An interesting read:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/science/the-trouble-with-hybrids/article135550/
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Life's pretty good
It was about 6:30am. I had the satellite radio on. The solar panel was waking up with the sun rising over the toe of Fortress mountain. An old song by Steve Winwood was playing. The light hearted nature of the high life caused me to pause for a few minutes. Alone, I stood behind the kitchen counter and just listened to the song, feeling a few pangs of emotion. The counter I stood behind came as a result of a solid week's work with our business partner, Kevin. A couple years ago, in the peak of renovations, we spent a week together in the kitchen yurt. It was hot that week. +35 to 37C with no wind. I'm not sure how hot it was in the yurt. Kevin led the project. I supported. I can't recall a moment of stress between us. Just a mutual "let's get this done right". By the end of the week, cabinets were put in place and solidly secure; the counter top was cut and cemented; the oven put into place; the fridge and freezer put in; the sink put in and secured; all plumbing lines installed; the electrical lines dedicated; the furniture arranged; the pantry items and dish racks moved in. At the end of the week, the day we finished, the weather turned as the guests that were there left. We were alone as the last of the boards on the back drop of the cabinets were installed and oiled. Dinner that night was a tortellini pasta dish with a heavy meat sauce. The fridge had 5 types of cheese. We ate 5 types of cheese melted and bronzed atop the pasta. Coupled with a few dark ales for him and a Coor's Light or two for me, we had what was the best, most satisfying meal I can recall. Sure, there might have been far better assemblies, but that meal meant something to us. As I stood behind that same counter a couple of years later, just this week, the moment of having the sun pour in the windows of this great kitchen was so satisfying.
Later that day I walked around the grounds. I looked at the wood area and the split wood pile, recalling the old bath house that required 3 or 4 hours of wood burning to fire the boiler to get enough hot water to 1/2 fill the old tub. After a week without bathing and working hard, splitting enough wood to burn to get hot water, and just as you thought about hopping in to the bath, a guest inevitably would ask about having a bath. My bath. But you didn't mind giving it up. Guests that liked baths always seemed to love the old bath house, with its cedar walls and sauna like feel. But it certainly inspired us to build the new bath house yurt, with the pressure water system in the utility shed pumping 55 pounds of pressured water into an on demand water heater. And the teak shower is a very nice touch, along with the sink and vanity.
As I walked past the wood pile I noted the two sheds next door. The manpower to move them came from having people on site. The original owner, Mike, and his son, Mike, as well as Bob, Byron, Kevin, Grant, Kevin, Brian, Eric, and several others all had hands in moving the two buildings. One cabin's floor was so heavy it took 6 strapping lads to lift one end onto a cart that would act as a wheeled platform, much like a heavy duty semi trailer. It took a long time, but we got it moved. It was either that or dissemble the floor and spend two days re-pounding the boards.
Even the deck building of the 3 new yurts came as a result of hard work. I'll never forget the day and a half of helicopter sling loads to get the materials in. 4 people worked hard to get the sling loads prepped on the highway side, I got the pleasure of manhandling the loads to position them and unhook the slings on our end. There was a wee discrepancy those 2 days. I was exhausted by the end of it. I was at the peak of gym work outs at the time, which certainly served us well. This guy couldn't do the same today, having dropped 40 pounds of muscle since. But man, were we all excited to have everything on site. Seeing the chopper coming across the lake with a couple of couches under it remains a permanent mind's eye vision. But prior that, even unloading a semi or two with a small fork lift into the storage locker in Calgary was an experience. I'd never operated a lift before, and doing so with our yurts in crates was a tad nervy. Once everything was at Fortress, opening the crates for the first time and envisioning the end result was dreamy. The simple beginnings of moving 4x4s, 4x6's, concrete blocks, and decking from the wood pile to the construction site took its time in the hot sun. There were some tense moments with that first yurt deck, as the rush of excitement was rightfully offset with "let's slow this down and do it right so it lasts 30 years". It's funny, the two ideals never meshed and to this day the first deck is noticeably wobbly compared to the 2 subsequent. But it'll last, most certainly.
