Reflections

[WRB]

Watching Yellowstone 150 series got me thinking of awe inspiring moments.

The Grand Canyon is mine, can’t photograph it only experience it the 1st time standing on the rim.

Yellowstone is awesome, looking at it from the Bear Tooth Pass, experiencing the wildlife should everyone’s list.

Yosemite falls and valley the misty trail is another site to experience in lieu of seeing a photo.

My 1st float plane trip with my newly wed wife with her dad to their Height of Land cabin, seeing moose, hearing loons, catching my 1st musky is right up there.

 Experiencing a wide open marlin bite off Cabo Mexico coast with frigid birds diving into the bait fish at sun rise is unforgettable. So many to Share.

What is yours? 

Tom

[Mobasser]

The Grand Canyon was amazing to me. Hard to put in to words.

[Bird]

The island of lanai.

Humpback whales off the coast of Kauai.

Sika bucks fighting while hiking with the wife in Maui.

Magical moments.

 

[king fisher]

    I have been fortunate enough to have many inspiring moments.  Including the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and many breath taking places in Alaska.  My fondest memories are of a valley on the southern border of Katmi Park Alaska I called home for many of my younger years.  I have many fond memories, of summers fishing the streams, spring and fall hunting Cariboo, Moose and Brown bears, and winters trapping.  Impossible to describe the feeling of looking out over this majestic valley knowing much of the time, I was the only human in the valley.  Picture was taken from a ridge top while I was setting up a spike camp for fall bear hunting.  The photo shows the valley, and small jagged mountain range to the north.  Katmai Park boarder is next drainage a mile behind the person taking this picture to the south. 

[WRB]

Is that a Piper Cub?

The remote wilderness is awesome? 

[king fisher]

21 minutes ago, WRB said:

Is that a Piper Cub?

The remote wilderness is awesome? 

Yes.  It is a 1947 Piper PA11 Cub special.  The model in-between the original J3 cub. and the Super cub.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Crater Lake and basically the entire state of Oregon left a huge impression on a Southern boy.   I drove across the entire state, had no clue a state could have that much diversity of terrain, climate, and elevation.   Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam are awe inspiring as mentioned already.

 

The Baths in the British Virgin Islands ("8th wonder of the world) boggled the mind, so did a little bar of Jost Van Dyke that you have to swim into, and the name of the Bar is called " The Soggy Dollar Cafe", and when you pay they pin your money up on a clothes hanger.  It's surreal, and one of those experiences that's hard to describe.   

 

Honestly it doesn't take much for me to understand how small I am in the universe.....riding on a Bass boat as the fog lifts on an early Summer morning, watching the sunset on the water in the Fall.......all stupefy me in amazement many times, and really put the scope of my own existence into better perspective.  

 

Fishing does this very well, something beautiful about watching the brutality, yet beautiful simplicity of nature while being immersed in said nature yourself.  

 

If I were Tom, the fish in his avatar would be sheered into my memory.  

 

Only place you can't really find beauty is in the large cities it seems......just concrete jungles.  

 

 

[Kelvin]

Swam with Blue Whales in Sri Lanka in the Indian ocean.   Didn't really swim with them more like got into their water space while they grabbed some air and blew by to go back down into the trench.   Only place on the planet where they aren't in constant migration.  Paid through the nose to get into their space but worth every penny.     

 

Two days later went dune bashing in Dubai in UTV's and on the way back to the facility ran into a line of wild camels.   

 

Nature is the best artist bar none. 

 

 

[Susky River Rat]

5 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Honestly it doesn't take much for me to understand how small I am in the universe.....riding on a Bass boat as the fog lifts on an early Summer morning, watching the sunset on the water in the Fall.......all stupefy me in amazement many times, and really put the scope of my own existence into better perspective.  

 

Fishing does this very well, something beautiful about watching the brutality, yet beautiful simplicity of nature while being immersed in said nature yourself.  

I know when I first got into fishing the susky I felt so small. It’s only a mile wide at areas but, 444 miles of wonder. The susky is one of the oldest rivers in the world. Much older than some of the worlds most popular rivers. Seeing how the rocks have became smooth. How over the years they have holes worn through them. 
 

