Great Sand Dunes National Park and The Joy of Detours
If you’re traveling from Denver to Durango, you’ve got a few options at your disposal. I-70 through Summit County and along the Colorado River is a solid choice. As is 285 southwest out of Denver. Or you could take 115 from Colorado Springs past Pikes Peak and into Salida. They’re all beautiful. Andrew and I were sitting in a coffee shop in Colorado Springs. It … Continue reading Great Sand Dunes National Park and The Joy of Detours
Baptism River in Late November
Sometimes it takes a change of plans to get us to slow down. My recent trip to the Baptism River is as far back as I need to look for an example. The plan was to drive up on a Tuesday morning with my fishing gear, spend the day on the water, stay with some friends in Duluth, then spend Wednesday fishing, before driving back … Continue reading Baptism River in Late November
Back On The Kinni
My first time fly fishing for trout was on the Kinnickinnic River. It was a rainy day in late April of 2014. A buddy and I spent the morning watching Premier League soccer at my place in Uptown. We paid close attention to the radar to find a break in the weather. That break never came, but we embarked anyway. The Lower Kinni at the … Continue reading Back On The Kinni
Calendar Says January, Weather Says March
I offered to pick up breakfast sandwiches for Mike and I before going to the river because I’m a nice guy. This fact can’t be overstated. A nice sausage patty with scrambled eggs and cheddar cheese between a biscuit bun. But I’ll get back to that later. It was close to 40 degrees at the height of the day. The handwarmers I tucked into the … Continue reading Calendar Says January, Weather Says March
Icy Rivers And Sluggish Fish
Winter fly fishing is synonymous with empty rivers. All the spots you like at your favorite place are open. That hole that guarantees a few big rainbows just before the rock? It’s all yours. That run with the long, deep stretch that holds fish all day? Have at it, champ. That slow pool that looks tasty and you can see the hogs rolling on the … Continue reading Icy Rivers And Sluggish Fish
It’s Beginning To Look Nothing Like Christmas
This has become somewhat of a tradition for us. Christmas tree hunting the weekend of Thanksgiving. Every year has brought different weather. The first year was snowy and frigid. Last year was just a bunch of mud. It was cold, but the mud was inescapable. This year is warm. The trusty car thermometer said 49 degrees. Sunshine through high thin clouds produced a hazy warmth. … Continue reading It’s Beginning To Look Nothing Like Christmas
#OptOutside
It’s better to spend the day outside than it is spend it packed into a store fighting over deals. That’s how REI feels and a lot of people agree. They had this idea in 2015 to encourage their co-op members to choose nature over consumerism on Black Friday. It was a big thing when they announced it. Many other stores and outdoor brands quickly followed … Continue reading #OptOutside
San Francisco On A Rental Bike
Every city you visit deserves to be seen on two wheels. Riding with traffic and chatting with other cyclists at stoplights, cruising hills big and small, and breathing in the sounds and smells of whatever the city exhales. When I was in San Francisco, I made it a point to find a rental that I could ride through the city to the fire roads of … Continue reading San Francisco On A Rental Bike
Madison River Fly Fishing
I forgot to have dinner the night I flew to Bozeman from Minneapolis. It was a mistake. With the exception of vending machines, there were no food options open late in the BZN airport. There was nothing open in Big Sky when we got into town at 11pm either. I inhaled two granola bars and two beers before bed. It’s also worth noting that you … Continue reading Madison River Fly Fishing
National Bison Day
It’s about damn time we celebrate the bison. The Obama Administration dedicated the first Saturday in November to our national mammal in 2012. For such a storied, majestic creature, what the hell took us so long? Before the West was settled, upwards of 30,000,000 bison roamed our country. This was back when caribou were at home in Minnesota and elk resided in the Appalachians. By … Continue reading National Bison Day
Birch & Flannel 