in Colorado's Raggeds Wild

The trout essentially leaped to grab our hooks as we cast them repeatedly right into the little pools of Trout Creek as it cascaded through the brush, waterfalling from rock to rock. No, actually, that is one of those unusual memories from youth that stands out as a boggling phenomena, one of couple of that I clearly recall. Beyond that I do not financial institution a great deal on my abilities to recall a great deal from years past, and also this expedition into the Colorado backcountry almost looks like a trip to OZ.

Trout Creek was a small side creek to the Anthracite in western Colorado between Paonia as well as Crested Butte up on Kebler Pass. I was 13 years old, as well as trekking right into the Raggeds Wilderness with my pal Steve, his father as well as sibling. We adhered to an odd disordered path around Marcellina Hill down into the fabled Dark Canyon to fish and also camp, following Anthracite Creek bent on the other trailhead.

My family had actually driven over Kebler Pass sometimes, as well as Marcellina Mountain stood high and also difficult right near the road, jutting up in the Colorado backcountry to a lofty 11,348 feet within the Raggeds Wild. That we were actually mosting likely to backcountry expedition around that height, treking with the Raggeds Wild as well as down famous Dark Canyon– a childhood desire become a reality.

To arrive, we complied with Freeway 133 around 16 miles east up the North Fork of the Gunnison River from Paonia, Colorado to the road fork listed below Paonia Dam. Transforming right the roadway leads up Anthracite Creek 5 miles to Erikson Springs Camping site and a switchback, the road leading up Kebler Pass. Around 5 miles past the switchback, forest Path 836, leads eastern right into a high stand of aspens. Path 836 leads to Trout Creek following it to Anthracite Creek as well as the heart of Dark Canyon, connecting with Route 830.

Our route circled around Marcellina Hill impending high south of Dark Canyon. North people, the Raggeds Mountains rose tall and also inaccessible as we worked our method down towards Anthracite Creek. Here lay the wonder of the expedition into this rugged backcountry. Going across into the Raggeds Wilderness, we hit Trout Creek, getting our angling guidelines from Steves papa. Issuing each people a small barbless hook, we connected them to our lines, as well as were after that advised to take pleasure in.

Never ever since have I experienced such awe. Trout Creek, true to its name was teaming with trout as this wild little stream crashed through the brush. With no fly or lure on the hook I expected absolutely nothing. Instead to my disbelief, every actors into a pool below a rock triggered a rush of trout, all battling to get that shiney reward striking their waters. Every single time– boom– a set of trout would certainly strike, among them confiscating the prize as well as the point of a hook. The majority of course, were much also little to be of any use whatsoever and were all threw back– thus the barbless hooks. As Steves Daddy pointed out, we would certainly capture more than enough for our supper and also breakfast down on the Anthracite.

We kids whooped and squealed at cast after actors. It was beyond unreal, falling into a classification of sporting activity fishing I had never come across prior to. Working our means down the little creek via the brush we finally struck Anthracite Creek, and also headed down through the legendary Dark Canyon, a deep and mysterious gorge via bordering benchlands of aspen and also spruce. The canyon narrows with rimrock high cliffs and give in the outcrops above. The slim valley as well as the wall surfaces of Dark Canyon enclose high above, casting deep darkness as the rock high cliffs rise 1,700 feet above the river in the darker stretches. As the day waned, the route blackened and also narrow, as it led with a deep woodland of aspen and enormous spruce trees.

Following our narrow trail around 5 miles from our starts mtn bike trails near me up on Kebler Pass road, and down right into Dark Canyon, Steves father recognized the ideal location to set up camp on the financial institutions of Anthracite Creek. We set up our meager resting quarters in a park-like setting under the towering spruce. I strung my best tarp in between 2 trees, laying the corners and also figuring an excellent area to sleep on the ground with a number of wool coverings Mama was able to spare for this journey. Within mins after striking the neighboring pools of the Anthracite, we had more than enough fresh trout to ccommodate our nights eating pleasure. Luckily for us young boys, Steves daddy was competent at wrapping the trout in aluminum foil with butter, quickly preparing them in the campfire coals to nothing except premium erfection.

The shadows grew much longer with a deep, dark evening choosing us, far down in Dark Canyon, a prime Colorado environment for bears in the heart of the Raggeds Wilderness. Regardless of that short worry, our fatigue from the days journey as well as excitement brought a deep, relaxing rest to the lot people. Dawn came early even as the sun seemed to take for life to puncture right into the canyon and warm us. As one more of those fantastic memories of this trip right into Dark Canyon, Steves daddy had rustled up an early morning catch of trout, and also was once again aluminum foil food preparation a mouthwatering morning meal on the campfire to begin our day.

We loaded our equipment and also later on that early morning took off for the next 6 miles of trail to adhere to the rest of the method down through Dark Canyon. As the day progressed we stopped briefly along the trail to pull in yet even more wonderful trout, filling our restrictions working our way down stream. The canyon and also the surrounding woodlands were a marvel as we worked our method with old-growth spruce and also aspen, with sights back up the tiny side canyons towards the surrounding heights. Ultimately in late afternoon we straggled out the various other end at the trailhead at Erickson Springs Camping Site where Steves Mama chose us up.

What an exceptional experience through Dark Canyon! Years later that trip will certainly be taken another look at starting and also finishing in the convenience of neighboring motel holiday accommodations in Crested Butte or Delta, Colorado. The memories as well as the anticipation come flooding back.