River Diaries: July 18, 2023

Playing Chicken with Lightening For a 5 inch Thrill

July 18th 2023

Tuesday. 86° Humid/Buggy
River High
4:15-4:45 PM Ash Grove
The White Creek along
roads to Caer Luna Farm

The sky is wild. The air is electric and the hairs on my arms are standing straight up. In minutes there will be a break in the sky, a torrent of rain, a thunderclap so jarring I will lose my footing on the wet stones I am perched on. But right now, in this moment time has stopped and I am a sweaty vessel for hope.

If I was out hiking I would have already retreated to lower ground. I would be safely setting up an emergency tarp in an area out of the wind and free of dead or weak trees. I would check my emergency weather radio, because I would have one in my pack because I would be in a place without cell service. I would sit out the storm making a cup of tea or snacking on trail food, watching the rain, reading a book.

One of my favorite things about hiking, even day hikes, was always having everything I needed to make a home comfortable from fear anywhere I went. I think that’s why I love backpacking so much. The freedom to have all you need with you, the assurance that even when danger is near you can take care of yourself.

But here I am, a different woman entirely. I left home before a storm. I did it in pursuit of small, wily, trout that I may or may not find. This is my new quarry. After weeks of casting to brown trout in the river, I am now trying to catch these wild native brook trout right on my home mountain.