October 2023 - A Quick visit to CA with Beau - Part 3

After Oktoberfest - Alabama Hills & Tuttle Creek, CA

DAYS 9 ~ 11 , October 15 - 17

Rolling out of the Orange County area I headed east and then up highway 395 towards Bishop and the Alabama Hills. I landed a decent campsite at the BLM Tuttle Creek Campground where I had stayed in 2019 when Peggy was hiking the PCT.

After getting the trailer settled and spending the night, Beau and I took the truck and headed up the mountain road towards the Mt. Whitney portal and a tiny stream at about 9,000 feet in search of the elusive Golden Trout. Beau had a great time running in and out of the stream while I spent the majority of the time swatting mosquitos and falling in the creek. Right when I was getting ready to give up and head back to camp I spotted a little pool and some fish action. After several casts I finally landed what may have been the smallest fish I’ve ever caught. But, it was a Golden! And that was a first for me. After slipping the little guy back into his hole I took my smile and my dog and headed homeward.

It was a long drive home to North Bend but I had a great time reuniting with my friends from my younger years, catching my first Golden, and watching Beau be the water dog that he is.