I have been to Luray caverns a  handful of times. It’s just unreal what this earth has to offer. 

[TnRiver46]

Sunrises and sunsets at 7,000 feet are always pretty awesome

@Jar11591 made such a good point that I added a video of a sunrise with cloud inversion 
 

but I’ll take a bit of a different route than other posters and say that the awe and beauty you find in other human beings is more important to me. Listen, I love nature and the outdoors as much as anyone. I’ve got a degree in it, I work in it, I play in it, I sleep in it, etc. But the moments that matter in life to me are spent with family, friends, and sometimes even total strangers. Relationships and conversations with your fellow humans are what life is all about to me. If y’all have never read the book “Into the wild,” I would highly recommend it. It’s about a youngster that drops out of college and burns all his money to go into the Alaskan wilderness. Only in total isolation does he finally realize that life’s experiences are more valuable and meaningful when shared with others.
 

It hurts my heart a bit when I read and hear people say they don’t like other humans, want to be all alone, prefer company of animals to people, etc. We are all on the same team here folks, love each other ❤️ 

 

*this is my reflection. 

[Jar11591]

Not much makes me appreciate my life like being on my boat in mountain lake while the sun is coming up. It’s wild to me that some people go their ENTIRE lives not even knowing what a sunrise looks like. When I’m fishing, or camping up in the mountains, or on a peak I just climbed, the feeling of “I belong here” is pretty powerful. We belong in nature, on a primal level. I believe if you take any human, regardless of background or upbringing, and put them in nature, there will be a sense of familiarity, of belonging and “home” even if deep down or subconscious. 

[LrgmouthShad]

39 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Sunrises and sunsets at 7,000 feet are always pretty awesome

 

but I’ll take a bit of a different route than other posters and say that the awe and beauty you find in other human beings is more important to me. Listen, I love nature and the outdoors as much as anyone. I’ve got a degree in it, I work in it, I play in it, I sleep in it, etc. But the moments that matter in life to me are spent with family, friends, and sometimes even total strangers. Relationships and conversations with your fellow humans are what life is all about to me. If y’all have never read the book “Into the wild,” I would highly recommend it. It’s about a youngster that drops out of college and burns all his money to go into the Alaskan wilderness. Only in total isolation does he finally realize that life’s experiences are more valuable and meaningful when shared with others.
 

It hurts my heart a bit when I read and hear people say they don’t like other humans, want to be all alone, prefer company of animals to people, etc. We are all on the same team here folks, love each other ❤️ 

 

*this is my reflection. 

Absolutely well said. I think the trick is figuring out how to not compromise your beliefs, things most important to you when dealing with many people. Another trick is figuring out how to lead people to better their lives. Sometimes that means giving them the hard truths. How to be able to tell them that while still preserving the relationship you have can be tricky, especially if you have not known each other long. And what is worth telling them this truth? When do you try and lead them and when do you think to yourself, “chill, this is no big deal”.

 

Dealing with people is an art

[A-Jay]

So many awesome 'pictures' being described in this one. 

While many of the bodies of water and surrounding scenery here often make me take a step back,

most all of my truly awe inspiring moments happened on the Atantic Ocean.

As mentioned above, it's something one needs to experience.

I'm not talking about rolling around in the sand at the beach. 

It's more about being several hundred miles offshore.

A part of the planet few experience.

A different world if you will.

The beauty, the vastness, the smells and the untamed & unforgiving rage, gets a man right to the core. I often experienced it at it's worst and it will make you rethink your choice of being there in short order.  Never have I ever felt more insignificant. 

My personal pinnacle of awe inspiring moments came a few times and they all revolved around Life itself.  Saving it.  Performing CPR in the middle of a wicked storm on a rolling deck with the wind & waves blasting you from every direction, and bringing a man, woman or child back to this earth, that stays with a man.  As does the ones that don't make it.  Extending a life rescuing hand in conditions that seemed totally hopeless and looking a person straight in the eye while doing it, knowing that you are about to do something that borders on a miracle, puts a lot of this life immediately into perspective for me.  Those singular moments almost freeze time.

