Maybe it’s cliché, but I can honestly say 2014 has been a hell of a ride. Different than the past few years—for the first time in more than five years, I was in one place for more than ten months. A year ago today, I had just arrived the night prior in Vermont, limping in on a spare tire in the middle of a snowstorm somehow fittingly named Hercules.
You guys have put up with a year’s worth of posts containing various stories, photos, and just general travelogue drivel. I’ve realized this is the third travelogue/series I’ve written for Chi Wulff. First, From Russia with Love in 2012, then Dispatches From Craig in 2013. Now, The Vermont Chronicles. Who knows that the next one will be. Looks like we may set a record for two years under the same title.
Here’s a look at Vermont Chronicles highlights thus far:
- Made it back home to Montana twice, once for the Orvis Guide Rendezvous (including a day of fishing back on the mighty Missouri River) and once to produce and manage the 2015 Orvis fly-fishing photo shoot.
- Fished the Delaware River for the first time, entered by Orvis in my first-ever fishing tournament, the One Bug, an Eastern variation of a one-fly tournament. I’m not much for competition fishing (the idea still seems kind of odd) but somehow managed to take home the Biggest Fish Award.
- Traveled to Martha’s Vineyard for several—largely sleepless—days of fishing. Caught my first striped bass, then several more. Froze my rear off while fishing in a nighttime tournament, and learned how to double-haul strictly by feel with no visual whatsoever. Saw the wreck of the boat the Orca from the movie Jaws while standing hip-deep in dark water at midnight. Would not recommend the latter, especially when you have to wade across a channel to get back to the Jeep.
- Took up wingshooting, and made it down to the oldest-permitted shooting grounds in the US—Sandanona—three times. Once for business/shooting, once for outright shooting, and once to photograph the Game Fair Event.
- Met all kinds of awesome people at the IFTD Show in July.
- Traveled to Belize in November for an Orvis fashion photo shoot. Eight days behind the camera. Seven days with the cold from hell. Bootleg DayQuil. Four hours fishing. Stranded in the Belize City Airport with a unit of Dutch Marines. Never wanted to leave. Eager to get back.
- On the same trip, caught my first few bonefish and had follows from tarpon. Tarpon to hand and a permit and next on the list. It’s all terribly exotic for this Montana girl.
- Survived my first year at Orvis with trials, tests, lots of banging my head on the wall, and some pretty awesome times to balance it all out.
- Missed home a lot. There’s no place like Montana. Poked a lot of fun at NYC-style fashion roaming the streets of Manchester.
- Made it down to Florida for a second time, this round for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership’s annual Saltwater Media Summit. Underwent intensive training on conservation issues in the Everglades and in the Gulf of Mexico.
- The trusty Fire Girl Subaru was killed in action, and then subsequently replaced by a younger sibling. Said sibling is slowly collecting stickerage and proving its adventure-worthiness.
- Bought a (cheap, little) couch. My first piece of furniture, it replaced the hammock in my living room.
2014 marked the busiest, best year so far for Fire Girl Photography. Several new clients kept the year interesting, and already-established professional relationships continued to thrive. I couldn’t have done it without the various editors and publishers who patiently wade through submissions, and a few select friends who ensure me, at appropriate times, that I am, in fact, not crazy.
2015 is off to a hell of a jump start. Last week I was interviewed by Argentina’s Fly Dreamers about travel, photography, and fishing. The internationally-renowned photojournalist magazine Life Force featured an unpublished rodeo photo essay in their January issue—rather stunned to see my name listed amongst photographers I’ve admired and followed for years. This winter and spring are bringing all manner of exciting work; the cannons are loaded and ready to fire.
So thanks, guys, for making it all possible. And for hanging with me through all the ups and downs. This has turned into a rather weird kind of career, and it’s still pretty damn fun and exciting, despite all-too-frequent sleepless nights spent working and the restlessness that won’t quite go away. Who knows what 2015 will bring… keeping an open mind and seeing what adventures may pop up. Hoping more travel, at any rate. Here’s to more discussions like last week’s post on egos in the fly-fishing industry, more chance meetings like the Marines in Belize, and more time spent on the water. (There can never be enough time on the water.) I wouldn’t be able to do this without the great editors, publishers, and various folks I get to work with as the days trickle onward.
Hope you all greet the new year with outdoor adventure and a bit of solo thinking time. Here’s to big plans, exploration, and the gumption to get it done. Cheers!
