Constantly searching through the past for further explanation of the Filson story, we found this photograph hidden among past catalogs, antique letterpress equipment, and advertisements long gone from print.  In the picture stands a young Ray Johnson, outfitted in a work-worn assortment of Filson Tin Cloth and a knowing smile.  The photo was taken in the early 1920′s while Ray was working in Castle Rock, Washington, located at the heart of the states’ timber country.  Regrettably, that’s all the information we have on this photograph; it was hand-written and scrawled on the back of the print.  In turn, our imaginations are flooded with the scent of rain-soaked Tin Cloth, dreary days at the foot of Mount St. Helens, and flights of adventure throughout the Pacific temperate rain forest.  We’re glad we were along for the ride.

Were you a part of Filson history?  If you or your family have photographs from the past, send us your own experiences with our clothing or product here for a chance to be featured on the Filson Life blog.

Forest Eckley and Andy Whitcomb are local furniture designers who use reclaimed wood from the Pacific Northwest and build everything in Seattle.  The two frequently find inspiration exploring the Cascade Mountains and are always up for a new adventure.

Photography by Mr. Patrick Richardson Wright

At the end of Highway 542 in the North Cascade Mountains is a place called Artist Point. We’ve been reading about it for the last couple of years, and finally found a free date with clear skies to go check it out.  We brought along a map, compass and some turn-by-turn instructions from an old trail report, but on a sunny winter day, all we really needed to do was hike towards Mt. Baker and avoid the barrage of downhill skiers near the trail-head.  The views from the upper parking lot are immediately jaw-dropping, however, they don’t compare to the vistas available from the top. After just 3 miles of snowshoeing we were surrounded by the jagged peaks and blue glaciers of Mt. Shuksan, Coleman Pinnacle, Mt. Baker, and the Ptarmigan Ridge.

Hiking directions from the Washington Trail Association:

To reach Artist Point, you’ll need to start at the upper parking lot of the Mt. Baker Ski Area. Head towards Mt. Baker on the access road to Austin Pass, as the road switchbacks to the left at the top of Austin Pass, you can take a shortcut to the right and through meadows before you rejoin the road at the 2 mile mark, then follow Kulshan Ridge a quarter mile to the left and up to Artist Point, a broad area where you can clearly see Mt Baker, Mt Shuksan, etc.

‘In Your Words’ explores the incredible stories we’ve received from Filson fans across the globe.  Send us your own experiences with our clothing or product here for a chance to be featured on the Filson Life blog.  Thanks to Chris from Seattle, Washington for the photos and support thus far, those are some great looking products.

As an amateur film photographer, I always remember to bring my camera when I’m traveling for work.  I don’t think I need to say that I’m also always accompanied by some Filson gear.  Recently, I was in the greater Rochester, New York area on business and since it’s winter, it was getting dark far too early for me to shoot many pictures.  So, I made the most of it.  I set up a little photo shoot in my hotel room with my Filson Padded Computer Bag, my Forestry Cloth Cruiser and my Tin Cloth Low Profile Hat.  I develop my own film, and make my own prints, attached see a scan of the print I made from my little Filson photo shoot.  Thanks for making such great products that keep me (and my camera) dry and warm, and double as great models!

Brian McGeehan is an outfitter and owner of Montana Angler Fly Fishing based in Bozeman, MT.  Brian is also an avid international angler and leads annual trips to Argentina, Chile and the Bahamas.

