View photos/Bill Claspell Billings Lake, located just north of North Fork Reservoir, is serious eye candy for any sightseer.

Outdoorsmen enjoy high times at mountain lakes

What did you do last weekend? Did you sit around watching the weeds grow, sweltering in the heat, only to start the new work week with a feeling that you might have missed something?

If you did, and you want to avoid that feeling again this week, then do what I did.

Try spending the entire weekend getting high - 14,000 feet high, that is.

While the folks back home were sweltering in the midsummer heat, I was hiking, fishing, and camping, just a few hundred feet below timberline.

In the pristine Rocky Mountains, north of the town of Maysville, you will find a place that, in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful places in Colorado.

Ten miles north of U.S. 50 on Forest Road 240, lies North Fork Reservoir.

Sitting at an elevation of 13,700 feet, North Fork is a small lake, nestled in a valley at the base of tall, towering peaks.

Its clear, green water perfectly contrasts against the stark gray angles that thrust themselves from the forest floor, making this place rank high on any sightseer’s "must see" list.

Besides the exceptional scenery, North Fork is a great place to go to escape the heat.

The daytime temperatures at North Fork this time of year reach only into the 70s. Nights are cool, with temperatures in the 30s to 40s, and that helps to maintain the snow that still lingers at the base of the dam and near the tops of the jagged mountains that surround the reservoir.

You can expect a cold rain shower every afternoon, too, and that will soon have you forgetting all about the 100 degree heat wave that you left on the plains.

Fishing at North Fork from now until the first snow flies in mid- to late September can be absolutely exceptional. The lake is home to rainbows, cutthroats, and brook trout that will rise to mayflies fished behind a bubble, or will feed on orange Powerbait fished on the bottom.

My son, Daniel, who is a fishing fanatic, used a little green-bodied mayfly and bubble rig to pull in several nice trout over the two days that we spent on North Fork.

Using varied retrieves, including a sweeping action with his rod tip that caused the bubble to splash, and the mayfly to sink, he coaxed explosive strikes from several of the trout.

I’ve never used that particular retrieve, and honestly never thought that it could be effective in doing anything more than scaring the fish away.

The fish seemed to like it, though, and Daniel ended up catching at least two fish to every one that I pulled.

Most of the trout average in size from 12 to 14 inches, but some real bruisers also cruise the depths.

Above North Fork Reservoir, you’ll find Billings Lake.

This is a very small natural lake that sits in a bowl above timberline. Surrounded by alpine bushes and grass, Billings Lake likely provided much of the water for the abandoned mines in the area.

Old structures still stand there, a testament to the hearty souls who came to these mountains a hundred years ago to seek their fortunes.

I can only imagine the hardships that these people endured, braving the elements as they penetrated the deep mountainsides in search of the metals that would make their dreams come true.

Hikers can explore the old structures and get a really great view from the peaks above Billings.

I would caution against entering any of the old mine shafts, however, as they can become extremely unstable and may cave in.

For us weekend warrior types, hiking around at timberline can be an educational experience. For instance, during this trip, I learned that I’m not 20 years old anymore.

I should have realized that a month ago, when my son’s soccer team held its end-of-season picnic. Between bites of ice cream cake, I listened in horror as his coach informed me that we would be playing a game later - the kids against the parents in a game of soccer.

Huh?

"Sure," she said, "we do it every year. It’s fun."

I came away from that game with a new appreciation for my kids’ soccer talents and red marks where I had been slapped in the face by reality.

Wheezing for air, I promised myself that I would get into better condition during the summer.

Yeah, right.

The days slipped away, and as the bruises on my shins began to heal, I forgot all about that little promise. Until last weekend, that is.

Moving around in the thin air I realized, once again, that I was not in nearly the shape that I should be in at this time of year, especially with the archery elk season only 40 days away.

Well, it’s a good thing that elk don’t play soccer.

Peaks rise dramatically from the forest floor, making North Fork Reservoir one of the most scenic places in Colorado.

The second thing I learned over the weekend is, no matter how much you think you know about fishing, you can always learn a thing or two from a 5-year-old. North Fork Reservoir and the surrounding area are true gems in my book.

If you want to take advantage of this area, I’d suggest staying for at least one full day, and possibly overnight. There are two National Forest campgrounds on Road 240.

One, the Angel of Shavano, is located six miles south of the lake on a portion of road that is suitable for lower clearance vehicles and campers.

The other, North Fork campground, is located right next to the lake. It is small, with just a few camping sites available.

Other, more rustic, camp areas are available along the road and using them, you’ll find peace and solitude. Accessing any part of the road after the Angel of Shavano, though, requires a higher clearance vehicle, and I wouldn’t recommend dragging a pull-behind trailer any further than the first campground.

The phenomenal scenery of this area is reason enough to get off the couch this weekend and experience North Fork.

Take your fishing rods, camera, and a warm jacket, and be prepared to be awed by the beauty of this area.

I guarantee that when you return to work on Monday, the only thing you’ll feel you’re missing is the cool breeze on your face and the majesty that is North Fork.

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