Yeah, a retriever club would probably be a better source for the OP if he has one close by. I can’t speak to retriever clubs as I have no experience with one but my local NAVHDA chapter is full of experienced helpful people.
Health certs, temperaments, pedigrees. Visit the breeder if possible and see the parents in person. If you have a NAVHDA chapter local to you ask the members what breeders they have used In the past. They'll be a good source of info on breeders and info in general.
I was just out in Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons a couple weeks ago and will agree with this. You could also take the Beartooth Highway from Bridger down through Yellowstone, that drive is well worth it. Rocky Mountain National Park is northwest of Denver and probably wouldn't add much time to...
After a lot of swearing on leftover day the last few years I actually got lucky this year and was fast enough to get the tag I wanted. I feel for you guys that had issues. It's a crappy process with a lot of luck involved.
Made sure everything was good in my account earlier and logged out. Logged back in at 10:30 and got the green man. Should have known to stay logged in earlier. Oh well.
I don't have a 5900 but I do have a Stone Glacier 6200 and they are a pretty similar pack. They pack down great to a bivy mode for a few days or expand to handle 10 or more days. I'm a taller guy ( 6'5" 240) and the Xcurve frame is awesome. You won't go wrong with anything from Stone Glacier.