More Ruess

"Everett Ruess---a bold teenage adventurer, artist, and writer--studied and lived with Edward Weston, Maynard Dixon, and Dorothea Lange. He traded prints with Ansel Adams. He tramped around the Sierra Nevada, the California coast, and the desert wilderness of the Southwest between the age of 16 and 20, pursuing his dream of ultimate beauty and oneness with nature. Then in November 1934, at age twenty, he mysteriously vanished into the barren Utah desert."

---Flap jacket of:  Everett Ruess A Vagabond for Beauty & Wilderness Journals


"He could be logical, then illogical. He could laugh and sing, could play-act, could assume roles, or could brood in sadness, silence, and isolation. But above all, Everett Ruess could see in a way that far transcended the mere act of vision. His reactions to the wonders of Nature went beyond what we could assume to be normal experience, to the point where he could resonate to the light waves that struck him from all points in the landscape. His was a strange gift that set him apart from aquaintances, friends, and relatives. Many people can feel emotion as they gaze upon some of the mere sublime vistas of canyons, desert, or mountains. But rare indeed is an Everett Ruess, who could sense beauty so acutely that it bordered on pain." (16)


Everett Ruess: A vagabond for Beauty
Edited by W.L. Rusho

Ruess was not only discovering the beauty in nature, but  he was discovering things about himself. In one letter to his brother he explained, ". . .I am nineteen and sensitive, but it is small consolation to be told that. I have been discovering new moods, new lows, new and disturbing variations in myself and my feelings for individuals, and for people as a whole. . . . After various turnings, twistings, and recoils, I still have not been able to find any proper oulet for my feelings. Perhaps there is none and perhaps it is necessary for my feelings to die of weariness and refusal. I won't apologize for my emotions because I don't feel completely responsible. I can trace certain reactions in them when I am analytic, but I do not care to now. I don't expect you to understand them any more than anyone else, nor would it matter much if you did, because it seems to be up to me."

Everett Ruess was a deep thinker for his years. I don't know if any of us ever stop the inner wranglings of who we are, how we fit in, and how we contribute to life. Those questions may be masked or hidden in a variety of pursuits.

In our outdoor pursuits are we seekers of beauty? Does our inner being somehow blend with the outer beauty of nature? Do we see ourselves as "man in nature" or do we see man as an outsider?

Disappearing

I have been deleting some of my blog posts. I feel like a hack.

Today, I wish I was Everett Ruess. I want to walk into a landscape and disappear. I'm not sure I would choose the Escalante area for my diappearing act, although I do love the red rock country of southern Utah. I see myself walking up a stream and disappearing around a bend. The breeze picks up, the aspen rustle, and I'm gone.

Summer Run

I think summer may be officially here. I'm so glad. I was able to run this morning wearing shorts and a tank top. The morning sun was just up above Mount Ogden. It felt so good! As I ran I envisioned my mountain run I'm going to do. I thought about the rugged rocks and the cool mountain air. I tried to calculate what my average miles per hour will be. I thought about dripping sweat and sucking down water and Gatorade. I thought about what kind of music I want to listen to while I run the mountains. Maybe I don't want any music. Maybe listening to what the mountain has to say will be music enough. The first part of the run will parallel a small creek. Watching sun light glisten off the water and the gurgle of baby rapids will be pleasant. The road will leave the creek and I will have to climb the steepest part of the road through an aspen grove and then summit near a pine forest. Then it will be about 10 miles down through thick stands of trees interspersed with open meadows and sage and juniper hillsides. Eventually, I will see Bear Lake through the V-shaped canyon. After leaving the mountain, I will run about two miles through a small town, population about 200 people and end up at my dad's summer home.

The only thing I haven't thought through is the actual date. Maybe sometime in late July around Pioneer day. I could dedicate the run to my pioneer forefathers who walked and rode horseback or wagons through this area. Maybe I'll wait until it's cooler. Maybe September when all the campers are gone and the kids are in school. Decisions!

