Steelhead FAIL / Tom WIN
Sunday night found me in the grips of cabin fever, the whispering in my ear was, "Take some time off, go to the Clearwater alone, camp and fish...reconnect with yourself....RELAX!"
I listened, and even though I didn't have a fishing license, any camping or fishing gear together, or even a real plan, I was stoked!! You'll see me Wednesday night world! So long suckers!
I tossed and turned that night with visions of steelhead dancing through my head. That's when I woke up and reality pressed upon me, forcing me think and plan. First things first, let's check the road conditions! After a couple weeks of warm weather, I was certain the roads would be dry and clear. Hmmm, not so. Down around Moscow the Idaho Transportation Department was telling me it was "difficult" driving conditions. I started to feel a little anxious and nervous and then turned my attention to the weather.
What's this? Snow? Blowing snow? Winter weather watch...blizzard conditions likely...wind gusts of up to 40 mph...hazardous road and travel conditions predicted...and finally, "expect the lowest temperatures of the winter with temperatures in the single digits during the day and below zero at night." Not sure about you, but that doesn't sound like any fun; that doesn't sound relaxing. That definitely doesn't sound like weather I want to CAMP in....been there, done that.
I've got a peculiar trait of feeling obligated to do things once I say I'm going to do them, even if it's supposed to be for my enjoyment. I was torn. But, I took a shower and started getting stuff together like the little trooper I am. That's where the lists came in. I needed:
- Fishing license
- Food
- Organize / pack gear
- New line put on the reel and extra steelhead gear
- Firewood!
- Don't forget to take clean water
- Tarps!
- COLD weather gear!
- Better pack two sleeping bags...again, been in that situation before
I could go on and on.
About that time, I realized I didn't want to go. Somehow that was turning into entirely more work than I wanted it to be. One of the main reasons a guy goes to the Clearwater this time of year is to enjoy a preview of spring. To sit in the sun. To look at all the green grass and budding trees. With all that not in the cards, I made the inevitable decision to trust my gut and stay home. Almost instantly, my anxiety was gone and I felt "in control" once again!
So that's what I did, but since I was up and dressed (it was only about 0700 by that time) what should I do? I started by cleaning up stuff I left out since Christmas...which led me into the garage. I cleaned the garage, organized my hunting gear and finally put it away, I did a survey of my fishing stuff and made a list of what I needed, I cut target backing from a lot of boxes...it went on and on like that until noon. I made more to-do lists because somewhere in there I had decided I was NOT going to work on Tuesday. Finally, around 1600 I got some meat out to thaw...burgers for dinner! That's when it happened.
I was passing through the bedroom and flopped on the bed at 1700. Sarah woke me up at 1900 thinking I was dead since I was fully dressed, on top of the covers, and not moving. I kinda rolled over and said hi, then fell asleep again. I woke up the second time at 2130 and groggily walked out to the living room to see if it was Tuesday....nope, still Monday night. Dinner didn't appeal to me, so I finally took out my contacts, changed, and went back to bed! I didn't wake up until 0600 the next day! THIRTEEN hours of sleep. THIRTEEN straight!
That night we got a couple inches of wet snow, which made all the roads in northern (and central) Idaho very treacherous. So, I just poked around town and did all the things I DIDN'T do on Monday. Since then, we've received about 12 inches of snow, lows in the negatives at night...highs in the teens...howling wind...and basically just solid winter weather (enough to delay opening the office by four hours on Thursday.) The positive is that I used that time to get ready for when the next "head south" urge comes on. I'll be able to just grab stuff and roll.
It was nice to get confirmation that I DO have a head on my shoulders! And, my mood was immensley improved by the sleep. Something everyone can enjoy!
I listened, and even though I didn't have a fishing license, any camping or fishing gear together, or even a real plan, I was stoked!! You'll see me Wednesday night world! So long suckers!
I tossed and turned that night with visions of steelhead dancing through my head. That's when I woke up and reality pressed upon me, forcing me think and plan. First things first, let's check the road conditions! After a couple weeks of warm weather, I was certain the roads would be dry and clear. Hmmm, not so. Down around Moscow the Idaho Transportation Department was telling me it was "difficult" driving conditions. I started to feel a little anxious and nervous and then turned my attention to the weather.
What's this? Snow? Blowing snow? Winter weather watch...blizzard conditions likely...wind gusts of up to 40 mph...hazardous road and travel conditions predicted...and finally, "expect the lowest temperatures of the winter with temperatures in the single digits during the day and below zero at night." Not sure about you, but that doesn't sound like any fun; that doesn't sound relaxing. That definitely doesn't sound like weather I want to CAMP in....been there, done that.
I've got a peculiar trait of feeling obligated to do things once I say I'm going to do them, even if it's supposed to be for my enjoyment. I was torn. But, I took a shower and started getting stuff together like the little trooper I am. That's where the lists came in. I needed:
- Fishing license
- Food
- Organize / pack gear
- New line put on the reel and extra steelhead gear
- Firewood!
- Don't forget to take clean water
- Tarps!
- COLD weather gear!
- Better pack two sleeping bags...again, been in that situation before
I could go on and on.
About that time, I realized I didn't want to go. Somehow that was turning into entirely more work than I wanted it to be. One of the main reasons a guy goes to the Clearwater this time of year is to enjoy a preview of spring. To sit in the sun. To look at all the green grass and budding trees. With all that not in the cards, I made the inevitable decision to trust my gut and stay home. Almost instantly, my anxiety was gone and I felt "in control" once again!
So that's what I did, but since I was up and dressed (it was only about 0700 by that time) what should I do? I started by cleaning up stuff I left out since Christmas...which led me into the garage. I cleaned the garage, organized my hunting gear and finally put it away, I did a survey of my fishing stuff and made a list of what I needed, I cut target backing from a lot of boxes...it went on and on like that until noon. I made more to-do lists because somewhere in there I had decided I was NOT going to work on Tuesday. Finally, around 1600 I got some meat out to thaw...burgers for dinner! That's when it happened.
I was passing through the bedroom and flopped on the bed at 1700. Sarah woke me up at 1900 thinking I was dead since I was fully dressed, on top of the covers, and not moving. I kinda rolled over and said hi, then fell asleep again. I woke up the second time at 2130 and groggily walked out to the living room to see if it was Tuesday....nope, still Monday night. Dinner didn't appeal to me, so I finally took out my contacts, changed, and went back to bed! I didn't wake up until 0600 the next day! THIRTEEN hours of sleep. THIRTEEN straight!
That night we got a couple inches of wet snow, which made all the roads in northern (and central) Idaho very treacherous. So, I just poked around town and did all the things I DIDN'T do on Monday. Since then, we've received about 12 inches of snow, lows in the negatives at night...highs in the teens...howling wind...and basically just solid winter weather (enough to delay opening the office by four hours on Thursday.) The positive is that I used that time to get ready for when the next "head south" urge comes on. I'll be able to just grab stuff and roll.
It was nice to get confirmation that I DO have a head on my shoulders! And, my mood was immensley improved by the sleep. Something everyone can enjoy!
posted by geotracker12 at 1:03 PM
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