Changing Our Tune as Nature Sings: Arriving On the Dream Stream

I have often said, "When there are bugs or snow, We just go." This is a transitional time of year when we can encounter beautiful snowfalls and feeding fish both at the same time.

I try to "just go" even if it means driving over snowy passes. However, I guess I should not push the edges of common sense too far. Or maybe I should? I try to read the weather; listen to what mother nature is singing. I don't want to end up sliding my vehicle over a mountain pass. Nature seems to change her tune, and I in response, do the same.

This is the time of year I often load up both skis and fly rods and I may not know what I am going to do until I am driving and watching the skies. I may listen to the song in the howling wind and try to discern if it is saying anything to me. Or, I may ask the birds of the heavens; the fish of the waters we fish (Job 12:7-8), and then try to decide. Perhaps, depending on what I "hear"  I change my tune.

Fanciful thinking? Perhaps. But what fly fisher has not spoken to a fish? "Here fishy, fishy. Take the fly;" especially to some of the large fish starting to move up the Dream Stream. And how many times have scientific weather forecasts and logic been wrong anyway? Often I prefer my own inner enchanted world and following intuition. 

The weather forecast in Breckenridge was calling for 1-3 inches. I wanted to catch some new snow,  even if only a few inches,  because it has been dry all week. I do not enjoy skiing on hard pack conditions. I pushed on through South Park, past the Dream Stream, and started up the pass, hoping to find new snow. Some snow and wind in Fairplay, but not enough to send me back so I kept to the tune and rode on, climbing into the clouds.

Now the roads became ice packed. A patrol car came down the pass driving slowly with his lights flashing, warning us of the road conditions. I then saw a roll over accident of a large four wheel drive vehicle. Should I turn back and fish the Dream?  Intimidated, I slowed down, but decided to push on, and over the pass entering a winter wonderland.  As I crossed that edge and dropped into Breckenridge, I discovered they had received ten inches of new snow! So much for the forecast; I might have done better to ask the birds or listen to the wind. 

I skied 3 hours turning and floating in the powder. It was wonderful. Now nature's tune or my tune, or both of our tunes, were changing. The sun was trying to come out even as the snow continued to fall. I had some concern of being able to get  over the pass so I decided to head out and back toward home.  As I drove back over the pass the skies opened up, I changed my tune again, and considered if I should fish the Dream Stream. How could I not stop, walk the Dream and at least look around now that I had crossed over to the sunny side?

I fished an hour or so and caught some nice fish. The river was mainly empty because it was late afternoon and now all of South Park was glowing in a beautiful sunset. As the glow started to fade, I heard a new tune urging me to head home.

I listened to that tune all the way home as I thought back to floating turns in the snow that was not supposed to fall,  and a few hefty fish pulling on the line.