I have been able to clear my mind and release emotional "baggage" on lone fly fishing trips. Mentally, I can project worries, stress, and frustrations into the water and watch then float away downstream. I'm hoping to release some emotions on this run. At the summit, I will send these emotions skyward. I hope they will be caught up in billowing clouds. The billowing clouds can carry them away and drop them as rain in another place. Heaven knows I've rained my share of tears.

Up a Notch

I just watched the weather report and this insistent rain is going to stop. Finally, I will be able to set my goals and accomplish them. I have been running in a drizzle for what seems like forever. I have cut back on my distance. It's time to turn it up a notch. If I'm going to run over the mountain sometime this summer, then I have to change a few things. I need to increase distance. I need to eat better. I need to get more sleep. My mind has been wandering all over the place the last couple of months and it has been affecting my sleep. Time to change.

I've got to get mentally ready too. I have one fear about this mountain run: cougar! Since this is a solo run, I have been thinking about and dreaming about being attacked by a mountain lion. I know the chances of an attack are slim, yet it is on my mind. I have seen cougar sign in the area and that sparks my imagination. I want to have long periods of isolation on this run----nothing but me and the wilds. I just don't want it too wild. Besides, having a cougar as a running partner ruins the solitude.

RAGGING FLOODWATERS!

The wet spring (raining yet again today) and the transition from cool temperatures to hot a few days last week has the rivers, streams, and creeks bank full and flooding in some places. I hate when this happens. To help stop the flooding, big backhoes end up in the rivers dredging them--not a good thing for pristine trout habitat. I know what's more important, trout habitat or human habitat? I took several physical geography and geology classes in college and we discussed the pros and cons of building homes in flood planes, alluvial deposits, and mountain side slumping areas. If I remember right, it just wasn't the smartest thing to do. I wonder if the landowners who were so adamant that fishermen stay out of "their" streams and helped pass House Bill 141 last legislative session ( which keeps fishermen out of public waters flowing through private land) are happy to have their privacy invaded by sandbaggers. Funny how the tables can turn. Maybe the flooding is God's way to show them they were being selfish?




I hope they don't have to get into the middle Provo River and dredge. That area was ruined back in the early 80's and the last few years it was rebuilt to put the river back into its historical, meandering bed. Sandbagging is in full force on the upper Weber. I drove past the lower Weber today and it is bank full and chocolate flavored. The Ogden is prime for kayaking and running silted green. On a good note: the Logan , Blacksmith, and streams and creeks up north seem to be okay--so far.



I'll be dreaming of late summer and fall fishing, patiently waiting for the waters to drop. It seems I have to be patient for lots of things this year--waiting for the waters to recede and waiting for the air to clear. Patience!

Trout and Fly Chandeliers

I've been building custom trout chandeliers for the last couple of years. Each one is a handmade original. I have fun making them as it is another way to create. I give people their choice of trout (brown, cutthroat, rainbow, brook) and also their choice of fly on the shade. The one pictured has three brown trout around the metal band and stoneflies on the shades. It has an old iron rustic finish. With three 60 watt candelabra bulbs it produces a warm, comfortable light for a dining room or nook. The light is a perfect compliment for a cabin, summer home, or room with rustic decor.

