A Water Education

“Emerald, that was a really moving essay about your dad,” a friend commented after my reading of a piece published in a department literary magazine a few years ago. “But Continue reading →

Red Squares

When I was twelve years old, I went on a Middle Fork of the Salmon river trip with my family and a group of their boating buddies. I built sand Continue reading →

Ladies Boat

A half yell/half tune erupts from the bow of the eighteen foot raft. “Ohhhh it’s ladies boat! And we hope it floats!” I roll my eyes at the ruckus but Continue reading →

Grand

Four of us pile into the SUV in the Days Inn parking lot. A bright orange kayak has been haphazardly strapped to the roof rack, my face is smashed against Continue reading →

Seeing the River for the Fish, Seeing the River for the Waves

The ground has just begun to stretch awake from winter in Beartrap Canyon of the Madison River. Although free of snow, the trail rings frozen under my boots and the Continue reading →

The Female Crying Point

  Often experienced but poorly documented, the female crying point occurs when a particular combination of frustration and exhaustion mix with an outdoor sport and a more experienced partner. Symptoms Continue reading →

Finding Clear Water

I’ve started work as a Wilderness Ranger Intern for the Selway-Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation. It’s a mix of trail work, inventorying and visitor contact. Lots of time alone in the Continue reading →

Instinct

Wade into the aching cold creek and shed your human body. Cover yourself in gray and green scales. Turn upstream. Feel gravel lightly scratch your stomach, cool water ripple past Continue reading →

James Robert LaFortune

Dad’s memorial service was on Sunday. I could try to summarize his life and what he meant to me in one blog post, but I would fail. I could try Continue reading →