On the second morning, we decided that we weren’t going to do the full 4 pass loop, but we still wanted to see the next basin over the 2nd pass. So we were off early in the morning to see Trail Rider Pass. Without our 40lbs (which we left at base camp) we made very good time and speed.
On the approach up, we had some excellent views of snowmass lake. The waters of the lake were a very deep and extreme blue, they pierced the eyes. Along the way we saw more pika, marmots and mule deer. Some of the alpine flora and fauna was still alive and did there best to standout amongst the rocky fields. . The hike wound its way up the rocky basin till we reached the summit. We feasted on some Energy Beans and Energy Gummies, and wondered about. Along with the lack of O2 we needed a good sugar rush.
Myself and Ben traversed the ridge a bit to find a better view of the area. The climb along the ridge was pretty treacherous because of all the loose and chossy rock. Jimmy and Amanda started their way down a bit earlier, so Ben and I decided to see how fast we could make it down. We jumped of the one side of the ridge and slide down a gravel field. It turned out to be very similar to sliding on snow. After descending a couple hundred feet, we had then caught back up to the group.
When we got back to base camp, we packed up as quickly as possible and made our way to the fishing hole. The fishing spot was everything I thought it would be and more. My first cast was place right infront of the beaver damn. Immediately a brook trout hit it. Thinking this would be the only fish i would catch, I ran around showing everyone my catch, but everyone had scattered to do their own thing. So I continued to fish and catch trout after trout. The catching (i no longer considered this fishing) was so addictive the I even waded out in the beaver damn (water temperature about 40-50 degrees) to get some better casts in.
By this time i had caught about 20 fish, when ben stumble back. He had no luck at down stream. I chuckled heartedly and told him to throw his lure in the dammed section, immediately he hooked one.
The rest of the day was spent walking up and down the river, amazed with healthiness of the trout and the stream. The brook trout were extremely vivid and shown almost all colors of the spectrum. By the end of the day, we had probably have turn all trout on the stream off from orange power-bait, but I’m sure they would be just as hungry if we ever return.
At dusk we left to gain some distance so we would have a shorter walk the next day. We made camp right at tree line, watch the sunset behind snowmass, and ate a healthy though “fish free” dinner.
