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Actually, it wasn't ISU, but Rose Polytechnic Institute. They've since renamed it Rose Hulman Intitute of Technology to recognize contributions received from the owner of the Indianapolis Speedway. It was an excellent school, but I usually found the bass fishing in nearby ponds more interesting than some of my classes. I learned a lot of chemistry and physics there, but I think I learned even more about bass fishing. There was a fantastic pond just a short hike from my dorm.

Texas itself isn't such a bad place, but the climate could use a makeover. There's something to be said about checking your guns at the door, but I won't get into politics except to say that now that we have Gee Dumbya in power, we're expecting to see some changes.

I think you're right about never being too old, at least I hope you are. I changed my mindset for last summer's trip by making a short loop with a few mini-basecamps. If only the weather had cooperated it wouldn't have been such a bear, but rain on six out of seven days was something I never would have expected. In the future I think I may opt for one base camp.

I think the advice you recently gave someone about base camping on Carp was good. I didn't spend much time on Carp, but it had quite a few nice camp sites, and even though the area around the entrance was pretty busy, some parts of the lake seemed to have little traffic.

Thanks for helping me find a positive aspect of growing old. You're right. ...selective retrieval, I like that. I think I can find a number of uses for that talent, now that I know have it. I'm not sure my wife's going to like it, though.

...Tom

Posted by Tom S on January 01, 2001 at 03:33