Jerry grew up in the Tacoma, WA area but calls Colorado home. I loved listening to him talk about his daily Rocky Mountain “high” driving from Fort Collins to Estes Park. After a year of travel to rivers in the seven Rocky Mountain states, I can relate well to Jerry’s living passion.

Jerry knew all the right holes for us to fish below the reservoir helping me find more than my share of rainbows and browns. As high wind gusts threatened to knock me off my feet midstream, Jerry was right there ensuring that I didn’t find myself swimming. It was a great day with Jerry and the backdrop wasn’t too shabby either.

Thanks, Jerry!

+ Beautiful Day on the Big Thompson

Δ Wind Gusts up to 35 MPH

As I drove north on Route 34 from Lyons, I was astonished by the damage from the September floods. Some 25 years ago on a hiking vacation I stayed on Route 34 at a river-side cabin known as “Shelly’s Cabins”. The photo here shows what was left of the property. This was the case from Lyons to Estes Park. Mother Nature rules.

When I first called Kirk’s Fly Shop, I inquired as to whether this river was still fishable considering the extent of the damage from the floods in September. I don’t know what I expected – perhaps that the fish had all been washed downstream? In fact, Jerry Lehtinen, my guide from Kirk’s, said that within two weeks after the flood, they had some of the best fishing ever due to the number of fish that had washed over the dam. In the three months since then, the fishing has died down considerably, but was still good.

Jerry drove us to a spot below the reservoir that looked inviting enough until we opened the Jeep’s doors and I had my hat blown off. The wind continued all day with gusts up to 30 MPH nearly blowing me over while standing in the middle of the river. The fish didn’t seem to care what was going on above the surface as we were able to land quite a few brilliantly colored rainbows and browns.

I don’t think I’ve ever been willing to call a day short, but the wind made me do it. I actually decided to quit an hour early. I thought back to all the long days throughout the year in hotter or colder weather operating on little sleep and I was never willing to quit early. I wondered if the reality of the end of my year made me cave a little to the discomfort.

A few years back I spent New Year’s Day on the Big T. I think a repeat performance is in the cards.

+ Outdoors all day.

Δ Skiing, not fishing.

This photo is the hay bale tool shed built by community members. Gardeners can store their tools in the shed and a tool lending program will also be implemented next summer. In addition, a growing dome was built that serves as a greenhouse. The garden provides space for the community members to rent plots to grow their own vegetables, fruits and flowers. Fruit trees are planted around the periphery and there are Nature Explore play areas and outdoor seating.

In so many ways, libraries have made significant changes to remain not only an important information resource for our communities where people can discover and learn, but also a place that allows people to come together and create and invent.

When I hear the question “Are libraries still relevant?” I can adamantly say, “Without a doubt.”

December 18, 2014. The temperature was -20 at the Durango airport two nights before I planned my trip down to the San Juan River. I had fished in minus temperatures in January when I first started my journey, but hoped that I wouldn’t have to do it again. I lucked out when the high hit in the mid-thirties, which felt downright balmy.

Having a home in Durango, I had fished the San Juan several times before including a rafting trip through the famous Texas Hole. That really wasn’t my cup of tea –  lots of people floating in circles. So, I decided to try the “upper braids.” Unlike most other times of the year on the San Juan, I saw only one other angler all day.

I spent the majority of my day with streamers hoping to find some of the larger fish who had to rely more on eating other fish rather than insects. I still don’t have the touch with streamers. As I contemplated my next moves so I could see a fish or two on the river that day, it dawned on me that the fly known as the San Juan worm, one of the most ubiquitous flies in the sport, might be a good fly to use on the San Juan River.  Sure enough, on the second cast, I started to see results.

I found myself drawn to taking photographs, thinking about how I’ve enjoyed the photography as much as the fishing throughout the year. In some ways, when shooting photos, I feel even more in tuned with the greater outdoors because I’m not focused on just the water and the fish.

In the end, it’s all good. Just being outdoors, by myself, thinking about the bigger picture.

Can a year have passed so quickly?

I did get out for a few hours this week and am hoping with the upcoming heatwave (somewhere in the 30s) I’ll cast a few more lines. The Animas River in Durango is always a treat for me being my second “home waters” after the South Platte in Denver. This part of Colorado is so scenic and yet, like the history of so many rivers, the beauty of this river is deceptive. Although it is now a good fishery, it suffered from years of mining abuse. Although an angler can now see both wild and stocked rainbows and browns that average 12-18 inches, you will need to go the more popular holes to find these fish.

Much of the fishing is within the city of Durango and has an urban flavor, but Durango cannot really be called a city. It’s alive and bustling but only houses around 16,000 people. Much of the fishing north of town along Highway 550 is private although you can fish on the Southern Ute Reservation south of town.

Let’s see what this next outing brings.

+ In Durango by the Animas

Δ -20 yesterday!

And right he was. Although I had not been on this river before, Norman pointed out where new channels were carved and how different the river now appeared. While showing me all this, the owner of the property, Kelly Shannon, came out to visit with us. He was a gentle soul and told some stories of his life here by the river. We observed him feeding the trout in the stream, much as you or I would our pets in our home. It made me yearn for my own stretch of river property. Now that’s pie in the sky!

Norman is Native American and has been fishing the Pecos since he was a toddler. He works out of the High Desert Angler Fly Shop in Santa Fe. Nick and Norman were on the first youth fly-fishing team and Norman walked away with first place in the competition. He is still competing and hopes to do well in the new Professional Fishing Association (PFA) Tour. An Environmental Studies/Biology Major, Norman knows about ichthyology, entomology, water hydrology, biology and of course casting and mending. He was a true inspiration.