We escaped from the sand and the sage brush to the Wild River state Park. Winding down a gorge spirits lifting as trees, actual trees came into view! After weeks in the desert the sound of running water was like magic rediscovered. We found ourselves laughing with relief at the pleasure of water through our fingertips.

We stalked fish, hiking further up and up the river for our prize. We caught glimpses but the trout waited until our lunch break to come out in force, slipping sinuously under rocks when we gathered up rods again. But the chase is almost as much fun as the capture for the fly fisherman and despite going home with a bag lighter than we came with five flies lost to the river it was one of the most simply enjoyable days we’d had in a while.