I died a few years ago on Hazel Creek in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. And, even now, I not so sure that I actually made it out of there alive. Impossible, you say. Otherwise, how could I write this? An objection that’s understandable. But I’m telling you. I truly lost my … Read more
Fly Fishing Laurel Fork, TN really should be titled, The One That Got Away. Or, The Ham Sandwich. The Ham Sandwich? What does that have to do with fly fishing the Laurel Fork in East Tennessee in Hampton? Well, read on and it will all make sense. Maybe. Someday. To begin with, I should tell … Read more
Backcountry Fly Fishing On The Other Side is based on true events… My confession. If the truth be told. See. I had the most earth-shattering backcountry fly fishing trip, ever. Years ago. One that will never be topped. Not in this life. And it was just as the trip was starting. That’s when it hit … Read more
So section hiking Sam’s Gap to 19E on the Appalachian Trail. I bet you want to know what it’s like… Well, I suppose that I could tell you exactly what you’d discover on this scenic and isolated part of the A.T. However, my 75-mile section hike through this remote region was rather strange, scary, and … Read more
So fly fishing Rocky Fork, Tennessee? Or even hiking. I bet you want to know what it’s like. Well, why don’t you just hike in there sometime and find out? Seriously, though, I’d be glad to tell you all about my experiences fly fishing Rocky Fork State Park in Tennessee. It’s just that you should … Read more
So I’ve always wanted to take a trip up north to see the aurora borealis. But I’ve never really felt like flying all the way to Alaska, Canada, Norway, or Iceland. Just to freeze my butt off in the snow, while spooning with a bunch of furry sled dogs. Brrr! Thing is, another thing that … Read more
I’ve probably experienced more fear at various points in my life than most people will experience in an entire lifetime. Fear of dying. Fear of losing my mind. Fear of going blind. All real fears, but magnified many times over in my mind to become anxiety. Anxiety? What’s that? Some people might ask. My roommate … Read more
True story. I nearly died during a long day of fly fishing. In fact, I fly fished my way right up to the edge of disaster. Oh wow! What happened, man? Well, I… You know, I think it’s best if I start at the beginning. That way you’ll understand all of the events that almost … Read more
The first time that I went fly fishing on the St. Joe River in the panhandle of Idaho, I thought that I’d arrived at a heaven on earth. A real nirvana for the fly fisherman. The water was crystal clear. Cool. Delightful. Not too hard to wade. The scenery. Stunning. Jaw-dropping. The trout. Big, fun, … Read more
A while ago, after fly fishing Beaverdam Creek in Northeast Tennessee one evening, I accidentally had to spend the night alone in the woods. I had no food, shelter, or treated water. It got dark and cold. For awhile, I wasn’t even sure if I’d make it through the night. It was no joke. This … Read more
I met a real psychopath when I went fly fishing on Penns Creek in central PA one day. Snuck up on me. I also met a man with no face. Well, he had a face. It was just that certain parts were missing. His jaw. Lips. Parts of his skull. Haunts me to this day. … Read more
I lost something. I’ll never get it back. I was almost in tears. Yes, I nearly broke down a few times while camping and fly fishing on the upper Big Lost River in central Idaho. Hooked a huge Cutthroat trout one day. One of my best drifts ever. Right in the back of a slow … Read more