Still walking around the site that morning, with Steve Winwood still ringing in my ears, walking alone in the early morning sun, I heard a rumble above. An early morning avalanche. And I could see it. The last owner cleared no brush. We'd just spent a couple of days, Nick, Dustin, and I, clearing brush. Last summer I spent 3 hot days clearing brush and moving it to the burn pile. The sight lines around the grounds now allow for good viewing of the avalanches that stream off Mt Sadlier most of June. But just looking around the site, I'm reminded of the hard work we'd all put in to making the sight lines safe and enjoyable. Something so simple, but something that really adds to the ambiance of being there.
Perhaps the most satisfying of all these things, much of which our partner Kevin led, was that none of us had ever previously done them, much less knew a damned thing about prior to actually doing them. The most significant part of it all, however, was that there is no opportunity but to have done renovations during the short summer windows, culminating in having to do operations and renovations simultaneously. There were certainly moments of stress due to that, and some service offerings likely suffered in moments. But to see where everything is at now... it was all worth it... and more.
All this, and every single time I drive a boat back from the west end of the lake, I come around the slight bend in the lake, past the small island, looking east. An incredible panoramic view unfolds. Fortress, Sadlier, and Quincy mountains tower above the lake as I drive past Chisel to the south. The lake looks so small and insignificant by comparison against the massive mountains. Then, if you look closely, you can see a few white specks of roofs along the shoreline where the retreat sits. And it always strikes me how insignificant they are against the back drop. And to think that 4 years of hard work with so many involved... 4 years of work is but a speck in one remote valley in a far off location. It really hits home how insignificant our efforts are. Nothing humbles a man in a shorter moment.
As I sit here now, Steve Winwood playing, the sun shining in my window, just having come off the most enjoyable month we've ever had at Fortress, with no worry of renovations, no stress of having to accomplish, with very happy, excited guests, and good fishing, I'm again feeling that feeling of satisfaction that we are fully providing a great service with the focuses in the right place, offering people what we envisioned from day #1. And nothing makes us happier. Life's pretty good.
Later that day I walked around the grounds. I looked at the wood area and the split wood pile, recalling the old bath house that required 3 or 4 hours of wood burning to fire the boiler to get enough hot water to 1/2 fill the old tub. After a week without bathing and working hard, splitting enough wood to burn to get hot water, and just as you thought about hopping in to the bath, a guest inevitably would ask about having a bath. My bath. But you didn't mind giving it up. Guests that liked baths always seemed to love the old bath house, with its cedar walls and sauna like feel. But it certainly inspired us to build the new bath house yurt, with the pressure water system in the utility shed pumping 55 pounds of pressured water into an on demand water heater. And the teak shower is a very nice touch, along with the sink and vanity.
As I walked past the wood pile I noted the two sheds next door. The manpower to move them came from having people on site. The original owner, Mike, and his son, Mike, as well as Bob, Byron, Kevin, Grant, Kevin, Brian, Eric, and several others all had hands in moving the two buildings. One cabin's floor was so heavy it took 6 strapping lads to lift one end onto a cart that would act as a wheeled platform, much like a heavy duty semi trailer. It took a long time, but we got it moved. It was either that or dissemble the floor and spend two days re-pounding the boards.
Even the deck building of the 3 new yurts came as a result of hard work. I'll never forget the day and a half of helicopter sling loads to get the materials in. 4 people worked hard to get the sling loads prepped on the highway side, I got the pleasure of manhandling the loads to position them and unhook the slings on our end. There was a wee discrepancy those 2 days. I was exhausted by the end of it. I was at the peak of gym work outs at the time, which certainly served us well. This guy couldn't do the same today, having dropped 40 pounds of muscle since. But man, were we all excited to have everything on site. Seeing the chopper coming across the lake with a couple of couches under it remains a permanent mind's eye vision. But prior that, even unloading a semi or two with a small fork lift into the storage locker in Calgary was an experience. I'd never operated a lift before, and doing so with our yurts in crates was a tad nervy. Once everything was at Fortress, opening the crates for the first time and envisioning the end result was dreamy. The simple beginnings of moving 4x4s, 4x6's, concrete blocks, and decking from the wood pile to the construction site took its time in the hot sun. There were some tense moments with that first yurt deck, as the rush of excitement was rightfully offset with "let's slow this down and do it right so it lasts 30 years". It's funny, the two ideals never meshed and to this day the first deck is noticeably wobbly compared to the 2 subsequent. But it'll last, most certainly.
