Amethyst Basin In The High Uintas

It's time for the annual week long summer scout camp! This is my first with this group of boys and we were looking forward to a fun adventure. We hiked into Amethyst basin in the uintas and I think the kids had a good time. It was a 7 mile hike into where we camped and the boys did surpisingly well. We fished Amethyst lake where all the scouts caught small brookies, many of which was there first ever fish. We had success using caddis behind a bubble and several different spinners. We also hit Ostler lake which was my favorote. There are some toads in that lake. We caught mostly cutts with a few brook trout and even a tiger trout that went 18" that was caught by a person outside of our group. Most the fish ranged 14-15 inches and were thick! again, fly and bubble when the wind wasn't blowing and gold jakes after that. Ostler should be on your list of lakes to hit in the Uintas if it isn't already. The mosquito's are really thick and a net is manditory unless you want to end up like most of the boys with over 50 bites each. All-in-all, it was a great trip and a fun memory.

Moose on the side of the road.

A few miles in

Now here is a sight you don't see every day!

Indian paint brush.

One of the many beautiful meadows on the hike.

Make shift raft anyone?

Now that's a mesquito!

On the way to fish Amethist lake.

Amethist Lake

My first fish of the trip.

First ever catch! Great job!

Another first!

Mountain goats walking above camp.

15" Ostler lake tiger trout.

Cutthroat trout

Ostler provided lunch for us.

Oslter lake.

Fishing some of the streems. They are surprisingly deep in places.

Just like a mirror.

We all made it back in one piece.

Spirit Lake And Fort Bridger

This was a whirlwind trip that took me to some places I've never been to before. I picked up my brother and nephew and headed out on the 3 hour drive to Spirit lake in the High Uinta mountain range of Utah. It was a fun drive and we saw lots of Antelope along the way and even a bull moose. We started out fishing the stream below the lake and we couldn't keep the fish off the line. We were flyfishing using elk hair caddis and renegade's. While fishing the small stream we caught rainbows, cutthroat, brook and tiger trout! I even took a swim after a log jam I was standing on gave way. Everyone had a good laugh and the water was actually quite nice!
After an hour on the stream we headed up to the lake to see what we could catch. This time we pulled out our spinning rods and went to work. It was a matter of minutes before Justing had a tiger on his panther martin and giving him a good fight. I put on a jointed rapala and so had one of my own. It was gang busters the rest of the time on the rapapla. My nephew was also able to land one. You know its a great day when you get bored of catching fish. We called it a day and headed back down the mountain.
On the way back we stopped and toook a tour of historic Fort Bridger. What an interesting place. For a history on Fort Bridger, check out http://www.wyomingtourism.org/overview/Fort-Bridger-State-Historic-Site/31823. This fort was instrumental in the successful passage of countless pioneers traveling though out the west as well as my home state. On Labor Day weekend they have a huge mountain man rendezvous. If you're ever in the area, it's definately worth a vistit.

One of the many spectacular views along the way.
Spirit Lake

Cutthroat trout from the stream

Tiger trout from the stream.

Justins first ever tiger trout.

Brookie from the stream.

Spirit lake tiger.

Great catch buddy!

The general store to the right and first school house in Wyoming in the background.

A replica of the original fort.

replica of the original trading post.

Jim Bridger was a black smith and fur trader.

What's left of the orignal Mormon wall.

A few Jim Bridger artifacts.

Once the fort was turned over to the military, there were barracks and quarters all over.