Tuesday, September 4, 2012

break glass in case of emergency


I'm thinking everyone has at least one, most likely several.

You know, those secret stashes you've accumulated over a lifetime of fly fishing.  They all have some basic criteria in common:  
  1. fish well or even Xtremely well.
  2. for big mountain trout or pure-bred cutthroats.
  3. remain well off the beaten path, frequented by exactly no one.  But by yourself, that is.  Because who else is willing to risk the <choose one or more of the following as applies> rattlesnakes, sheer cliffs, box canyon, grizz, raging rapids, death march, cougars, snowfields, T-boomers....?


That right there is the definition of emergency secret stash, the glass to be broken only on rare occasions.  


 On an emergency basis only, if you get my meaning.


Such is the predicament I recently found myself in: the end of the season fast approaching, just a solitary day to fish, this trip needed to be beyond the 'ordinary'.


Casting about through the memory banks for a locale to fit the bill, I settled on one particular box canyon reach, first explored with my Dad- now there's an angler who appreciates the notion of secret stash!

That day proved most excellent, enough for the Return to always haunt the corners of the waking mind.



Yeah gotta get back up there.  



Oh ya Mon, secret stash.


But thinking backonit, I was astonished to remember it was the very weekend of Hurricane Katrina, what now, already seven years ago?  That fact alone sealed it, time to break the glass on this fly fishing emergency.


And yes, I found evidence that in the intervening years, exactly No One has risked the impassible cliffs, the perilous rock crawl, the dark box canyon.  Risked all to briefly connect with the pure-bred cutthroat trout that call this place, this pristine Place, home.


After all, that would just be plain crazy, am I right?

15 comments:

  1. Most Excellent Mike! Stunning and untouched...how lucky you are. I used to have a similar place...then the horse died and I had no way to get there.

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    1. Thx Howard- with 7 years between trips into the box, I left wondering if I would ever fish that water, those fish, again. Check back in 2020! Mike

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  2. A stash like no other...

    I'm not sure I could leave that stash lonely for seven years...I must not be as patient as you :-)

    Cheers

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    1. Now I'm not one to exercise much self control either, but those harrowing cliffs make you think twice. Very intimidating- enough to induce vertigo looking down into the depths from way above. I think you need about seven years to forget the terror of the descent! ;-)

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  3. Great post Mike. This is some absolutely beautiful water. I have to get out and see you sometime.

    Ben

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    1. Howdy Ben! Well give me a shout next season, I'm sure I could show you some water. But fair warning- I'm also sure you will never be the same :-)

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  4. Beautiful stuff. I'm with Sean. Couldn't wait till 2019. Tomorrow wouldn't be too soon.

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    1. Thx Mike! The rocky mountain west is crawling with creeks like this. Most of the fun is in the finding~ mike

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  5. I'm not one for scrambling around deadly heights, but for that scenery and those fish I might risk it. I am, however, perfectly content to enjoy it through your words and photos. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. That's what I'm sayin too. I need to find another that doesn't risk life and limb~. Mjh

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  6. What an awesome place. I've stashed this place for my dreams.

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    1. Hi Steve- yep this place has haunted me for years. With good reason too~

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  7. Superb. That is literally the stuff dreams are made of! I could handle the cliffs, snakes, hike, etc - what would get me is the T-boomers! Why am I so flippin' afraid of lightening?!

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    1. Speaking of- don't forget flash floods- yeesh mike

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  8. Thx for checking in everyone! Mike

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