Between our world and natures great frontiers is a journey worth taking, some just go higher up to find something extra wonderful. Up here where life changes so much with season, yet so little as its residents are preserved for hundreds of years. Surviving humans lust for water ,lumber ,and ore, conservation keeps these magnificent places healthy for future explorers to enjoy. Having understood the topography and research for a couple of years, it was time to make the dream a reality, and the mystery into truth for what it's really like.

A steep hike over a ridgeline from two lower lakes, into an alpine deep blue lake is an adventure not for the faint of heart. Ancient stone that glistens black under the rays of the sun, this lake touted extra proud character and iconic geological features of my favorite mountain range, knarly rock. Once one comes into recognition the details from map to the real thing, the serious work begins.

Where we plan to trek, there are no trails but that of the local wildlife. A good compass kept us oriented the right direction, always west and uphill. Knowing there was "Mountain Goat Pools" somewhere on the upper plateaus, it was knowledgeable to follow the water until we reached them. Traversing on all fours at some points, navigating unforgiving terrain keeps our minds and muscles at full concentration every step of the way. No matter the potential danger, our spirits stood brave as we are determined and don't give up easily.

Following swampy tundra, stone veins, and pine forest delight, we continue to strive as our bodies tire and feet feel like stumps on the end of our legs. Looking up at the sky on our final steps up a narrow cairn, there was nothing more exciting than seeing our reward at the end of the rainbow. At 9,600ft above sea level, a grand spectacle waited for us one hundred feet below. And what not more humbling and exciting sight than seeing tons of trout jumping all around the lake, marking the jackpot I've waited years to see for myself.

Being the highest lake to hold fish in this range, it is a true honor to catch these jewels of trout at this elevation. Mountain goat tracks were imprinted into the inlets sand, tons of insects and flowers call this sanctuary home. One plant of Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout in 1988 is on record, but nothing since. The population has sustained itself for 37 years to this year. The beach to the south end of the lake was very inviting, we walked out there in bare feet, the sand dark, soft and fine with gold flakes. Resembling heaven, high on this mountain, this is how life should be.

Many astonishing trout were caught all around the lake, the true gold nuggets of the mountain. The shimmer of dark and gold from the deep marine depths converging on my dry fly for the take or rejection is beyond enticing, watching decisions from natures beautiful beings. One special observation from this high lake is the trouts keen eye of foraging on floating lady bugs that have blown into the lake from the wind, which I have witnessed a good handful of times while here. Hence the nickname I've given here, Ladybug Lake.

A place I could stay at for a long time, the sun only gives us so much light for our voyage back to camp. Carefully hiking back to our vehicle, camp was still to be made. We lower lakes we stayed at held many Brook Trout, which we surveyed were mostly in the 10in and smaller range. During the evening rise, the lake looked as if it were boiling, there is lots of fish in them lakes too. Our canoe aided us in travelling the lakes with much ease, getting the open fresh air across lapping waves and scenic landscapes. Opportunities we hold dearly as the good ole days, worth evey bead of sweat.......