Still walking around the site that morning, with Steve Winwood still ringing in my ears, walking alone in the early morning sun, I heard a rumble above. An early morning avalanche. And I could see it. The last owner cleared no brush. We'd just spent a couple of days, Nick, Dustin, and I, clearing brush. Last summer I spent 3 hot days clearing brush and moving it to the burn pile. The sight lines around the grounds now allow for good viewing of the avalanches that stream off Mt Sadlier most of June. But just looking around the site, I'm reminded of the hard work we'd all put in to making the sight lines safe and enjoyable. Something so simple, but something that really adds to the ambiance of being there.
Perhaps the most satisfying of all these things, much of which our partner Kevin led, was that none of us had ever previously done them, much less knew a damned thing about prior to actually doing them. The most significant part of it all, however, was that there is no opportunity but to have done renovations during the short summer windows, culminating in having to do operations and renovations simultaneously. There were certainly moments of stress due to that, and some service offerings likely suffered in moments. But to see where everything is at now... it was all worth it... and more.
All this, and every single time I drive a boat back from the west end of the lake, I come around the slight bend in the lake, past the small island, looking east. An incredible panoramic view unfolds. Fortress, Sadlier, and Quincy mountains tower above the lake as I drive past Chisel to the south. The lake looks so small and insignificant by comparison against the massive mountains. Then, if you look closely, you can see a few white specks of roofs along the shoreline where the retreat sits. And it always strikes me how insignificant they are against the back drop. And to think that 4 years of hard work with so many involved... 4 years of work is but a speck in one remote valley in a far off location. It really hits home how insignificant our efforts are. Nothing humbles a man in a shorter moment.
As I sit here now, Steve Winwood playing, the sun shining in my window, just having come off the most enjoyable month we've ever had at Fortress, with no worry of renovations, no stress of having to accomplish, with very happy, excited guests, and good fishing, I'm again feeling that feeling of satisfaction that we are fully providing a great service with the focuses in the right place, offering people what we envisioned from day #1. And nothing makes us happier. Life's pretty good.
Friday, June 26, 2015
Fun in the Sun
In the midst of our busy season, it's not very often that we get a chance to go for a good fish ourselves for a few hours. Tonight was my night and it was well worth it. The sun shone bright in the sky, but I wanted to visit one of my favorite brown trout streams and check on a few fish that Dave and I had caught earlier this past spring. My first cast I had a nice 17 inch brown slam my golden stone pattern and then every likely looking holding water thereafter held a good brown. The highlight of my evening was this 24" male. The take was exactly what I had hoped for tonight....head, dorsal...tail. Slow, decisive and no mistaking it. The structure in this particular stream along with bank shadows made for great fishing and eager browns despite the fact that the sun shone relentlessly and there wasn't any substantial hatch of bugs. I had a ton of fun hooking these good fish in the peaceful surroundings of this little stream, but I sure did miss my life long fishing buddy. It wasn't quite the same without him. I guess I like sharing the fishing experience as much as catching the fish. I'm sure we will be back there together soon:)
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Fly Fishing School with Phil Rowley
We just finished a 4 day stillwater fly fishing school at Fortress that featured Phil Rowley. Phil came to share his knowledge of fishing stillwaters with us and it turned out to be a fabulous weekend where much fun was had both on and off the water. The weather cooperated nicely and the sun shone consistenly. As one of our guests commented, the balance of learning from Phil's indoor seminars and then going out on the water and practically applying that new found knowlege made for a very fufilling weekend. Many fish were caught on both a chironomid set up and on streamers. Landing a 6 lb brookie on a 5-6 wt rod set up with a size 12 chironomid is a whole lot of fun, especially when they continue to dive deeper into the crystal clear depths of the lake. There were a lot of laughs throughout the weekend, some of which came from the crazy hummingbird mating noises, which became quite the signature of the weekend :) A lot of fun was had by the guests and the staff alike. We look forward to offering this style of weekend again next year. Please email us if you have interest in coming and we will add you to our list of participants. A huge thank you to Phil for his contribution to this very successful trip.
