A life Outdoors
April 2006, I quit my job and wrapped up an 18 year career in the book trade. People have suggested that I’m a little crazy and they might be right. Time will tell. For the moment I’ll be combining my passions with my vocations to work as a paramedic, a fly fishing guide and instructor of wilderness medicine.
Perhaps you’d like to join me for day on the river.
Although I've been a lifetime outdoorsman and longtime fly angler it wasn't until 2005 that I took things to a new level. After a number of whitewater trips in Colorado I decided to purchase a fishing raft. With guidance and instruction from my brother, Darren, who's been a whitewater guide for more than 20 years I began to learn how to row whitewater on Colorado's Arkansas River. Later I would learn how to row fly anglers (two related but very different skills I came to realize.)September 2005 I made my first fishing float down the "Gunny Gorge" of Colorado's Gunnison River. I was hooked. The amazing western scenery, exciting whitewater and the outstanding fly fishing for trout was a combination that captivated me.
Spring 2006 I returned to Colorado and to my river schooling on the Arkansas. I trained with whitewater raft guides, many of whom were literally half my age. I fished miles of river and became more proficient behind the oars. That summer I began to guide wade-fishing for the local fly shop. I was trained and certified in wilderness medicine by Wilderness Medical Associates and I accumulated my minimum river miles to become a certified Colorado whitewater guide.
Fall 2006 I returned to the Gunny Gorge, this time as a trainee working toward qualification to guide the Gunnison commercially. However, It was the final trip of the year that would define the season. The last week in September Darren and I accompanied by three friends, made an ten day expedition to the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho's Frank Church Wilderness of No Return.
Summer 2008 I upgraded my wilderness certification to become a Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (WEMT). August 2009 I finished a one year program to become a paramedic. September 2010 I competed training to become an Assistant Instructor with Wilderness Medical Associates.
I missed much of the 2010 season recovering from a knee injury. I'm back in the game and currently split my time between guiding and teaching fly fishing, teaching wilderness medicine, and volunteering as a firefighter and paramedic.
