LIFE AND DEATH ON THE AGULOWAK

STEVE RAMIREZ

IT’S 5:40 A.M., AND I WOKE UP WITH ALASKA IN MY DREAMS. ALASKA IS LIKE THAT. IT HANGS IN MY WAKING THOUGHTS AND CALLS TO ME IN MY SLEEP. I REMEMBER EVERY DETAIL. LIKE HOW THE ALDERS AND SPRUCES EMBRACED THE EDGES OF ITS COLD, CLEAN WATERS AND HOW THE SALMON, CHAR, TROUT, AND GRAYLING VANISHED INTO ITS DEEPEST HOLES. I REMEMBER THE SENSATION OF FLOATING ON CURRENTS OF AIR AS THE 1957 DE HAVILLAND BEAVER CARRIED ME OVER FORESTS AND TUNDRA—AND THEN FLOATING ON THE CURRENTS OF ITS RIVERS WHILE CASTING AND CONNECTING TO THE MANY BEATING HEARTS THAT SWAM WITHIN THEM. I RECALL THE PRIMAL GAZE OF BROWN BEARS AND HOW THAT MOMENT OF EYE CONTACT GROUNDED ME IN THE CERTAIN KNOWLEDGE THAT IN THE WILDERNESS, I’M SIMPLY…

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Fly Fisherman (Digital) - 1 Issue, October/November/December 2023

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