OUTDOORS & REC
2B — THE OBSERVER & BAKER CITY HERALD
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2021
Half birthdays and hope for the future
A
Lisa Britton/For EO Media Group
Snow has buried sections of fence near Pilcher
Creek Reservoir in southern Union County.
SNOWSHOE
Continued from Page 1B
The day before the hike near Phillips Reservoir, my
wife, Lisa, and our kids, Max and Olivia, sampled the
new snow near Pilcher Creek Reservoir west of North
Powder.
This is a fi ne place to snowshoe, especially on a clear
day, as the view of the Elkhorns is exquisite.
Tucker Flat Road is plowed a short distance beyond
the turnoff to the reservoir — good ice fi shing there — to
afford access to one of the elk-feeding sites that make up
the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Elkhorn
Wildlife Area.
We parked at the end of the plowed stretch, beside an
old homestead on the north side of the road.
The road, which becomes Forest Road 4330 (also
known as the Porcupine Road), continues west for sev-
eral miles into the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.
I opted for a loop route under the assumption that
snowmobiles would have packed down the snow on the
road, making for a comparatively easy return.
A mistaken assumption, it turned out.
The Porcupine Road was unblemished, the snow as
smooth as cake frosting, but with a consistency closer to
powdered sugar.
Even though there was a slight downhill grade for the
last half mile or so back to the rig, that section was every
bit as challenging, physically, as our fi rst uphill strides.
I didn’t make the same mistake the next day.
sk any
I contributed
elementary
$922.83 of that
CAUGHT
schooler how
while fishing my
OVGARD
old they are, and they
way across the
will immediately tell
country, chasing
LUKE OVGARD
you. It’s an uncontrol-
meaning but hiding
lable impulse for chil-
it under a mask the
dren to share how old they are, a badge of whole time (albeit begrudgingly after the
honor, even. So important is the measure third skin infection).
of years they’ve survived that they might
Summer came to an end, and I had my
even add a fraction to that age, insistent
existential crisis about turning 30 in this
that they’re not 8, but 8½ years old.
strange new world where you had to recog-
I’m no child psychologist, but even I
nize people only by their eyes.
understand that distinction is meaningful
to them for a number of reasons. It shows Six more
I opened my eyes this week to see it was
they’re just a little older, a little more
my own half birthday. The calendar claims
educated, experienced and capable. It
shows they’re that much closer to the next it’s been just six months since I turned 30,
but I’ve aged a lot more than that.
milestone and that they’ve survived. Six
This was a winter full of turmoil, heart-
months, to a child, is a long time.
break, disappointment and hard times,
Six months
but things seem to be looking up. As more
Mid-pando, six months can be a long
people are vaccinated and more people
time for adults, too.
survive infection, the number of potential
The fi rst six months of our pandemic
hosts for the virus decreases, and some
were rough, but people adjusted. The
semblance of normalcy begins to return. It
safest, least controversial activities were
feels like we just might be clawing our way
outdoor activities practiced alone or in
out of this pit we’ve been living in for the
small groups. Activities like fi shing. These past year, and I am here for it. Restaurants
activities fl ourished as people sought ways are reopening, children can plan for their
to fi nd meaning, take care of their mental futures once again and for the first time in
health and do something not involving a
a year, planning for tomorrow doesn’t feel
screen.
foolhardy.
In the fi rst six months of the pandemic,
Six more
Oregon’s fi shing license sales surged by
Six months from now, I’m optimistic that
18% over the previous year, per Oregon
life in the United States will be rich and
Public Broadcasting.
meaningful once again.
Our great state wasn’t alone, either.
Undoubtedly, there will be a pall of death
Nationally, statista.com reports gross
fi shing license sales broke $750 million for left behind. We’ve all lost loved ones, and
we will never forget them. We cannot forget
the fi rst time in 2020.
them. COVID changed the world. Largely
for the worse, and whether we like it or not,
some things will never be the same. But
not all of the changes brought on by this
pandemic were harmful.
Restaurants, bars, theaters and stores
have never been cleaner.
We have seen the glaring faults in our
supply chains, healthcare systems and
government infrastructure. Shining a light
on what’s broken is a great way to improve
it, and we’ve done that.
Individually, we’re now spending more
time with family than ever and much to my
delight, we’re spending much of this time
outside.
Most importantly, I think we’re truly
beginning to see just how precious that
time is.
Time is finite. We can never get more of
it. Young or old, healthy or sick, the days
we’ve been given feel more like a gift to me
than ever before. I’m not saying it’s been
easy. The past year has been one of the
loneliest of my life, but so much horror has
made me appreciate joy when I find it, and
I’m ready to chase it more in the coming
months as it becomes easier and easier to
catch.
I’ve already made plans for my summer,
my fall and, in the general sense, my future.
Next time a little kid tells me they’re 5½
or 8½ or 11½, I’m not going to think they’re
naive. They know that every day matters,
and they know that in today’s world, a half
birthday is worth celebrating.
Order performance fi shing apparel or read
more at caughtovgard.com; Follow on
Instagram and Fishbrain @lukeovgard;
Contact luke.ovgard@gmail.com
FAMILY
OWNED
215 Elm Street La Grande (541) 963-5440
Lisa Britton/For EO Media Group
northwestfurnitureandmattress.com
Snowshoe tracks along Tucker Flat Road.
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