Guest Blogger – Zach

Today we have a very special post to share.  You may remember Zach from his Make-A-Wish trip to the lodge in 2014.  And if you REALLY pay attention you might remember that he came back this past summer!  To say we are Zach fans is a bit obvious, I suppose.  Not only did he choose a Canadian fishing trip for his Make-A-WIsh experience, but he came back!  And he has been up to some really cool stuff since we first met in 2014.  Because of his passion for fishing and some generous people and connections in the fishing world, Zach had the chance to be a guest on A Fishing Story with Ronnie Green. And in conjunction with this was featured in a Mercury Marine promo video which you can watch on Youtube. (You should definitely watch it – it is awesome!)

When he returned to Eagle Falls this summer it was great because we picked up right where we had left off.  While up at camp he asked if he could write a guest blog post. He is an avid fisherman and an excellent writer – perfect for the blog!  Well, after he settled into his freshman semester at college he sent this – enjoy!

There’s a cliché saying that’s been passed around over the years. It says, “if you enjoy what you’re doing, you’ll never work a day in your life.”

From my eyes, Travis and Carrie Mack gracefully embody this; however, I’m sure they’ll still tell you it’s a lot of work sometimes. I had the privilege of making my second trip up to Eagle Falls at the end of July. Since my first trip, I had always told myself I would go back. Once the trip was booked, I started counting down the days. Yes, I even had a countdown app on my phone. Each and every day I’d wake up and think about something I needed for the trip, or ponder our fishing strategy for each day we’d be there. The closer it got, the more excited I became. When our departure day finally arrived, I could hardly contain myself. I was about to partake in my absolute favorite activity with two of my favorite people (my best friend Nick and my dad Dave). Fast forward two days, one hotel stay, and endless snacks in the car, and we had arrived. The wave of nostalgia that overcame me when I stepped back into the lodge was indescribable (but I’ll try to anyways).

Imagine your favorite childhood memory, and then multiply that feeling by eight. Everything was exactly how I remembered it, if not better. You couldn’t help but fall hopelessly in love with the homey quaintness of the place. The eccentric decorations in the main lodge, the perfectly home cooked meals, the eloquently told fishing stories, and even the sliding door that always took a little extra elbow grease to open; it all added to the wonderful experience. Although you established a routine for each day, no day was ever the same. There were always new desserts to try and stories to be told about the board-shattering fish that got away. Each day brought a new memory, and you never wanted it to end. But it does, eventually. We live in a world where everyone is used to doing everything a million miles an hour. That is not the case while at Eagle Falls. Multiple people have said, including myself, that they want it to be the slowest week of their lives. This just goes to show how much people genuinely enjoy themselves while at the lodge. It is a truly enlightening experience.

It doesn’t matter where you come from, what you’ve experienced in life, or even how old you are; Eagle Falls brings people together through the shared and mutual love of being there. Travis and Carrie lay the groundwork for such an experience, but it is just as much the guests and their all-encompassing love and acceptance for the art of angling and for each other that makes it such a great week. When you first load up all of the gear and step foot on to the Barge, you’ll understand what I mean. I cannot wait to go back.

Thank you, Zach, for sharing your thoughts on what being a part of the Eagle Falls Lodge family has meant to you.  We can’t wait for your next trip!

One Comment

  1. Zach, you are so special, a fisherman and writer…Grandma and Grandpa are so proud of you! Hopefully I’ll be able join you next year with your Dad and meet Travis and Carrie.
    Grandpa Al

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