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3. Anual San Pedro Parks Wilderness backpacking trip

The San Pedro Parks wilderness is an area in the Jemez Mountains of NM. It is the same mountains that boasts the Valles Caldera, "the Yellowstone of the Southwest." While the Valles Caldera is billed as a top tourist destination of the state San Pedro Parks gets no such love, and thankfully so as on a weekend such as Memorial Day the borders around the area are chock full of pull behind camper villages while in the wilderness you might run into a couple other people.
It is over 41k acres in size. It is basically a 64 sq mile plateau at 10k ft and perfect for taking young kiddos to backpack as elevation gains are not really an issue. No self respecting 14er climber from Colorado would dare have anyone see them there (dig at my brother-in-law and sister) but I have been taking my youngest son backpacking there since he was 4. This year I brought him (age 11) and my oldest daughter (age 8).
We hiked over 2 1/2 miles in, set up camp along the Las Vacas and fished up and down it for a couple days. Fishing wasn't spectacular but it was okay. The water level was a bit lower than in years past and the fish were easily spooked as my daughter has 2 volumes, quiet and blaring. We caught more snags and sticks than anything but such is life when fishing with kids. My son lost a couple of beauties being too aggressive while reeling them in but he's starting to learn the good/ideal spots to find the fish. The kids fished with worms. I put an indicator about 8 inches above the hook and they coaxed a few out from under a log or river bank. When I wasn't untangling lines, the little bit of fishing I was able to do I had some success with dark colored nymphs and a couple bright stimulator patterns.
It was a good weekend. Fishing could've been better but the company I kept was fantastic.

Beautiful country, and kids, keep up the good work raising them right.
Mike.

Beautiful pictures, pretty fish, and two kids with big smiles. Well done Sir!

And little creeks rock! I have a bunch around me now that I need to hit.

And...love those western landscapes! Thanks for sharing.

Jonathon

It was great because my son is starting to get it. While he didn't have the best days fishing I've been instilling in him that a day fishing without catching anything is better than a day not fishing at all. He can't wait to go again!!! And neither can I.

Your kids will never forget those days, and will treasure them. As you said, it's not about the catching, but the experience. You're all lucky to have each other; thanks for sharing!!