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Eastern Slopes Excitement
Eastern slopes rivers are finally open although so many are high and not fishable. Byron and I hit the North Ram River today. We were monitoring the flow rates and decided that we could safely cross the North Ram River with lots caution on our part (5 m3/second today). That doesn't seem like a big volume of water but we had to be careful all day because of the velocity of the North Ram. The nymph fishing was excellent. The key was to get the right amount of split shot on the leader. The main wintering holes that we encountered provided the best action. Byron had over a dozen hook ups in the first run he fished. The visibility was quite acceptable although the further we travelled downstream, the North Ram picked up more volume and the clarity went down. Do take care crossing fast flowing streams this time of the year. I got a closer look at the river bottom than I wanted at one point in our day. There were thunderstorms chasing us all day although thankfully we did not take a direct hit.
We spoke to the Conservation Officer who is patrolling waters in the vicinity of Nordegg. He is the only CO for the area. He said that the Blackstone is very close to being in shape. It had come down over the last week. I was quite disappointed to learn that one CO is responsible for so much education/enforcement of our waters in the Nordegg area.
Bob
We spoke to the Conservation Officer who is patrolling waters in the vicinity of Nordegg. He is the only CO for the area. He said that the Blackstone is very close to being in shape. It had come down over the last week. I was quite disappointed to learn that one CO is responsible for so much education/enforcement of our waters in the Nordegg area.
Byron hooked up with a nice Cutthroat.
Cutthroat fishing is a sure sign that summer is upon us. It's about time!
Bob
Friday, June 19, 2015
Believe it or Not
A gigantic sturgeon estimated at close to 35 kg was caught by biologists at a pond at River Bend Golf Course in Red Deer the other day. You can read all about the sturgeon right here! Impressive.
Bob
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Fishable Water Along Hwy 16
Dave is on his way back to Fortress Lake but he did call me to let everybody know that the waters along Highway 16 from Edmonton to Hinton are fishable.
Bob
Bob
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Home Grown, World Class
We are spoiled in Alberta to have some of largest trout any where in the world to fish. If you fish Alberta long enough you will have a story of a big fish. A holy cow, can you beleive it, fish. A fish that will make you come back over and over.
I was fortunate enough to experience a day recently with Monty and Ken. A day they will never forget. A day many of their friends will get tired of hearing about.
Monty caught a 22 inch brown on the very first cast of the day. Within a half hour we had rolled 2 more browns, both north of 20 inches. There was a brief lull where Ken and Monty just caught an 18 incher each.
By mid day the rain was pounding. The fishing just got better, the darker it got. Mid day Ken hooked into the highlight of the day. A magnificent, heavy, 25 inch brown trout. The last 22 incher of the day seemed anti-climatic. By the end of the day we had done business with 10 huge fish.
By mid day the rain was pounding. The fishing just got better, the darker it got. Mid day Ken hooked into the highlight of the day. A magnificent, heavy, 25 inch brown trout. The last 22 incher of the day seemed anti-climatic. By the end of the day we had done business with 10 huge fish.
Monday, June 15, 2015
Didymo in Chile's Patagonia
The little invasive that could, still is, and will continue. It's a very small world, after all.
http://www.santiagotimes.cl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18963:invasive-algae-species-discovered-in-chiles-patagonia-region-&catid=44:environmental&Itemid=40
http://www.santiagotimes.cl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18963:invasive-algae-species-discovered-in-chiles-patagonia-region-&catid=44:environmental&Itemid=40
Ice out
We timed it about as well as you could. A call from our pilot that the wind was eating the ice and the next day we were landing on the lake. Most of the ice melted or was absorbed by the lake later the day we arrived.
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Missing Runoff? Nope!
Every year I get to spend most of June away from the local rivers. Sure, there can be great fishing for some large browns in the Red Deer or Bow Rivers, and some of the best hatches occur on our local streams, but it's always fun to spend a good chunk of June up at our Fortress Lake Retreat while the risk of run-off hits our rivers. It's avalanche, hummingbirds, and sight fishing season, and the fishing has been quite good recently!
While this might be our last full season devoted exclusively to Fortress Lake operations (we're not going anywhere, just restructuring operations for next summer with a possible addition!), we've enjoyed recent fishing which can only be described as out of this world. Everyone the past few days, in particular, seems to have caught 5 pound brookies, everyone enjoying the coupled setting of the trophy brookies with the freight train rumbles of avalanches.
