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Show Page 18 The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Volume I, Issue XI August 1999 RIVER AND CANYON TIME by Robert Williamson When I drive to work each morning, I drive into Ogden from the west, straight toward the mountains. I almost always notice where the sun is coming up, and it tells me a lot about time. In the deepest part of winter, I see the sun rise south of Weber Canyon. I know that the sun is as far south as it appears from my vantage point, and that it will now start to migrate to the north. This happens around December 21, the Winter Solstice. Even though the sun is closer to the earth during the winter months, our part of the world is cold. It has something to do with angle and duration. I’ve never been a winter person. When the sun starts to migrate north, I start to get excited because I know the days are getting longer, and spring is on its way. I can make it through February and March; I tell myself each year. I’ve learned a little about time by hanging out in Ogden Canyon, around the Ogden River too. Most things in the Canyon change with geologic speed, there are however, things that change by the minute if you are willing to notice. I’ve learned over the years that the wind that comes down Ogden Canyon in the morning is too swift and hard, making casting a delicate fly line look like the whip of a lion tamer. I don’t arrive on the river until after 10:00 a.m. on most days. On one occasion, I did get to the river early, (sometime around 8:00 a.m.). As I was parked at the river’s edge waiting for the wind to die down, I noticed that the canyon was still in shadow. The river looked dark. The trees were leaning toward town, pointing the way out of the canyon. High on the side of the mountain the sunlight began to hike its way down a steep fir-covered ridge. My eyes hiked with the light. Contrasts began to appear and colors became sharper. The ridge became a canvas and the sunlight was the artist’s brush. Down toward the river the palette of colors fell like an illuminating wet technique in watercolor. When the light finally reached the water, it revealed the bottom rocks. The water was no longer dark. I could see into its world. As long as the trout and aquatic insects inhabit this river, we can feel we are doing things right. When they disappear, we have failed. The sunlight was now resting on me. I could feel the warmth. It was time to enter the river. It was my time to mix with the river and the canyon. As I have thought about the river and the canyon, I have started to realize that I tell time by the natural phenomenon I witness in this area. Not only do I tell time by following the path of the sun, I tell time by what aquatic insects are hatching, how high and colored the river water is, and what plants and trees are budding, blooming or changing color. I guess this is not all that special. It is common knowledge that in autumn the leaves on most trees will change color, and that in the spring the bare limbs of trees will start to bud. But, do you know that between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on March and April days when the air temperature reaches around fifty degrees that Blue-winged Olive mayflies will be hatching? This is important stuff to a fly fisher! Trout will feed on the freshly hatched duns, and if you’re there at the right time, you can catch a lot of trout. One thing I have noticed about flyfishing is that if you are concerned with time, it lessens the experience. I never wear a watch when fishing in Ogden River. By watching the clock of nature, I can tell when it is time to start and stop my fishing. If I have to glance at a watch while fishing, then I catch less fish. My level of concentration is diminished. I tend to be worried about other things. The whole year in the canyon and on the river can be put into little time slots. These can be packaged by hours, days, weeks and months. Following them and keeping track of them is like having birthdays. You can start to say things like, “I’ve fished fifteen good salmonfly hatches on the Ogden River.” Since the salmonfly hatch only occurs once a year, and it is only fishable every few years, this would be equivalent to saying, “I’ve fished the Ogden River for more than forty years.” Time can be strange. Sometimes it does not exist when you spend it in the canyon. Next time you are in Ogden Canyon fishing, hiking or sightseeing, stay longer than you planned. When you get the urge to leave, convince yourself to just stay a while longer. Try to settle the urge to move on to somewhere else. If it’s a clear night stay and watch the stars pop out above the tops of the mountains. You’ll be surprised what time will tell you and make you feel. The Ogden Canyon Club is a non-profit, privately funded organization. Membership is open to everyone. Geological Wonders of The Ogden Canyon August 24 6:30 P.M. Indian Trail (Smokey Bear Sign) DON’T MISS THIS OUTDOOR DISCUSSION TO BE HELD AT THE FIRST CAMPSITE ON THE INDIAN TRAIL, AND PRESENTED BY ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR ADOLPH YONKEE, WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY CHAIRMAN, GEOSCIENCES. A SLOPPY-JOE AND DRINK CAN BE PURCHASED FOR $3.00. CALL LORINE MURTAGH, 392-8743, FOR RESERVATIONS. ALL OGDEN CANYON CLUB MEMBERS AND ANYONE INTERESTED ARE WELCOME a casual eatery in beautiful Ogden Canyon EARLY BIRD COUPON... EARLY BIRD COUPON... EARLY BIRD COUPON Visit The Oaks Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and when purchasing an entree receive a second entree of equal or lessor value for free. THIS OFFER IS NOT VALID HOLIDAYS. OPEN DAILY 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner Visit our website: www.citysearch.com/slc/theoaks 750 Ogden Canyon ...........................................394-2421 Senior Meals Provided at the Ogden Valley Library Aug 19th: Roasted Pork with Pan Gravy, Whipped Potatoes, Carrot Medley, Tossed Salad Dressing / Mushrooms, Chilled Plums, and Dinner Roll. Aug 26th: Baked Chicken with Creamy Chicken Gravy, Almond Glazed Sweet Potatoes, Steamed Cabbage, Blushing Pear Salad, Rice Krispy Treat, and (No Roll). Sept 2nd: Pork Chop Supreme, Small Whole Potatoes, Cauliflower Fiesta, Orange Apricot Salad, Butterscotch Chip Cookie, and Cornmeal Roll. Sept 9th: Roast Beef with Onion Gravy, Whipped Potatoes, Carrot Medley, Tossed Salad w/Dressing & Peas, Cherry Cottage Cake, and Dinner Roll. |