Fishing

I dont know why I didnt bring my fishing stuff out here for the spring. In fact I could be fishing right now catching big browns and bows in Wind River Canyon. Well I do know why, I want to concentrate on school. For good reason. I'm almost done and seem to be doing all right in all my classes.

I took a biology exam on cells recently and knew all the material, surprisingly. We also just concluded a wood firing at the college that took 33 hours. I took the early shift from 2am to 8am. I put a lot of nice pots in and with the cottonwood we used there should be a lot of dark blues and blacks. The wood fire process is time consuming, but worth it. I guess I consider myself a potter now as all my free time during the week is spent in the studio throwing, mixing glazes and clay, and loading and unloading kilns. I really enjoy it.

The ski season is coming to a close for me. I dont live close enough to the mountain to get out on these warm spring days. This is sad but I have had alot of days on the mountain for a kid that is going to school full time. I think I have gone skiing almost every weekend since I got off my NOLS course. I have no regrets.

foghee

I found an apartment in Lander Wyo. Its about damn time. I finally unloaded my gear out of the car and took my bike off the top. I had a flat tire on the bike, what a surprise. I bought a cheap mattress from some Amish people. I then bought some mason jars. The important thing to note is the amount of snow out here in western Wyoming. Record amounts at Teton Village and Targhee. Its been dumping on Togowtee pass as well. I plan to head up to Targhee this weekend, should have some good skiing.

D-town

I have returned to Duluth. My last few days in Wyoming were spent organizing the crazy amount of gear I was keeping in my car. Every time I go away I seem to accumulate more. It just happens I guess. I spent a day in Riverton with my dirtbag friends in their little hobbit hole they call a house. We drank some beer and played hacky sack. It was a nice way to ease back into society. We had a copious amount of snow in the mountains and I'm not really sure why I left to come back, but its nice to be back for awhile, just relaxing.

NOLS was an incredible time. I learned a lot about myself, various technical skills, and lots of leadership skills. My instructors were encouraging to me, as my previous experiences in the outdoors gave me a big advantage over the entire course. I think I'll be taking my NOLS instructor course within a couple of years so I can start working/teaching in the field a lot more.

I'm happy.

Lethal Weapon series, excellent.

I ship out in the morning for another fire, hopefully I get a full 14 days out of it. Everything's good here. We did over 100 push ups today in a very short amount of time. My hair is still long and spirits high. NOLS is fast approaching. Fishing is getting better. Hoppers are out!

Tight tippets.

Fire Crew and Things

Its been a long time since I've written, so I'll drink a Pabst Blue Ribbon and think. While there are a lot of things I should be doing this evening, such as laundry and showering, I will put them off for a little while longer. Last week was the first time since high school that I took a shower two days in a row. I'm proud off myself, I feel like a big kid. What prompted it was a fire, and 27 hours of overtime. My entire body was covered in ash. Work like this demands that I take showers more regularly. Even Van living isn't this dirty.

Work has been consuming me out here, as I work for about 14 days consecutively and only take 1 day off. The overtime is well worth it. We have been on fires, and project work (chainsaw duty) for a while now. Wyoming is finally starting to heat up. Fire season is here, and I am up for Teton crew, (basically twenty people from the Bridger Teton Forest that are likely to travel nation wide). Excited is all I can say.

I have had little time to fish. Its disappointing, but school tuition, loans, and NOLS payments are high priorities. I'm also putting a good deal of money away for a Subaru. After work is usually my best option for fishing. I did however get the chance to fish all of this weekend. I slayed some major Cutthroats. Many in the 12-14 category, and the biggest at 16-17 inches. It felt real good to catch some Wyoming trout, Have a beer, and just relax around the campfire with buddies. I feel much more confident on my fly fishing skills each time I go out now. I was able to catch fish out of almost every hole, in crystal clear water no less. Fluorocarbon. (it sinks)! I am steadily creeping up towards guide status. The unfortunate thing about these rivers is all the brush on the banks. Cutts love to hide under there, and flys get lost pretty quick. Anyway, I felt about as confident on these rivers as I do while Steelheading, it was a breath of fresh air

Still hard to believe I'm on this fire crew. Livin the dream.

BIg Piney

The fun's just beginning out here in Wyoming. PT, the pack test, and money.I'm out in the middle of nowhere. Not much to Big Piney, but work should keep the crew busy. We might be out doing project work; chainsawing and piling, or working a fire. Its all up to the weather.

I feel pretty bad ass working for the Forest Service, and looking professional in Nomex pants and such. The crew works out, hard. Its good. This is going to be a fun summer. Lots of trout fishing opportunity out here. Trout excite me just as much as the thought of being on fire. What a surprise.

Pictures up soon.

Memories

School is finally wrapping up here, only a week and a half left. I look back on my first year of college and realize it has been an experience. I've had a lot of fun. I've met new people, made good friends, found new bouldering spots, gone backcountry skiing more than I should have, listened to John Prine, Neil Young, and Gordon Lightfoot while thinking of the times my Dad and I have spent roaming around the countryside, made trips to Jackson in my shady van in hopes to find good snow, and recently fish, I have discovered how much I enjoy throwing pots, I have maintained goods grades while still living the mountain lifestyle, I have lived in my van, lived in Lander city park, Lived in Sinks canyon, ate lots of good food, ate lots of bad food, tried lots of good beer, written journal entries in the Tetons, have become addicted to good coffee, rode my bike everywhere, met girls that were way out of my league but still liked me anyways (guides of all sorts), worn my carhartt overalls to fancy dinners with my toothbrush in my front pocket and campfire smudge on my face (don't ask me why I did this), watched counter culture movies with my dirtbag friend and roommate while drinking beer, found a place in my heart for wrangler jeans, made good with NOLS folks, teaching at least ten people to slackline,etc. Wyoming is a place I love. Its wild and generally people mind their own fucking business. This state has it all. I have realized the potential. Especially skiing and fishing, my two favorite activities.

Right now I'm focused on training for my wildland fire job. Yup, I finally got on a crew. This is something I've wanted for a long time, so I'll be damned if I'm not in good shape when I get there. I am a Forest Service employee, I am a fed, but the money's good and my long term career options are open even further. I hope it all works out.

Good Luck America.

Get better J.T.

More Family Madness

Your true passion should feel like breathing-it's that natural
-Oprah

Steelheading Madness

On my way home, want to fish real bad.

Spring Break

This past week I was in Wilson, Wyoming for my spring break. I was skiing with Reeve, we had a great time. The best part of the trip was in part of where we stayed. It was in the "guest cabin" courtesy of the Roscoe family. I can't begin to thank them enough for their generosity. We decided to rip up Targhee, and as it turns out it was the only powder day they've had for weeks. Bliss. A good 7 inches of powder on the groomers. We had fun on some slush bumps on the King for a couple days and the Village for a day. The tram took us up, Rendezvous bowl took us down. Jump turns on bumps the whole trip, and I feel my knees are ten years older than I am. I will need a replacement some day. I have come to terms with this. We also poached the backcountry. Lots of powder. (I dug a pit on a windblown slope and got a ct 5, q1 shear. It was sketch to say the least, so we moved to another spot and had fun there).

This was another great Reeve and Cam adventure. Also my van did not perish. I am very happy about this. However, I thought my brakes were going to blow out on Teton Pass, luckily they didn't. My real test is next week when I drive the (flylow) Van Helsing home. It's gonna be a fun trip.

I have a pony-tail. Wow.