07-01-2010, 03:12 AM
I've been teaching a summer school class this month that finished yesterday. I'm now free for the summer to spend it how I wish (or at least what my wife lets me do).
I decided to spend my first day of the summer hiking up to Independence Lakes above Oakley. The hike was beautiful with all the wild flowers blooming, but the higher reaches of the trail were still partially covered with snow and the north slope of the lakes were still covered with several feet.
I was hoping to catch my first grayling, but I did not see any, but the cutthroat's were plentiful and fat in the streams between the lakes. I even saw a fat 14 inch cutthroat swimming up the steep graded creek between the first two lakes. It looked a lot like salmon you see on TV trying to get their spawning grounds. It was fun to watch. Anyway, a little early in the year for the trip, but it was well worth it and a great way to spend an afternoon outdoors.
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I decided to spend my first day of the summer hiking up to Independence Lakes above Oakley. The hike was beautiful with all the wild flowers blooming, but the higher reaches of the trail were still partially covered with snow and the north slope of the lakes were still covered with several feet.
I was hoping to catch my first grayling, but I did not see any, but the cutthroat's were plentiful and fat in the streams between the lakes. I even saw a fat 14 inch cutthroat swimming up the steep graded creek between the first two lakes. It looked a lot like salmon you see on TV trying to get their spawning grounds. It was fun to watch. Anyway, a little early in the year for the trip, but it was well worth it and a great way to spend an afternoon outdoors.
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