NOTELLUM CREEK

Popular fly fishing writer John Gierach says , The secret places are the soul of fishing." I agree. I have had and still continue to hold a few streams and creeks secret. They are not secret because the trout are big, which seems to be the thing most fishers are after, but they are secret because they are special. I'm not going to go into detail about what makes them special, because special to me may seem rather insignificant to you. What I will say, is that I have had experiences in these places that mean something to me personally. It could be something as simple as spending time alone and cherishing the solitude, or as simple as spending some time there with someone I enjoy. Or it may be as simple as loving the way the water looks, the sound it makes, the environment it runs through, or the species of trout found there. These streams and creeks are not necessarily secret because they are out of the way or not known to others. All of these creeks and streams fall under the name: Notellum Creek.  I'm not the first to coin the term, but I use it. People have asked if I went out fly fishing over the weekend and I will tell them, yes. "Where did you go?" they will ask. "Notellum Creek," is often my reply. It's not the best answer if you are looking to win friends and influence people. In fact, I would guess that I have ticked a few people off with my answer. I have to explain, the reasoning for my answer. In the past I have shared some of my secret places with "friends". I have sworn them to secrecy and asked them to not tell anyone else about the spot. They commit to it. On one occasion I took someone to a "secret" spot and asked them to keep it a secret. The next weekend they were there with two buddies. The week after that, his buddy was there with a couple more people, and then a few weeks after that, there was nine guys on this little gem of a creek. Way too many people for its size. One day I will go back there and see if the crowds are gone.Today, I was able to share a little spot with my wife. We have been here a few times together. She likes it. Today, we planned to fish for a couple of hours and then keep a couple for lunch. The water was a little high and the trout not as willing as they are in the fall, which is usually when I fish this area. I did manage to catch a few and we kept one for lunch. It wasn't much, but building the stick fire, cooking the trout in tinfoil, and sharing it was fun. Twenty-six years ago I took my girlfriend to a little creek to catch a trout and cook it in tinfoil. My Blazer got a flat tire on the dirt road. I had no spare tire. (I know, I know, Boy Scout Motto: Be Prepared.) We ended up walking down the road to a girls' camp and asking if anyone was going to town. Three lady leaders said they were going back and we bummed a ride to the nearest town to use a phone and get help. I called my brother and he and his wife came to the rescue and brought us a spare tire. We ended up going home so they could follow us in case something happened with the spare. Walking down that dirt road with that girl was comfortable. She never complained. I ended up marrying her. Strange as this may seem, with all the fishing I have done, I never did cook a tinfoil trout for her. I've brought a few home and cooked them, but with my admiration for trout, I have mostly practiced catch and release. Today, I cooked her a tinfoil trout.Being outside makes me frivolous. It keeps me young. I swear, these secret creeks are the fountains of youth!

COOL EVENING MIST

Standing too close to the waterfall was like taking a cool, misty shower. Not a bad feeling on a hot summer day, but a little too refreshing in the evening. Still, the mist flying into the air from the waterfall felt good. It was invigorating after a short but strenuous hike.

At the beginning of the hike the young men received clues to a "mystery item." There was three sets of clues. None of the young men were able to discover what the item was until the final set of clues was given at the falls. Finally, one of the guys found the item: moss. It was growing in the rock crevices near the waterfall. Everyone had a good time. The views out over Ogden valley were beautiful. I expected a little more water at the falls, but it was still a nice sight. Hearts were beating and lungs were filled with clean mountain air. I learned a bit about the young men and the leaders by watching them and listening to them. Each person in the group has something to offer. It's a fun challenge to watch, listen, and observe their behavior. When i got home I grabbed a notepad and jotted down a few of these observations. The notes from each activity and outing will help in developing a program that will be rewarding--something that will be fun, but also stretch the imagination, the body, and the soul. I like the fact that those who participated set a goal to make it to the falls and then reached the goal. The rewards have to be pointed out until each comes to an understanding of what the rewards are. The rewards do not always have to be a prize, a gift, or something material in nature.The rewards of this outing were simple: Beautiful views, the waterfall, Ogden Valley vista, the creek, trees and rock; the reward of setting a goal and reaching it; the feeling of friendship; the exercise, and hopefully, a feeling that as human beings we belong here. As we hiked out, the sun was starting to lower in the horizon, but not low enough to shatter into color. I could tell it would be a great sunset, but we needed to get the young men back home. Besides, there will be other times for sunsets.

Waterfall Canyon

Tonight I get to use some of my new found knowledge about moss. I'm taking a group of teenage boys and other leaders on a hike. It's a short hike, but a tiny bit challenging. The trail leaves the foothills and heads quickly up a canyon and ends at a 200 foot waterfall. It's a neat sight this time of year. The mountain snow melt is in a hurry to get to Great Salt Lake. The water leaps off the cliff and into the air--mist and rainbows mingle before splashing into a very shallow pool at the base.


I will be handing each young man a paper with hints and descriptions of moss. Just enough info to keep them guessing what the mystery item is. When they discover what it is, we will gather around the moss and talk about its characteristics and find a message in how moss can be a metaphor for things in our lives. The younger boys will also be trying to identify 10 native plants and sign of 10 native animals.

I hope to capture some pictures of the adventure.