Golden Dorado

Golden Dorado are native to South America in a relatively small geographic region that includes Northern Argentina, Uruguay, Southern Brazil and some small pockets in Bolivia.  Most of the fisheries are located in the Paraná River and its tributaries.  There are also a few pockets of the species in Bolivia at the headwaters of the Amazon basin.  Dorado are river fish and have a similar profile to that of a salmon including an adipose fin.  Golden Dorado are fierce piscivores and aggressively take large streamers.  They are fierce fighters and nearly always jump when hooked.  Golden Dorado have not been transplanted out of their native range and they have only come onto the radar of international anglers in the last 10-15 years.  Although some of the largest Dorado are caught in the larger Paraná River, many fly anglers choose to target the fish in the relatively few locations where clear waters prevail.  Catching a large, strong and aggressive Dorado in a river that resembles a trout stream is truly a rush.  Imagine fishing for small tarpon on the Madison!  The primary locations that support guided Golden Dorado fishing are the new Tsimane Lodge in Bolivia, the Salta region of Argentina and the Ibera Marsh at the headwaters of the Corrientes River.  Most of the fishing at Tsimane and Salta is wade fishing on smaller clear rivers.  There is also a large river, the Rio Juramento, near Salta that is floated in rafts for trophy Dorado.  On our recent trip south we split our trip between Patagonia and Northern Argentina where we targeted the Ibera Marsh which offers a unique clear water fishery accessed by Bahamas style flats boats.

Pira Lodge
Pira lodge is located in the Corrientes province of Argentina which is sandwiched between Brazil and Paraguay.   The province is known for its colorful people and traditional music.  We took a first class overnight sleeper bus which was surprisingly comfortable with large leather chairs that lay flat into beds along with bar service and meals.  After sleeping on the bus all night we arrived refreshed in Mercedes and were greeted by the lodges transfer driver.  Pira is located on the edge of the vast Ibera marsh system and the drive is about an hour an half from Mercedes across rutted dirt roads.  The lodge itself is spectacular with an array of insects, huge toads and countless colorful birds making a never ending raucous chorus each evening.  After settling in we met with Noel and the guides.  Noel was the head guide for over 13 years at Pira and then went on to start Tisamane Lodge in Bolivia and is one of the most respected Dorado anglers in the world.  Unfortunately the news on the fishing front wasn’t good.  All of Argentina had just endured an unusual three week stretch of very wet and cold weather.  Dorado are a warm water fish and become lethargic in colder waters and just like trout they don’t love rising flows.  Despite the disappointing news we were determined to give it our all.

Pira Day 1
With the unexpected conditions and higher flows, Noel and the guides felt our best shot at fish was to go down deep in the main Corrientes river channel.  Pira is known for its floating line fishing and aggressive surface takes but with the cooler water it was unlikely that the Dorado would be very active and certainly not on the surface.  At the end of the first day, we hit pay dirt and Anthony and I each hooked and landed two nice 5-7lb Dorado in the waning hours of the evening before heading back to the lodge.  The fish are absolutely amazing and hit like a sledgehammer.  The fight is just as impressive as these incredibly strong, trout shaped fish leap over and over and take off on blistering runs.  When the Dorado are landed their magnificent gold flanks and orange and black tail cap the experience.

Pira Day 2
The fishing at Pira is broken into morning and evening sessions.  Each day we headed out in flats boats through a labyrinth of small channels.  The marsh ecosystem is spectacular with over 350 species of native birds of all shapes, colors and sizes.  The birdlife was absolutely spectacular and I can’t say I have ever been to an equal location in this regard.  In addition to the birdlife we regularly saw large crocodile like Cayman and huge rodents called capybara.  Day two produced some very tough fishing and although we all had a few hits and follows no Dorado came to the boat.  Noel came along on day two and he and Anthony scouted some of the smaller tributary “creeks”.  These are small channels through the marsh with current just like a spring creek and very clear waters.  While scanning from the boat they successfully located a lot of large Dorado in the system which lifted our spirits to at least know the fish were there.  One of the challenges of the high water in the marsh is the fish are spread out and often relocate so finding the fish was a welcome discovery.