Stay Safe

A-Jay 

[TnRiver46]

30 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

So many awesome 'pictures' being described in this one. 

While many of the bodies of water and surrounding scenery here often make me take a step back,

most all of my truly awe inspiring moments happened on the Atantic Ocean.

As mentioned above, it's something one needs to experience.

I'm not talking about rolling around in the sand at the beach. 

It's more about being several hundred miles offshore.

A part of the planet few experience.

A different world if you will.

The beauty, the vastness, the smells and the untamed & unforgiving rage, gets a man right to the core. I often experienced it at it's worst and it will make you rethink your choice of being there in short order.  Never have I ever felt more insignificant. 

My personal pinnacle of awe inspiring moments came a few times and they all revolved around Life itself.  Saving it.  Performing CPR in the middle of a wicked storm on a rolling deck with the wind & waves blasting you from every direction, and bringing a man, woman or child back to this earth, that stays with a man.  As does the ones that don't make it.  Extending a life rescuing hand in conditions that seemed totally hopeless and looking a person straight in the eye while doing it, knowing that you are about to do something that borders on a miracle, puts a lot of this life immediately into perspective for me.  Those singular moments almost freeze time.

Stay Safe

A-Jay 

I can’t even imagine! As a member of the boating community, we can’t thank you enough. I’m too chicken to be out in the ocean ? or even fly over if, thank goodness for the brave folks in the USCG 

[scaleface]

Bryce Canyon looks like an alien world .

[volzfan59]

Mine are pretty basic. When I was a kid, we lived in Escanaba, MI for three years with my father's job. I caught my first smalle, but what I really remember is seeing the northern lights, absolutely breathtaking. 

 

While wading for trout in middle TN Caney Fork river, I saw the only bald eagle I've ever seen in the wild. Flew directly overhead, fairly low. So majestic.

 

Every time I visit the Smokey Mountains.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

3 hours ago, Jar11591 said:

Not much makes me appreciate my life like being on my boat in mountain lake while the sun is coming up. It’s wild to me that some people go their ENTIRE lives not even knowing what a sunrise looks like. When I’m fishing, or camping up in the mountains, or on a peak I just climbed, the feeling of “I belong here” is pretty powerful. We belong in nature, on a primal level. I believe if you take any human, regardless of background or upbringing, and put them in nature, there will be a sense of familiarity, of belonging and “home” even if deep down or subconscious. 

You fish in some of the most picturesque places.   Loved seeing those places when you were posting them in the fall with the mountains and leaves.  

59 minutes ago, volzfan59 said:

Mine are pretty basic. When I was a kid, we lived in Escanaba, MI for three years with my father's job. I caught my first smalle, but what I really remember is seeing the northern lights, absolutely breathtaking. 

 

While wading for trout in middle TN Caney Fork river, I saw the only bald eagle I've ever seen in the wild. Flew directly overhead, fairly low. So majestic.

 

Every time I visit the Smokey Mountains.

I'd love to see the Northern Lights!   

 

Still waiting to see my first Eagle as well.   Trying to raise money right now to build a nest on the homelake.

 

I went to Auburn and before every home game they fly the Eagle around the stadium, epic goosebumps every time, then they usually do a fly over with F16s or something.   Murica, Freak ya!?

[volzfan59]

34 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

You fish in some of the most picturesque places.   Loved seeing those places when you were posting them in the fall with the mountains and leaves.  

I'd love to see the Northern Lights!   

 

Still waiting to see my first Eagle as well.   Trying to raise money right now to build a nest on the homelake.

 

I went to Auburn and before every home game they fly the Eagle around the stadium, epic goosebumps every time, then they usually do a fly over with F16s or something.   Murica, Freak ya!?

I don't want to stray to far from the topic other than to say I was around 11/12 at the time and scared to death. My father chuckled a little and explained what was going on. Good times! Go SEC!

[TnRiver46]

3 hours ago, volzfan59 said:

Mine are pretty basic. When I was a kid, we lived in Escanaba, MI for three years with my father's job. I caught my first smalle, but what I really remember is seeing the northern lights, absolutely breathtaking. 

