Changing of the Seasons

The past few weeks I have worn shorts, sandals, my raincoat, a beanie, warm socks, pants, a t-shirt, my STARSET hoodie, and my favorite fishing hat, which is becoming quite rustic I might add.

I’ve written about this before and some people know how much I love the shoulder seasons in Colorado, but to actually be prepared (which I still wasn’t), you seriously need everything. I went through all four seasons in one day (on more than one occasion) and honestly, I loved it. Perhaps that’s life; anticipating the unexpected and still being surprised.

I was battered by 60 mph wind gusts in Utah while fishing the Green River and I somehow even landed a solid brown trout in the middle of a substantial gale. The wind blew the fish toward the boat and into the net, which was weird and fortunate at the same time.

We camped along the river and surprisingly woke up to a layer of frost the first morning, which made the coffee taste a little bit better than usual.

The Green is a magical place full of healthy fish and incredible scenery. It’s honestly a bucket lister and you don’t have to cross an ocean to get there unless you don’t live in the Americas.

I also surprised my Mother for the weekend because I’m a good son and when I returned to Eagle County the famed Mother’s Day Caddis hatch was right on schedule. Every time I see a hatch of epic proportions like this it makes me wonder how many aquatic insects live in our rivers. It’s honestly hard to comprehend, but I’m grateful when nature tips its cap to me like it did today.

I lived in New York for over 30 years and so many of them lacked what I would consider a true Spring. We’d have glimpses of one and then Summer would just sort of show up sometime in May. I’m feeling that way this year in Colorado because March was nicer than April and now it’s May and I can taste Summer (almost).

That’s one incredible thing about living in the Rockies. I can almost select a season based on my location. I stopped to fish a creek on the way to surprise my Mom (because I had to) and I slid down a snowy hill to get to water.

Today, I heard a thunderstorm on the Front Range this morning before heading home and I saw people skiing at Loveland as went through the tunnel. Then, I drove through some rain before the sun appeared and the caddis came out. May is here and Summer (shh, don’t say it too loud) is right around the corner.

Enjoy nature.