A Temporary Refuge: Fourteen Seasons with Wild Summer Steelhead

by Lee Spencer, Jim Lichatowich (Foreword), Cathy Eliot (Illustrator)

As featured in the documentary, DamNation (Patagonia, 2014). During his first summer, Spencer built a sheltered viewing platform, a place to sit with Sis and his notebook, and observe the denizens of the pool for months, and, finally, years on end. Shortly before setting up camp during his first season, Spencer cut the points off the hooks of all his steelhead flies, freeing himself to see more deeply the beauty of his surroundings. As the predatory urge faded, a kind of blindness went with it, and Spencer’s eyes and mind became figurative hooks, enabling him to capture the stunning lives and behaviors of these charismatic wild creatures with an intimacy that has rarely been offered before. A distillation of fourteen years of detailed observations, in this surprisingly engaging almanac, Spencer records a natural history teeming with fish, water, vegetation, birds, mammals, insects, reptiles, and amphibians, seasonal changes, and interesting events and stories. Spencer is a modern-day Thoreau, and the steelhead pool is his Walden Pond.

320 pages, Hardcover

Published June 13, 2017

Reviews

[Adam Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lifetime of steelhead observations. Lots of watching fish interacting with their natural world. Also, a bit about human ignorance and how our actions have buggered up the world....

[Romdeg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took way too long to finish this book, and that’s on me. Very much enjoyed, very PNW and a cool reminder about conservation.

[Ron Jr. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was given to my by someone who knew I was a fly fisherman. Although I found the observations of wild summer steelhead interesting, much of the rest of it, focusing on the surrounding flora and fauna, not so much. The author does a good job recording what he observes, and much of it I've experienced myself. Only not to that degree.
I view nature as a creation of God and this author views Mother Nature as god. Nowhere in the narrative, while he described the beauty, the intricacies, the complexities and the order, did he once mention God.
And without God there would be no order, as nature doesn't naturally progress, but instead regresses.
He does a great job recording what he sees, but as to the why of what he observes, I didn't agree with many of his theories.
Because of his biased worldview, and trust me I also have a worldview, he fails to recognize man's superiority over animals. He tries to equate the two and even insinuates that animals are superior.
If fish for example, have superior analytical skills and can decide what they want to do, then why do all of them do exactly the same thing, year after year? Why no rebels saying, "Well, I'm not going to go up that river to spawn, but instead I'm going to hang out here in the ocean.
The one thing Mr Spencer does well, which corresponds to a scripture verse, "Be still and know that I am God." That is the conclusion I would come to if I could slow myself down enough. Mr Spencer never recognizes God's hand in any of it.
He also takes it upon himself to play God by suggesting man should not be allowed near these beautiful creatures, with only him left to observe and enjoy.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this because I saw it in the Patagonia store while I was buying my father a different fishing book. But this was really boring :( Too much fish chat and not enough hanging out in wilderness and the general enjoyment of that experience chat which is what I was seeking. 2 stars for Sis, the last chapter made me weep, we don't deserve dogs.

[Kamp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked up for its relation to one of my favorite Doc's (Damnation). Interesting read, may or may not start cutting barbs.

[Vera · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.45 stars. It's about watching wild steelhead for 14 years on my favorite river in the world but also more.