As many of you know, I spend much of my time away from work in the pursuit (or dreaming about) freshwater fish on the fly. Some of my other time is spent running, mostly because my doctor says I should. This fall I will combine these two pursuits by participating in a fun event called Flyathalon. In September, in Colorado a group of runners (and I) will take off on a Saturday morning with flyrod in hand to run a 10 mile trail. Along the way we are charged with catching at least one native trout in the Lake fork of the Gunnison river. After the event there is a big party sponsored by the Colorado craft brewers association (or maybe that is the actual event?). The real purpose here is to bring awareness and funds to the need to preserve water, especially in wild places like the Gunnison where native populations of fish make their home.
As a participant in the Lake Fork Flyathalon, I have committed to help raise funds for this important cause through an organization called Running Rivers. This non-profit organization seeks to highlight our responsibility to preserve water resources and habitat for native-trout in Colorado. Government resources for maintaining / protecting / expanding these fisheries are flat or diminishing, so we as public land owners must step in and fight for their preservation!
I don't usually call for donations like this from the people I know and love, and I am willing to make the entire donation to this great cause. But if you've ever stood beside a mountain stream, or better yet if God has ever blessed you with the pull of a trout at the end of a line in that stream, think about throwing a buck or two into this campaign. I promise I will hoist a mug in your honor along the Gunnison this September!
