Wetting a line

This year we mainly did dry fly fishing.  It's very different in that it take a lot of patients, coordination and you have to keep your eye on the fly.  
Matt was the big winner this year as he caught the first, the biggest and the most.
Gracie caught the first on a dry fly and I caught the biggest brown.  
This year, we did two guided wade trips in Yellowstone.  We fished the Madison, Firehole and Gibbon rivers in the park.
I will say, the snakes got more in the game (and in the water this year) and I wasn't a fan.
Nonetheless, we had fun trying, catching, getting wet and being together. 

First chance to wet a line

While fishing the Firehole, I waded out to a rock.  I hooked a trout and sadly didn't get him landed but found out that there was a drop off from the rock and nearly topped my waders.  I did get a little wet.  

Matt then comes along and gives me a hard time about not landing the fish.  I tell him that with the water deep and moving I couldn't get him.  Matt proceeds to go out and find my rock.  He gets up on it and tells me that there is a rock there so why didn't I stand on it and get the fish.  Are you kidding?  I told him I was on the rock.  Well I lean over and tell Gracie and our guide Nichole to watch.  I had already told them that there was a drop off.   I tell Matt once he's on the rock that he can wade out a bit faster for better reach. Needless to say, he steps and finds out for himself about the drop off and why I didn't land the fish.  He completely tops is waders and even has to strip them off and dump the water once back on shore.  It was hilarious.  The picture are blurry because Gracie was laughing so hard while trying to take them.

Soaked and dumping water from his waders.

After his waders filled up and he had to strip them off, he had to put on a pair of Lily Grace's pink wool socks because that's all he had other than cold wet feet.  

Her casting is beautiful.  People actually stopped to watch her .  She can put out a good amount of line and make it look so graceful.

Landing her first on a dry fly

This trumpeter swan on the Firehole in Yellowstone was relentless.  He followed me and I finally had to reel in and move.

We also had a coyote join us on the banks this year while fishing the Madison in the park.

And when you are tired of fishing, nothing beats reading by the water.

Back on the ranch, Matt caught this large and beautiful rainbow on the Madison.

On our last day on the water, I finally caught and landed this brown trout on a dry fly.  

On Stakeout

So we had been to Grand Teton National Park and seen a moose,  a cow moose to be exact.  I was really hoping to see a bull so we ventured to the moose habitat and sat for a couple hours waiting for the sun to go down and to see if we might get ourselves a visitor.  We had snacks, binoculars and hours to make each other laugh.  It was honestly one of the best times we had while in Jackson.

Not a bad spot to be on stakeout

From WY to MT with Idaho in between

We left Jackson Hole and headed for Cameron, MT.  We stopped in Idaho to see Mesa Falls.  We had a little excitement along the way as a bear ran out in front of us and crossed the road with his kill in his mouth.  We returned to Sunwest Ranch once again and to one of our favorite cabins.  

Before leaving Jackson Hole we gathered supplies and Matt once again worked his magic and got it all to fit in the back of the big Sequoia.

On our way out of Jackson Hole, we had to climb this very steep and winding mountain.  This is the overlook from the top.  Coming down that winding mountain was like a roller coaster and of the nausea.  

Mesa Falls in Idaho

Our favorite cabin on the ranch

Blue birds visited us often

The ranch added these cute little bird houses all around.

The cabin sits on part of the elk refuge and they came visiting one evening just before dark.

Gracie spent lots of time trying to see how close she could get to the cute ground squirrels. 

This year, the sheep grazed in the fields near us and the horses grazed the far pastures.  They've been sheered for the season and Matt loved how the birds would just hang out on their backs.

Sunsets were as beautiful as always

And sunrise was just a beautiful

I found her reading in the hammock one afternoon

Some Sights around Jackson Hole

Spot where the famous Ansel Adams picture was taken.  Unfortunately, it was really cloudy so you can't see the snow capped peaks of the rockies.  The Snake River winds down below.

The Church of the Transfiguration.  On a clear day, you can see the mountains in the back with the cross sitting in the middle. 

Old Moulton Barn on Mormon row.  It was built between 1912 and 1945 and still stands.  The beautiful rockies flank the back and sides on a clear day.

Schwabacher's Landing-beautiful wildflowers

Jackson Hole, WY- In Search of a Moose

We have just returned from two weeks out west.  For the past three years, we have spent nine fun days in MT.  This year we added on an additional week at the front end of our trip and visited Jackson Hole, WY for the first time.  
In the three years we have visited MT and in particular Yellowstone, we have yet to see a moose and I've been eager to see one.  
We thought Jackson Hole and Grand Teton might get us closer, so off we went. 

It always amazes me at how much we have to pack for this trip.  I currently hold the record for the heaviest bag weighing in at
54 lbs.  

After two layovers and a chaotic start, we made it.

With Matt being diagnosed with Celiac last summer, we are always searching for safe (but good) places for him to eat.  We lucked out and found Lotus.  An organic and mainly Paleo restaurant.  We ate pretty much every meal there.  Gracie and I loved the light fixtures. 

Town Square

So it's not a real moose but we were just getting started.

I've decided that there isn't much that can't be found stuffed in Jackson Hole.  Gracie and I thought the taxidermied raccoons playing poker was hilarious.  

Yep, right out in public.  They could care less.