How Flyfishing and Snowshoeing Come Together

Hi!

I spent a very nice afternoon at the Flyfishing show at Denver Merchandise Mart with a good friend renewing our love of flyfishing. I haven't done any serious flyfishing for many years, since there was no good fishing water near our old home in Alameda. Not that California has a lack of quality water; it's just that quality water is so far away.

Colorado is different. There's so much great water that it's almost impossible to choose a place to go and there's no way that I could ever fish all of the places people recommend. That was especially apparent while touring the flyfishing show. Almost all of the booths offered advice in addition to their products. The South Platte River, especially in the areas around Colorado Springs and Pike's Peak, was mentioned the most.

That got me thinking. I've wanted to hike up Waterton Canyon since we arrived in Colorado. Just haven't had the chance. However, the South Platte River flows through Waterton Canyon, and I thought it might be worth a hike to see what the canyon and the river was like.

It's been snowing for the last two days after a Friday of bright sunshine and 60 degree weather. Today it wasn't snowing much, and with 7 inches or so of snow on the ground in the Roxborough Park area, Deb and I decided to head out on our brand new snow shoes.

We found the river partially frozen, but with a certain tranquility and serenity accompanying a lack of people on the road. I had some trouble figuring out how the snowshoes strap on, but soon got going pretty comfortably. We hiked about 1.3 miles one way to a diversion dam that channels water from the South Platte River into Chatfield Reservoir. There's a fire road that runs along side the river, so the walking was out of the deep stuff and pretty easy. Evidently, the road goes some 6 miles to Strontia Reservoir, the 6th of 7 dams on the lower South Platte.

The temperature today is around 9 degrees - a drop of some 50 degrees from Friday - and we had a chance to test new clothes and cold weather gear. I layered up as everyone suggests - poly 1st layer, cotton second, wool third, shell with down liner last; gloves, wool scarf, and backpack!! On my head (Thanks Jake!!) a Mountain Hardwear hat and ski goggles.

I felt like the Pilsbury Doughboy!

But, I was warm!

Deb and I may become regular snowshoers. The downhill ski areas around here are famous and special, no doubt. But, they have increased their lift ticket prices recently and Aspen is now asking $136 per day - yikes! We bought the snowshoes, put gas in the car, and ate breakfast for a third that or less. Thanks Costco!

So, now we have to decide if we want to fish the South Platte this winter or wait for warmer weather in the spring and summer!

Cheers!