Hideaway

Hideaway Lake is as the name suggests: hidden away in a small basin above and beyond the main lakes basin. Having conquered the other desired lakes in the area, this was the last on the list.

There are two ways to Hideaway, one is down and across the big lake basin. The other is around the giant `cone' of mount that extends south of main peak in the area, and drop down in. The `around' way was more intriguing as we would be going around a big face that was mostly open, hopefully allowing cross country travel, and giving us unsurpassed vista, as we would be on the highest ground around, for miles.

My recollection is that we came up to the lake from below. Whether this was from across the basin, or down some slot from the cone and then up, I cannot remember, but there it was, hidden away but now found. I was with dad and brother. I made it to the lake first, and was customary we would fish. That was generally our goal in those days - to fish these beauties of alpine lakes. As my dad and brother were assembling their fishing gear - I tried another method. A `Hugh Glass Mountain Man' of a method - that of catching the wild trout with my bare hands. I had done it before - and it seemed natural to try here - amongst the gentle current flowing through the logs at the lake outlet.

To catch fish bare handed one first must think one can - and I did. To be successful one must get one's hand in the water without startling the fish. This means basically being unseen, and to do that means crawl to the stream bank from behind the fish. That accomplished one simply slowly reaches to touch and then gently caresses the fish, slowly working toward a good place to grip. And that one good place is the base of the head. Any other part of the fish - grabbed - will be inadequate - as the thrashing of the fish, along with their extremely slippery surface - means they'll get away. There is only ONE chance to make good the grab. In the instant of the grab the fish will go from seduced, to startled, and fight for all it is worth.

So by the time my dad and brother had their gear assembled, and way before I had mine, I had a couple trout.

Having `conquered' Hideaway, with seemingly uprising ease, it was time to come out. We came out around the cone. The route was all that I thought it would be, the vista, the steep but open slopes that allowed us to largely go around, not up and down, and without any surprises.

During that period of my life I thought I could catch fish bare handed - and I did. On several other occasions I was able to do so. But that season of my life passed, and I have not been able to do so since. Maybe I don't think I can do it anymore.