Some exemplary Westside rainbows so far this spring. The fishing is getting really good. How am I supposed to get all my projects done when these guys are hanging around?
I got approved for the latest generation of drugs for my leukemia. This will give me the best chance of reaching remission, and today’s blood test revealed that I’m responding well to it. I’m trying to live life to the absolute fullest, with a renewed appreciation for just how lucky I am. Thank you for all your care, friends. I deeply appreciate my wife and kids, my parents and my community at large. I cannot thank you enough. What a beautiful spring we’re having!
It’s been a strange week. I’ve been feeling kind of “off” for a about a year and a half. On Sunday while out fishing, I started feeling very off. The next morning it reached a point where I finally decided to get help. My wife and I headed to the emergency room. The first blood test (of many to come) revealed extremely high levels of white blood cells. This pointed to leukemia. They sent me up to the oncology floor of the hospital and started me on a chemo drug. After a few days in a hospital bed and a bone marrow biopsy, it was determined that I most likely have Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. It’s caused by a gene mutation in my bone marrow, with no known precursors other than massive radiation exposure. 25 years ago this would have been a death sentence within a few years. In the early 2000s a targeted drug therapy was developed that has changed that diagnosis to a very optimistic outcome. I should live a normal life, with the possibility of total remission. It’s the best bad news I’ve ever had. I hate the distress and disruption this caused my wife, children, parents and loved ones. They have been heroic. My dear @notthatyouasked has been through the absolute wringer. But I feel very, very lucky - especially knowing many who aren’t as lucky. The flood of support, help and love from our friends and family and even strangers has stunned me. A true reminder of what life is all about. I can never repay everyone for their care and for keeping my family going. I’m back home and very much ready to get back to my shit. I have a lot of living to do. I love you all.
Fishing has been great this winter. The quality of these rainbows around here still blows my mind. I’m starting to get the itch for spring and dry flies…
Danny from @vanlifenorthwest put together another killer annual snow run in a sweet spot up in Gifford Pinchot. It was good to see all these cool rigs and meet some new folks. Not much snow this year, but enough for some fun and sledding for the kids. We visited an ice cave, had a beautiful starry night, ate delicious food, told stories and laughed a lot. This might be the trip that convinced me to install a diesel heater. It was VERY cold. Thanks for sharing all the good stories and food everyone! @vanlifenorthwest@_peitrus_@schmeethan@shawnbrown_32@missvanetjackson@benz__jr@ghostknifeisland@mmmarmarlade@benhelgren
Happy birthday to my beautiful Maddog. Life wouldn’t be the same without this incredible woman. She makes the journey so much easier. She’s steadfast and true, very good at what she does, and makes me laugh every day. What a privilege to spend my life with you! @notthatyouasked
You kinda gotta strike while the iron is hot with Western Cascades snow wheeling, especially this season. We had a good storm that finally brought snow to our section of the mountain range, and we made the most of it. The whole weekend was just fun - kids living to their fullest, dads keeping the wheels on the whole procession while solving problems that didn’t need to exist 😂. Mindblowing sunsets and sunrises over the mountains, epic star-scapes, deep snow, not another soul around other than the countless tracks from mountain lions, foxes, weasels, rabbits, elk, and the deep night call of an owl. So happy to make memories with these kids and @vanlifenorthwest . Until the next time!
Took me all summer and half of fall, but we moved the flock into The World’s Most Overwrought Chicken Coop. I had fun with this project - using it as kind of a skill-building exercise, and trying out some ideas for future projects. I got help from my Darling @notthatyouasked@warrenahill and Virgil. We used a lot of found and salvaged materials and tried to build it to last decades. I look forward to seeing how the chickens take to it, and don’t be surprised if I give you some eggs when I see you.
Went to the upper, wild section of the river today. My first time back since the wildfires in August. I was relieved to find healthy trout and an intact river valley. The fishing was excellent - the big native rainbows are still keyed-in on October caddis. Nothing beats dry fly fishing in fall on a wild river for wild fish.
Autumn fly fishing on the big river has been excellent. Mild weather, fall color and eager fish were all we could ask for. We had success with dry flies, streamers and nymphs. We got a lot of rain over the weekend, so not sure how it’ll be as we move toward winter, but I’m glad we got out a few times to enjoy this special time of year.