Just a reminder that we are now offering 2 day fly in trips to compliment our 4 and 5 days packages. Hike or bike access guests get our all inclusive rate of $295 a day - possibly the best value fly fishing trip in existence right now!
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Spring Fishing in Alberta
Thanks to Monty and Stephen for reminding me of the secret to spring fishing in Alberta, persistence. Fishing was less than ideal coming off the snow and rain from the week before. On two separate occasions and two different rivers, these gents caught decent browns within site of the truck after long days on the river with only a few smaller fish. I was revitalized by their persistence and determination.
It was very good fishing this week on the Red Deer River. The rain and over cast made for idea conditions. Average days included 3-4 fish/day. Boated 2 fish in the 25 inch range.
Bigger hatches are finally getting underway in central Alberta. There should be more rising fish in coming weeks.
Recent rains have put a bit of damper on the next couple of days as the water recedes.
June 15 opens up many more rivers to walk and wade.
If you enjoy streamer fishing with a chance at big brown there are still guide days available for the Red Deer in June.
Run off should be underway over the next few weeks. There is always opportunity for very exciting streamer fishing on the bow on both shoulders of the run off.
Enjoy your time on a river and be sure you support any effort to protect it.
It was very good fishing this week on the Red Deer River. The rain and over cast made for idea conditions. Average days included 3-4 fish/day. Boated 2 fish in the 25 inch range.
Bigger hatches are finally getting underway in central Alberta. There should be more rising fish in coming weeks.
Recent rains have put a bit of damper on the next couple of days as the water recedes.
June 15 opens up many more rivers to walk and wade.
If you enjoy streamer fishing with a chance at big brown there are still guide days available for the Red Deer in June.
Run off should be underway over the next few weeks. There is always opportunity for very exciting streamer fishing on the bow on both shoulders of the run off.
Enjoy your time on a river and be sure you support any effort to protect it.
Friday, June 12, 2015
Red Deer River Run Off
I was out walking the hounds this morning and the visibility on the Red Deer River is about 4 inches. With all the rain and the nicer temperatures, the RDR will be out of commission for a stretch! The RDR is flowing at 100 cm3/second right now.
Look here for the details:
Bob
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Shopping in Sandy Lake
I like going to the mall in Sandy Lake. I didn't even have to get out of the car. Please note the rainbow on the roof.Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Central Alberta Fly Tyers Hit the Parkland Region of Manitoba
The Central Alberta Fly Tying Club just spent 4 days in the Parkland Region of Manitoba fly fishing and taking several seminars from Phil Rowley. Take a look here for the story:
http://rdflytying.blogspot.com/
http://rdflytying.blogspot.com/
http://flycraftanglingadventures.blogspot.com/
Here are some of the browns that came from Patterson Lake in Manitoba. Can you tell which one is not a brown trout?
Bob
Here are some of the browns that came from Patterson Lake in Manitoba. Can you tell which one is not a brown trout?
Bob
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
The Gift Horse
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
View Issue 11 of Catch Magazine
Catch Magazine has come out with another fantastic issue. To check out there artistic photography and film and all they have to offer, go to the following website. http://www.catchmagazine.net/ . There is always something I see in this magazine that inspires me to be creative in my own way with the camera.
Monday, June 1, 2015
Red Deer River Clean Up
The annual Red Deer River Clean-up will be held June 6, 2010 from 12:30 to 3:00 p.m., at the Kerry Wood Nature Centre. Participants are invited to a free barbeque after the event, and they’ll also have a chance to win a variety of prizes.
Pre-registration is not required, but residents are asked to arrive promptly at 12:30 p.m. to receive their cleaning supplies and to be assigned a specific area of the riverbank to clean. Participants should wear appropriate footwear and bring gloves. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
The Red Deer River Clean-up is sponsored by The City of Red Deer, NOVA Chemicals and Trout Unlimited Canada. Residents of Red Deer are encouraged to participate in the clean-up, an annual event that is now part of the Green Deer campaign.
For more information, call 403-309-8411 or visit www.reddeer.ca/greendeer.
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