New Trip Report posted by YardstickAngler

Trip Name: Taking the Leap: Andrew’s First Trip.

Entry Point: 55A

Click Here to View Trip Report

Nice report. Nothing finer than a week of fishing with your son!!

Awesome report, man! I’ve got a 10 year old son and 8 year old daughter both, I want to believe, on the cusp of joining me on such an adventure. And like you, I’ve got all the same feelings, hopes, trepidations, worries, built up expectations, and dreams about it. Stoked for you and your son that the experience delivered and lived up to hype. Nothing better than that. I was moved by your narrative and very much related to your understanding of the trip: a rare shared blip of time in the woods full of all the things our mundane workaday screen-tapping lives often lack. Thanks for sharing.

I need to re-read this...dude you're a great writer and an inspiration. I've got 2 boys ages 3 and 1. This year I took them both canoeing at the same time - they sat at my feet and loved it. Someday.....

Thank you so much for these kind words! These moments are so beautiful, and so fleeting, I want to be able to savor them forever…and for my family to be able to do so as well, hence the wordiness!

I love that you got your boys out there in the canoe this year. Imagine the adventures that lie in their future, and so many to come with you! It’s never easy, and often times it’s a chore. But even on the tough days, adventure always feels like it was worth it.

I love reading your trip reports. You're a fantastic writer and inspiring storyteller. I remember reading your previous trip reports and I was excited to see you had posted a trip report with your son. You've created memories for a lifetime. I reflect upon my own memories camping with my family growing up. And although I "grew out of it" (let's be honest, I lost interest) for a few years, I have never been more into experiencing the outdoors as much as possible. I'm 32 years old now and I constantly thank my parents for taking me camping as a kid, even if I didn't always love it.

The moment your son broke down I thought "we've all been there" and in those moments you have to show strength and courage to power through. It's hard to stay positive in those situations. I struggled last year with 7 other guys my age trying to maintain positivity. It's not easy being a trip leader and I imagine it's even harder being a parent.

I look forward to your next report. It's a good reminder that I still need to write mine from earlier this year!

You've raised a good son. Keep on keeping on YardstickAngler.

Thank you so much. We plan to keep making these lifetime camping and fishing memories as long as we possibly can. There are very few (if any) things I can think of that are better at bonding families and friends together.

I just went back and re-read your trip report from the Clearwater loop trip and I think even though being a parent is hard, leading an 8 person group would be tougher, and yet, an absolutely epic experience! The magic of the wilderness is that it always has challenge and beauty in store for everyone on every trip.

I’ll keep an eye out for your trip report this fall!