Descent into Dark Canyon: Kids Wild Fishing in Colorado's Raggeds Wilderness
The trout literally leaped to snag our hooks as we cast them over and over into the little swimming pools of Trout Creek as it cascaded down with the brush, waterfalling from rock to rock. No, really, that is just one of those rare memories from childhood years that sticks out as a boggling phenomena, among couple of that I plainly remember. Beyond that I don't bank a lot on my capabilities to remember a great deal from years past, as well as this trip into the Colorado backcountry virtually appears like a journey to OZ.
Trout Creek was a tiny side creek to the Anthracite in western Colorado in between Paonia and also Crested Butte up on Kebler Pass. I was 13 years of ages, and travelling into the Raggeds Wilderness with my pal Steve, his papa and bro. We adhered to an odd disordered route around Marcellina Hill down right into the legendary Dark Canyon to fish as well as camp, following Anthracite Creek bent on the various other trailhead.
My family members had actually driven over Kebler Pass sometimes, as well as Marcellina Hill stood high and daunting right near the roadway, jutting up in the Colorado backcountry to a soaring 11,348 feet within the Raggeds Wilderness. That we were actually mosting likely to backcountry expedition around that height, hiking with the Raggeds Wild and down famous Dark Canyon-- a childhood dream happen.
To arrive, we complied with Freeway 133 around 16 miles east up the North Fork of the Gunnison River from Paonia, Colorado to the roadway fork below Paonia Dam. Turning right the road leads up Anthracite Creek 5 miles to Erikson Springs Campground and a switchback, the roadway leading up Kebler Pass. Around 5 miles past the switchback, forest Path 836, leads east into a high stand of aspens. Path 836 causes Trout Creek following it to Anthracite Creek and also the heart of Dark Canyon, connecting with Trail 830.
Our trail circled around Marcellina Mountain impending tall south of Dark Canyon. North of us, the Raggeds Hills rose high as well as hard to reach as we functioned our means down towards Anthracite Creek. Herein lay the marvel of the trip right into this tough backcountry. Crossing right into the Raggeds Wilderness, we hit Trout Creek, getting our fishing instructions from Steves father. Issuing each people a little barbless hook, we connected them to our lines, and also were then instructed to appreciate.
Never given that have I experienced such awe. Trout Creek, real to its name was teaming with trout as this wild little stream collapsed via the brush. With no fly or lure responsible I anticipated nothing. Instead to my disbelief, every cast into a pool below a rock motivated a rush of trout, all fighting to get that shiney reward striking their waters. Whenever-- boom-- a collection of trout would strike, one of them seizing the reward and also the factor of a hook. The majority of program, were far as well small to be of any usage whatsoever and also were all threw back-- therefore the barbless hooks. As Steves Dad mentioned, we would certainly catch more than enough for our supper and breakfast down on the Anthracite.
We boys whooped as well as roared at cast after actors. It was past unbelievable, coming under a category of sport angling I had actually never encountered prior to. Functioning our means down the small creek with the brush we finally struck Anthracite Creek, and headed down with the fabled Dark Canyon, a deep and also mystical gorge through surrounding benchlands of aspen and spruce. The canyon tightens with rimrock high cliffs as well as caves in the outcrops over. The slim valley and the wall surfaces of Dark Canyon close in high above, casting deep darkness as the rock high cliffs rise 1,700 feet over the river in the darker stretches. As the day wound down, the path grew dark and also narrow, as it led via a deep woodland of aspen and also huge spruce trees.
Following our narrow path around 5 miles from our beginnings up on Kebler Pass roadway, as well as down into Dark Canyon, Steves father recognized the ideal area to set up camp on the financial institutions of Anthracite Creek. We set up our weak sleeping quarters in a park-like setup under the towering spruce. I strung my finest tarp in between two trees, laying the edges and figuring a great spot to rest on the ground with a couple of wool coverings Mom was able to save for this adventure. Within minutes after hitting the nearby swimming pools of the Anthracite, we had sufficient fresh trout to ccommodate our nights dining enjoyment. Thankfully for us children, Steves papa was experienced at covering the trout in foil with butter, promptly cooking them in the campfire coals to nothing short of gourmet erfection.
The shadows grew much longer with a deep, dark evening settling upon us, far down in Dark Canyon, a south carolina mountain biking prime Colorado habitat for bears in the heart of the Raggeds Wilderness. Despite that brief issue, our fatigue from the days trip and also excitement brought a deep, peaceful sleep to the lot of us. Dawn came early also as the sunlight appeared to take permanently to pierce right into the canyon and cozy us. As one more of those wonderful memories of this journey into Dark Canyon, Steves papa had actually rustled up a morning catch of trout, and was once more foil food preparation a mouthwatering morning meal on the campfire to begin our day.
We packed our gear and also later that early morning hit the trail for the next 6 miles of path to comply with the remainder of the means down with Dark Canyon. As the day proceeded we stopped briefly along the path to draw in yet even more terrific trout, loading our limits working our means down stream. The canyon and the bordering woodlands were a marvel as we functioned our method via old-growth spruce and aspen, with views back up the small side canyons towards the bordering heights. Lastly in late mid-day we straggled out the other end at the trailhead at Erickson Springs Camping Area where Steves Mommy selected us up.
What an impressive journey through Dark Canyon! Years later on that trip will certainly be revisited starting as well as ending in the convenience of neighboring motel lodgings in Crested Butte or Delta, Colorado. The memories and the anticipation come flooding back.