Doing Hard Things in Life

I participated in a youth trek to simulate a few days on the trails the Mormon pioneers used coming to the Salt Lake Valley. I was the captain of five families. It was pretty tough. We traveled over nine miles each of the first two days and finished up with five miles the last day--pushing and pulling a handcart. I learned so much about myself, about others, about pioneer history, and about doing hard things in life. It is inevitable that we will face hard things in life. When I find the time I will post more of this great experience.

Check out Troutseeker for the latest fly fishing adventure.

http://www.troutseeker.blogspot.com/


Latest fly fishing adventure.

Anemia

I have always been fascinated with the Anasazi and all Native American cultures in the southwest. I took a couple of anthropology classes in college, but most of my study and reading has been on my own. The landscape there is so beautiful and mysterious. I love the open areas, the expanse of large valleys, the vistas, the dryness and the color. I love to watch birds of prey float on the thermals circling the landscape.


A few years ago, I began to read the writings of Craig Childs. His writing interests me, but I get the feeling that some of his adventures and stories are exaggerated. Of course, I have no way of knowing that, it's just a feeling. Still, I have learned that fiction or partial fiction is good. Is it real if it happens in the writer's mind? Whether real or not it did happen.


This is my poem about the people who inhabited part of the southwest--maybe those around Chaco Canyon.
















Anemia

Chert, notched and chipped
holds its edge for one-thousand years,
lays on ground churned by wind and water.
Its story whispered on hot thermals
that carry vulture wings high above mesas
where signal fire smoke sought the moon.

Summer solstice light
slides along its flaked
sides, the workmanship
of ancient hunters
who had to settle for the gold
maize of civilization.

Blown dust reveals maddened minds,
body cavity cages with arrowheads inside,
bones boiled and cracked.
Human muscle protein
myoglobin residue on the inside of pots,
and in human feces laying next
to smashed skulls.

Utah House Bill 37 Compromise for Stream Access

I remember fishing just about every creek, stream, and river in northern Utah when I was growing up. As long as I stayed on the trails or waded the water, it seemed like everyone was happy. I remember landowners coming out with a smile on their faces asking me if I'd caught anything and then suggesting holes to try. People were just friendlier then.




Now, it seems like everyone just wants to complain, treat others disrespectfully, and selfishly not share. I guess we have really become a materialistic society.




In Utah there is a battle going on as to who owns the water. The state constitution gives that right to the citizens. Within the past few years the rights of the citizens to recreate on the water as long as no damage or harm or laws were broken was verified by the Utah supreme court in a 5-0 ruling. Two years ago (2012) the Utah legislature passed a law that overturned the supreme court ruling and allowed private interest to basically lock up most of Utah's creeks, streams, and rivers from fishing, kayaking, floating, and other recreational pursuits.




The management of the fish and wildlife in these streams is funded by tax payer dollars, and fees for hunting and fishing licenses, as well as generous donations from sporting and recreation people of Utah.




I feel the public has a right to recreate on our public water. I am not advocating trespassing, polluting, litter, or vandalism--all which are against the law. I believe those who participate in this behavior should be prosecuted.



There is a way to access our rivers and streams through public easements which have always existed. Once the water is accessed, it is the responsibility of the recreationist  to obey laws. This means they should stay in the water or below the ordinary high water mark of the river or stream. They do not have the right to access through private property or exit through the same. They must not vandalize, harass, trash, or abuse the land or water in any way. This law has been working in Idaho for a few decades. It is possible. Idaho recognizes the amount of revenue that comes into its state by water recreationists. Not to mention the value that comes to individuals and families that have the opportunity to play together outdoors.




This year (2014) a bill HB37 is in the works that is a compromise to the HB141 bill passed two years ago which locked up our rivers and streams. If passed it will allow recreationists the same opportunity that exists in Idaho--a very workable solution which should benefit landowners and recreationists.


http://utahstreamaccess.org/usac-wp/




Click on the above link to find out what you can do to help Utah remain a destination state for outdoor recreation and to allow it's visitors and citizens the access to their public water.

Remembering Saint Charles Creek

Remembering Saint Charles Creek


Red and gray stone markers
lay upon the ground in shade
from giant firs older than memories.

The mine and cabin buried beneath a bulldozer's
push of soil and rock
hides the dreams of brothers.

Cattle keep alive the path
through willow and birch thickets;
the trail of transcendental fly fishermen.

Follow it and find
the gold of aspen leaves,
the silver of sunlit water.

Some dreams die, but not all of them.
There will always be boys tossing grasshoppers into the creek,
and at least one grown man doing the same.

Two Nice Afternoons

I had two really good Saturdays on the Ogden River. I posted them on my other blog: www.troutseeker.blogspot.com

Crisp Fall Morning on the River