I had the pleasure of spending the weekend in Bozeman, MT for a friend's wedding and was also able to cram in some big sky shananigins. My mom put in some time getting fishing intel from her friends who frequently fish the alpine lakes and told me the grayling bite was good at emerald lake. We decided to get up early the day of the wedding (which started at 4).

What made this experience extra special is that my mother is an incomplete quadriplegic. She was in a terribly violent car accident in 2005 which damaged, but fortunately did not sever, her spinal cord at C4. It has been unbelievable seeing her progress from re-learning to walk to dragging me on a ten mile "death march" at 9000 feet in which we gained 2000 feet in elevation.

The hike was incredible and made me question why I'd ever left this beautiful state. There were huckleberries and elder berries EVERYWHERE. And of course we did a little foraging along the way. About three miles in there was a beautiful waterfall and we knew we were about two miles away. The last two miles were the toughest as we climbed switchback after switchback  and gained probably over 1000 feet in elevation. The whole time it's hard not to wonder and be a little anxious about what furry predator might be waiting around the corner.

Finally we crested the ridge and took it all in. The pictures really don't do it justice. Unfortunately I only had about an hour to fish because of time constraints for the wedding. I had forgotten how amazing it feels to fly fish and it brought back so many memories of growing up in the bitterroot. 3rd cast a little cutthroat blew up my dry fly. Game on! I caught one more but really wanted a grayling. About the fifth time that I had told mom "last cast I swear!" I hooked up with what I was hoping for! It was unbelievable to share my first grayling catch with my mother. Took a couple quick pics and got her back in the water.

The hike back to the car was a little tough for ma but she was a trooper (understand that this woman has burning nerve pain from the neck down caused by a cyst around her spinal cord). She only had to stop and rest and stretch a few times before we finally made it to the car.

It's really hard to put into words how much this woman inspires me and honestly I'm getting a little emotional as I write this. Her perseverance and courage can give hope to anyone who has gone through lows in their life. No matter how real the struggle or how large the problem, it can be overcome and things WILL get better if you maintain a positive mindset. She hiked ten miles in grizzly country!!! Never give up

Awesome trip and pics!  Your mom truly is a trooper and sounds like a person that can really give people hope.  Glad you were able to spend some time with her and get a little fishing in too. 

Thanks for the report.

Oh yeah, we went to Yellowstone too...

Great story of what  was a great day. Thanks for sharing.