Mitchell Lake (An Escape from Brainard)

  Mitchell Lake is one of those high mountain lakes (10,720ft) that you can drive to, but not right up to—you still have to walk a mile. This allows you the luxury of getting in and out quick, some decent alpine Brookies and Cutthroat and (thanks to the short walk) an amazing lack of jackasses. Most of them stay back at Brainard Lake…within arms reach of their lawn chairs which are parked neatly, immediately behind their forked stick and baited Scooby Doo fish pole. “Ya’ll catchin’ any trouts? No? Is it alright if my derelict children take off their shirts, scream insanely at each other and throw rocks into the water next to you?” Sweetness….