Non-fiction adventure from my personal collection of experiences
– A Secret Destination in Burmese Waters – Sixty miles off the west coast of Myanmar on the east side of the triangle formed by the Bay of Bengal, we queued up for shark diving in the open ocean somewhere between India and Indochina. There were fourteen guests on the trip; me and my oilfield buddy and a dozen total strangers. The live-aboard boat carried … Continue reading Shark Diving Adventures in Thailand
– Wild Moments I Haven’t Shared Until Now – I returned to Middle Fork Outfitters in May 2015 to help Ron prepare for the fall hunting season. He was already at Simplot irrigating the pastures, provisioning the ranch, and getting the stock used to working again. A pile of gear and supplies awaited my arrival at the B-C Ranch; I was to sort it into … Continue reading Learning the Hard Way
– How Prospecting in Alaska Sparked a New Chapter in My Life – Twenty years ago, I was neck-deep in the high-tech business world… a geek in a suit traveling 35 weeks a year. My business partner and I were riding a great wave of success but it was taking a toll on us. We had to find some new adventure. The result of our … Continue reading Adventure on the Cripple River
– How to Find Energy & Enthusiasm for Change – I was skiing from camp at Castle Rock to my truck which was loaded with winter provisions and parked on the other side of the wilderness boundary. I made the half-day trip every two or three weeks to resupply. It would be my last run of the season, however; in a month, I’d be starting … Continue reading Starting Over Again at 40, 50, or 60
– Still Relies on Experience – Sixty-eight isn’t old, but I can see old age from here… and I’m mindful to keep my distance. My body moves well but sometimes complains; it might be a little past its prime. Definitely past roped climbs and long winters alone, but I’m still excited to visit wild places and see things seldom seen. My recent trip to Austria … Continue reading Old Dog Learns New Trick
– Still Prone to Thinking Out Loud – When the men returned, there was celebration. Everyone was safe. Tristin got a fire going and they pulled a pre-cooked spaghetti feast from one of the coolers on the raft. Todd cleared space on the table for a two-burner Coleman stove. John and I did the grunt work; we cleaned up and looked for wood, which was … Continue reading Not Solo, Not This Time
– Guides & Packers Party in the Wilderness – “Good start on the season, Ron. Four elk for five hunters.” “Hard to beat, and if you add Larry the bear hunter, we went five for six!” “Right on. Did you get those hunters on the planes alright?” “Oh yeah. Could hardly get their grins through the door. They’re happy, but they won’t be back.” Too … Continue reading Backcountry Company Picnic
– Ted Anderson: A Living Legend – Ted was almost ninety years old when I met him. His home on the corner of Tenth and Main was a clean and tidy place. It was nondescript except for the huge pine tree in the front yard. His daughter Tammy had scrap books laid out on the dining table. She was anxious to share memorabilia that accounted … Continue reading Humble Heroes
– Surly Stock Shenanigans – Early December, the company flew me out to the Flying B Ranch. I was a wrangler and winter caretaker for the backcountry facility, and it was time to go to work. There were thirty-five head of horses and mules that needed my attention and I genuinely enjoyed their company. Taint was a horse that thought he was human but he … Continue reading Winter Wrangling
– Soloing the Bighorn Crags in October – The trailhead into the Bighorn Crags was three hours from Salmon, and that little town in Idaho was almost three hours from the nearest large airport… which meant anyone visiting the Crags from outside the state would have to travel six hours once their plane landed just to arrive at the trailhead. That was too remote for … Continue reading Dangerous Playground
