Rusty’s journal during the trip with Richard, Vietnam era Veteran, in Elliott State Forest. Mission by ODFW
November 13, 10 p.m.
An early day. A beautiful day. The journey here is the adventure. I was made aware today that being “lost” with a friend isn’t being lost at all.
It was amazing to see an early coho on her redd today. An “icing on the cake”, if you will.
Tonight I sleep under the arms of giants!
November 14, 9:38 p.m.
A long ways from camp. On foot, of course. It’s getting dark. The rain is non-stop and we need to get fire started. Sounds like a good reason to head back? Not if the fish are rising!
This region is a maze of steep mountains, giant for trees and rivers in between.
November 15
6:12 a.m. Rained all night. I could even hear rocks turning and shifting with the rising water.
Rich was up at 03:30 am to get the fire going. He thought it was 07:00! Guess he’ll be watching soon.
11:21 a.m. We stopped by the fish ladder to see what difference the rain had made. Rich spotted salmon using the ladder. I saw a steelhead rise. And we spooked several otters. All throughout the drainage we saw salmon/steelhead moving. Every bridge we crossed, we would stop and look. It was “road fishing”!
November 15, 9 p.m.
I’m at home now. Dry, tired, clean and warm. But the stillness of Elliot State Forest is still with me. Or, have I ever left?
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