Browns Lake

Backcountry ski to ice fish Brown’s lake in Comanche wilderness. 4x4 websites say Crown Point road usually becomes impassable in October. With the lack of snow this season, I decided to check it out and with butterflies in my stomach I got my Honda Ridgeline to within 2 miles of the trailhead. I probably should have just skied up the 2 extra miles of road and taken the trail, but I decided to make my own route… Obviously ignoring backcountry rule #157 which clearly states bushwhacks almost always take longer 😂. The route took me through burned areas (Cameron Peak fire of 2020) which held a unique beauty in the snow. A few little hikes, but managed to keep my skis on mostly. Both of my skins ended up failing by the end of the day. At one point I lost one of them and backtracked for it. I did the return climbs with one skin and then no skins. Oof, at least I didn’t break another pole today. It took me 5 hours to make it to the lake, and with time already running short, I fished only half an hour. The ice was about 18 inches. I caught 3 colorful brook trout. The brookies in this lake are among the darkest I’ve seen, featuring jet-black mouths. I’d guess I’m the first to ever ice fish it. The way back was a typical slog, and my head lamp died with a mile and a half left. A couple inches of snow fell over those last hours too, which combined with bitter cold temperatures to make the drive home quite treacherous. Got home way later than I told my wife, which I felt pretty bad about (she does track me on Garmin inreach). I probably won’t be fishing tomorrow!