So
many wonderful, new, exciting things have happened since I arrived here in
Idaho three weeks ago that I hardly know where to begin. I have tucked myself
into a canoe before sunrise to assist with habitat surveys on the ranch portion
of the Henry’s Fork River, gaining field-research skills I could never learn in
a classroom. I have wrestled with trout of all sizes at the Buffalo fish ladder,
discovering the incredible (and humbling) strength of these creatures so much smaller
than myself. My new intern friends and I have spent days hauling the remnants
of the Thurmon Creek weir through the forest, learning about the inglorious but
nonetheless important side of field-research. And somehow, in the midst of all
of this, 22-inch-long rainbow trout have miraculously appeared on the end of my
fishing line! It has been a busy blur of summer days well spent, with plenty of
learning, laughing, and country music to boot.
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| Arielle with her first trout: a 22-inch rainbow |
When
I first accepted this internship, I had only an inkling of what this summer
would hold. I knew that I would be assisting with field-research, that I would
finally get to spend my summer outdoors again, and that I would be moving into
a house with six other interns from across the country. Little did I know that
I would be making some truly amazing new friends who share my passions for the
outdoors and conservation. I also didn’t know that I would have a very hard
time learning how to hold a live fish… but that with lots of kind encouragement
and coaching, I would learn how to gently but deftly handle those little guys
in no time. I still have much to learn out here beneath these beautiful Idaho
skies, and I can’t wait to see where the next seven weeks will take me and the
rest of the 2013 field crew.
So
here I am, a girl from the suburbs of New York City, writing to you from rural
Idaho – and loving every moment of it. Stay tuned for more blog posts from me
and the rest of Henry & The Forks (as we interns have named ourselves) as
we keep you updated with stories of our summer adventures!
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| Sunrise on the Henry's Fork |
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