Getting Geared Up

T-minus one week before Kristin and I jump a plane and start our epic trip through Boston en route to Africa, followed by some cool-down time surfing and diving in the Maldives. Make sure to check back for some big adventures in August.

Super rad b-day gift from the folks – ready to take the radical sabbatical photog to the next level

Home Water Happiness

After a brief 24 hours in Tahoe, I headed West to meet a large crew of 13 others on the South Fork American River for a fun two day, overnight rafting trip. It's a river that we run an overnighter on at least twice a year, so are pretty familiar with the whole setup. It's not insane whitewater, but has a few big mentionable rapids, and lots of variety for everyone to get some time on the sticks. The camp spot is a sick, big spacious beach, and though the river is crazy busy during the day the crowds disappear in the afternoon and the camping feels like a very remote, wilderness experience.

B-Mac & Kate, Crain, D-Sok, Maher, Aron & Emily, AK, Thacker, Barrett, Lauren, Ted & Jaime rounded out a insanely great group to spend the weekend with. Damn good fun in our own back yard, and a great way to round out my 30th river day since the beginning of May.

Good times with good people on the river – Crain's new rig with Ted & Jaime

Brian greasing Trouble Maker – Kate & Aaron up front about to get real wet

Captain Crain using those guns to get to where he needs to be

Crain looking deep into the hole at Trouble Maker with Ted & Jaime

Four boats safe and tied up in camp

A great, warm day to hang on the beach

Even got some SF hipsters to leave The Mission and join us on the rio

Specialty riverside cocktails started early – well before the sun started to dip

Ladies getting after Jenga

Jaime going in for a brick

Coals getting warmed up for the DO potatoes 

Potato gratin brewing in the DO

Almost grill time

Maher enjoying the riverside camp around dusk

With libations and cheers, of course

Burger night for 14 peeps – Aron not only killed it on the sticks, but the BBQ too

Dinner time around the fire

Late night Lauren

Back on the water for day 2, Brian hammering Satan's Cesspool 

Solid rock jump session
(AK, Crain, Maher, Dave & me)

People got a little kooky – some even broke out their sweet retro moves
(Barrett, B-Mac, Aron & Thacker)

Crain with a serious coverup at Hospital Bar – yep, there's a 14' raft with two passengers buried way down in the meat

Some big time cleanup after a good weekend – ready(ish) to roll for the next time

And a great video from Capt'n Crain

Marvelous Montana

After a spectacular family-float-week on The Green, Kristin & I parted ways with my folks and drove North to Montana, to spend the 4th holiday with the Sardina's (Susan & Michael – K's mom & pop) and the Cosulich's (Lauren, Jared & Abigail – K's sis, brother in law & niece).

Our drive North from SLC took us through some pretty spectacular fishing waters, so we stopped for an evening float on The Henry's Fork through Box Canyon, and also got an amazing morning of wade fishing in on The Maddison below Quake Lake before making our way to Bozeman where Kristin's family had rented a house right on The Gallatin River. Over the week, we fished, ate, chatted, and even got out to the Rodeo. Just a spectacular holiday week with Kristin's fam in The Gallatin Valley.

As it was time for the Sardina's and Cousulich's to head on home, my dad made his way out to spend a few days fishing around MT before the haul back to Tahoe. Some unfortunate weather turned the fishing off on The Yellowstone where we had planned to fish, and an abnormally low snow year made some other options tough, but we managed to spend some time on some new rivers, sticking nice trout before we made the long haul home.

Over the course of the three week road trip, I made it to five states and floated/fished on six pieces of water. Just an amazing summer road trip.

Kristin got one to hand, in Box Canyon

We barely made it to takeout by dark, but were treated to some nice light on the river as the sun set

Ellie hanging with me on arguably my favorite wade river, The Maddison

We were lucky to be there during the salmonfly hatch – one of many big browns that slammed the giant bugs

Some familiar faces when we arrived in Bozeman – Jared, Lauren & the little peanut, Abigail spending some QT on The Gallitan

The sky really is just bigger here

Jared treated us to some music for most of our evenings

We got out on The Yellowstone for a few days of dry fly action in Drift Wood

Lauren hooked up on a nice, sizable cuttie  (Kristin, that's cuttie, not cutie)

A fish caught while you are rowing is 50% yours – thanks for putting me in the spot, Kristin

Kristin's folks took us for an evening in Livingston to the annual rodeo

We saw some bucking broncos

And one of my favorite events

Montana is uber Americana

Kristin and I got out on the upper stretches of The Yellowstone, but found some temperamental weather 

But Kristin managed to get a few nice ones in the net in between some fun, splashy whitewater 

No MT home is complete without rocking chairs, a pooch and some strings

Especially when accompanied by sunsets like this

Michael on the river with his girls

The little peanut enjoying some 4th pulled pork BBQ

Cute even when messy

Kristin & me with the Cosulich's

Another beautiful day on The Yellowstone – this time with Kristins folks, Susan & Michael 

Who knew flat water could be so hazardous

Michael with a healthy looking 'bow

Susan, our designated netter

Me releasing a nice Yellowstone brown

No, Kristin it's suppose to be a frog

Dinner out at The Gallitan River Lodge

After Kristin & fam's departure, Ellie, dad & I head to The Maddison for a float day

We find a few fish while some inclement weather looms

Nice 'bow dad

Then the weather really turned – at first it seemed like fish were rising everywhere, but quickly it was apparent that it was just hail

VERY LARGE hail – this wasn't even the biggest one

We got a little beat up but managed the storm A-OK

The Yellowstone was still blown out, so we shifted plans and headed to The Missouri for two days

For our final day we had a really great guide and honed in on rising fish with small dry flies

Super technical, long casts & crazy drifts could get you one of these

Or these – unfortunately the biggest ones broke off, but were exciting none-the-less – until next time, MT