Fishing and Crested Butte

The aspen are turning so it was a beautiful drive to Crested Butte. We stopped to check out the "hogs" (big fish) in the Taylor River by the dam. Guys were lined up trying to catch these fish...if just for a minute as all fishing is catch and release.

Beautiful color along the Taylor

This kokanee was a catch in the East River. These salmon run from the Gunnison up to the East River to spawn. They are catch and release although there is a hatchery where the salmon are "milked" and the eggs are raised for a new generation of salmon. So the life for this one is about over anyway.

It wasn't all fishing...we went into Crested Butte to catch the tail end of the Vinotok celebration. This celebration is a week long affair to herald the autumnal equinox. It was a lot of fun to watch the parading in the street along with the chanting to the beating drums. The costumes and flowers were really something to see!

Capping off a great trip was the drive over Monarch Pass. The mountains were an oasis of color with the aspen looking especially splendid this year with their crowns of gold, red and orange.

A great time of year to be in Colorful Colorado! Mom