Gary Lane

Idaho's Salmon River Chronicles Reflection of a River Guide Gary Lane

This is Gary's second volume and covers additional outdoor river adventures beyond the whitewater experiences revealed in his first book. It describes more of the obstacles, challenges, and humor that river guides often encounter when escorting fishermen and bird hunters downriver by driftboat and raft. These stories include steelhead fishing and chukar hunting with guests and in some cases, their dogs. Although, while some dogs would have been better left at home they did add color to unusual experiences people are willing to pay guides to facilitate, be they good, bad, or the ugly. All of these events happened in one of the world's most famous and beautiful Idaho canyons, the lower gorge of the Salmon River. All of the adventures were able to take place because of yesterday's conservationists who took action to save the area for future generations. Unfortunately, much of the fish and wildlife that enliven the landscape and river world continue to need better protection for enjoyment by each successive generation. From wildlife biologist to river guide, keen on observing natural history and lifeways of indigenous wildlife and people, Gary spent over thirty years of living in a tipi and a river centered lifestyle. This simplified habitation allowed him ample time to ponder the various philosophic aspects of the foundational relationships between people and nature. These hard-earned ecocentric values influenced the second part of this book as he addresses many of the complex issues and potential solutions to confronting current management, policies, and politics of the region. Bio-politics is the real battleground and information is the best weapon to use for wars waged on mother earth. Gary dives deep into the science and controversies behind some of the more iconic fish and wildlife species indigenous to the area. From salmon to steelhead, wolves to bighorn sheep, and other related ecological issues, all are evaluated by his trained eye and consortium of situational lifetime encounters. The interconnected life fabric is all a part of what ensouls the Salmon River Canyon as a place and provides a vortex of spiritual enrichment to many of the humans who live in or visit it. However, it is not enough to love a place. Most importantly, continued fighting for it is the only way to help maintain its integrity and existence into tomorrow's far beyond.