Big Indian Creek: October 23-29, 1994

by Dave Hughes

Dave Hughes retreated to the high desert canyons of central Oregon for a week in the autumn of 1994 to fish in solitude. The result of this trip, in part, is this diary--a notebook, really--that follows the wandering thoughts of an angler and a man. These informal yet crystalline entries are meditative reflections on the landscape, the author's love of the outdoors, the mysteries of life and death--in short, the sort of awareness and candor that has attended the most observant anglers through the ages. When Hughes returned home, he felt a deep sense of "renewal." Readers will, too. (amazon)

96 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Braden Maddox · Rating 4 out of 5]

“There are reasons not to take trips, but I took this one with what grew into an eagerness. I also took it with a destination but without a goal. As a result, I relaxed and enjoyed it and took the trip at the pace it requested. One consequence is this blank book now filled with notes penciled in time that I consider far from wasted.”

A short book. I went in thinking it was to be a fishing book, but it ended up more a persuasive writing on spike camping. Not always an easy read as there is some repetitiveness to the author’s writing, but still a fast read that shares the author’s thoughts and decisions for a few days alone in nature. And the most important take away for me were the thoughts from after the trip. “It’s all a matter of attitude toward doing as opposed to not doing.” Perspective.