 

While wading for trout in middle TN Caney Fork river, I saw the only bald eagle I've ever seen in the wild. Flew directly overhead, fairly low. So majestic.

 

Every time I visit the Smokey Mountains.

The eagles are everywhere now! There’s a pair that lives at forks of the river , I see them several times a week. There’s another pair nested and the mouth of little river. Then from lenoir city on down they are even more numerous 

2 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

You fish in some of the most picturesque places.   Loved seeing those places when you were posting them in the fall with the mountains and leaves.  

I'd love to see the Northern Lights!   

 

Still waiting to see my first Eagle as well.   Trying to raise money right now to build a nest on the homelake.

 

I went to Auburn and before every home game they fly the Eagle around the stadium, epic goosebumps every time, then they usually do a fly over with F16s or something.   Murica, Freak ya!?

I wouldn’t raise any money to build an eagle nest, they make their own very well. And they pick a better spot on instinct. The nest near my house looks like a massive duck blind about 50 feet up in an oak tree 

[Jar11591]

3 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

You fish in some of the most picturesque places.

The Adirondack Mountains are truly a sight to behold. If you ever find yourself in NYS, make sure to drive through them. It’s a 6 million acre sportsman’s paradise. It even has several designated “forever wild” areas. Even though I don’t live right in the mountains, I consider the ‘Dacks to be my true home. Very short drive up the highway and I’m there. Oh, and the fishing is pretty darn good as well. 

[12poundbass]

I’ve been out to the plains of NW Nebraska hunting, seeing millions of stars at night thanks to no light pollution. I’ve been to the Grand Canyon which was pretty cool! I’ve seen the ocean (I live in Michigan and from land the Great Lakes and ocean are pretty much the same). I’ve been through some of the Smoky Mountains, and of course northern Michigan and the UP. 
 

These all stick in my mind and I like to reflect on them from time to time. But, the one thing that I reflect on the most and had the biggest impact on my life, it actually changed my whole life, and the way I look at it, was being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer at age 19. I was going to college to design houses. I had life planned out. Go to school, get a degree, get a good job designing houses, be a bachelor, and having all kinds of fun until about 30. Everything was put into perspective that September day in 2002.
 

I’m still here and obviously beat it. I changed everything after that point. I never went back to school, never designed houses, and I never look back and wonder “what if?” Things didn’t go according to plan, and there were a ton of struggles along the way up until about 5-6 years ago, but I wouldn’t change a thing! 

 

Cheating death, being in the pediatric oncology floor with kids half my age or more and seeing them not really have a bad day and continue to just have fun and be a kid, will stick with you and make you see life from a different perspective! I could probably count on one hand each year how many bad days I have and I’d still have a couple fingers left over. 

[gim]

I went to Peru for a 15-day foreign work trip 6 years ago.  After a day of work there, the firm asked me to come with them out into the Peruvian Desert Sands on a buggy.  I said OK, and we took this toy-looking buggy out into the dunes for an hour.  Most people think of Peru as a tropical Amazon-type rain forest-type country; however, west of the Andes Mountains and east of the Pacific, it is straight up Sahara Desert sand as far as the eye can see.  We cruised around on these dunes, got out and took some photos as the sun went down.  These are from July 2016, so it was winter there in the southern hemisphere.

[Jar11591]

2 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

The eagles are everywhere now!

 
Couldn’t believe how many bald eagles I saw this year. There are a couple lakes that I fish that I expect to see them every time, but saw them several times at other lakes that I know have not had them in the past. 

[Dwight Hottle]

This mornings sunrise.

 

 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

4 hours ago, Jar11591 said:

The Adirondack Mountains are truly a sight to behold. If you ever find yourself in NYS, make sure to drive through them. It’s a 6 million acre sportsman’s paradise. It even has several designated “forever wild” areas. Even though I don’t live right in the mountains, I consider the ‘Dacks to be my true home. Very short drive up the highway and I’m there. Oh, and the fishing is pretty darn good as well. 

Wow, so that's where the Escape from Dannemora (prison escape docudrama on Showtime IIrc) happened.    Always heard upstate NY is incredibly beautiful.     Already looking forward to your pics once the ice thaws