My attraction for the outdoors was rooted in the love for fishing, and even though the Oregon move was not coming about, there were still opportunities to connect with nature. Before southern California was paved over with development, there were many open fields to roam. I would join the neighbor boys go fishing or to hunt jack rabbits with a slingshot. They were quite safe from bodily harm but it was exciting to flush one and watch him bound away into the bush. The fishing opportunities were in a creek that meandered through the countryside. In the summer this creek went dry except for isolated holes and if you knew where they were these holes held catfish and perch. Within a few years the fields and orchards were turned into subdivisions. To reduce flooding, the creek was converted to a concrete storm drain and the lone freeway that was intended to solve traffic congestion only fueled more development until all the fields and orchards were gone. I was not discouraged by this change, as there were other opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. In the off season I would read about fishing in the high Sierras of California and begin planning the next backpacking trip. Many hours were spent tying flies and dreaming of the big one that wouldn't get away. Even though I never landed a trophy size fish we usually caught enough to ward off starvation. The icy high mountain lakes were not conducive to growing large fish. In fact there were not any fish in the high Sierras until man hauled them in by plane or mule. Recently there is concern about the impact of these predatory fish on other creatures that naturally inhabit this ecosystem. When we were wandering the mountain trails it was unusual to see another human. We felt like the early explorers of the west. No matters that someone had written a detailed book about the region; and others had built trails and campsites. But it is different now. The people impact has spawned many regulations in an attempt to preserve these fragile places of great natural beauty. My attraction to Oregon was latent for a few years but definitely not gone. It surfaced again after spending a couple of years in the army, marriage, children, and living and working on a stock ranch on the California coast. Even though we were enjoying the challenges of the work and magnificent scenery of the region, there was a pull to visit the Oregon country again. We started using our vacation time to make treks to the northwest to explore the region. We had no intention of leaving the California ranch or our home among the redwoods or the enjoyment of the private beaches but the Oregon dream was still much alive.