Pira Day 3
The morning fishing continued to be frustrating with a lack of success.  With each hour of futile casting our team began to lose hope in the prospects of hooking the golden fish.  Occasionally our hope would be lifted by a follow or take.  I lucked into a hefty 7 pounder at the end of the morning and that was the only action to report.  In the evening session I was solo with Noel and we decided to try some of the smaller creeks where they had seen some fish the day before with a floating line.  We finally started to see the marsh begin to wake up in terms of fish activity and spotted a few Dorado rolling from time to time.  Noel explained under normal conditions Dorado are frequently rolling and attacking bait fish in explosive disturbances than are easy to spot.  This seemed to be a good sign and sure enough the action followed.  By the end of the night I had hooked into 5 Dorado and landed two along with several large piranhas and an interesting fish called a San Antonio.  This still wasn’t on par with the regular catch rates which average 4-10 Dorado per person per day but it was great to get a taste of what the fishing can be like.  The takes on the floating line were a huge rush and it was incredible to see the Dorado in the clear water producing a wake as they attacked the fly in a huge boil.  Unfortunately, the other boat didn’t find similar success on the larger river down current.

Pira Day 4
The rains that started the evening before continued into the night and eventually turned into sustained downpours.  The amount of rain that fell was unprecedented and a true spectacle of nature.  The swimming pool that was 18” from the top the day before was overflowing in the morning.  The marsh grew before our eyes and huge lakes formed in all directions around the lodge.  We gave up all hope of fishing in the torrent and focused our attention on getting out across the dirt roads early enough to catch our sleeper bus.  Our amazing hostess Marcela decided to have the shuttle drive arrive 5 hours early to play it safe.  When he was an hour late she loaded us up in her own truck and we started heading out hoping to meet him on the road out.  The roads were terrible and just a few minutes from the lodge we were driving across flooded areas.  Marcela crept along and stayed ruts to avoid sliding off the slippery clay road.  After 30 minutes of progress our hearts sank as we came around a bend and saw the road completely under water as far as the eye could see with a Toyota Hi-lux truck nearly underwater in the ditch.  It looked like our stay at the lodge would be extended for several more days.  There were some local gauchos around and Marcela went out to talk with them.  It turned out that her husband was the one that lost the truck in the flood but he was the manager of several estancias in the area and had guessed we were coming.  Our transfer driver was waiting on the other side of the flooded road and the gauchos let Marcela know that they could ferry us across.  The next thing we knew we were horseback and praying these horseman were confident in their assessment of the waters.  The current was swift across the road and the level came up to the horses bellies.  We had to ride at a bit of an angle so the horses could ferry into the current.  After the longest 500 yard horse ride of my life we made it safely to the other side where our drive awaited.  The gauchos crossed the flood again to retrieve our luggage via horseback and we were off again.  Just when we thought we were out of the woods we encountered another flooded section (the water had been rising since the driver had come from town).  It wasn’t as bad as the other stretch but still very intimidating.  We all held our breath as the truck headed into the flood with water coming in through the doors.  It was a very quiet cab until we finally made it across the last obstacle safely.  Nearly five hours later we finally made it to the bus station with only minutes to spare!

Article courtesy of the Rocky Mountain Bushcraft team, which consists of founder/writer Jason Schwartz and editor Leah Klocko.

Jason Schwartz is an axe-wielding, modern day mountain man.  Lover of gourmet food, a good joke, and the way the steel rings true on a good vintage axe bit.  He’s also a Red Cross certified Wilderness First Aid Instructor, music aficionado, and known to some of the locals as the “Bear Grylls” of his area.

Leah Klocko oversees the country music landscape of Pittsburgh as a radio personality when she’s not editing articles about testing a new bushcraft knife or surviving in the wilderness.  She’s a local actor and costumer who’s learning how to use an axe, strike a firesteel, and search for pitchwood tinder; which gets her some rather strange looks in the suburbs.

The Swiss Army knife corkscrew has long been maligned as a useless wilderness tool (unless you’re a wine drinker of course), but it’s actually great for undoing stubborn knots. It easily weaves into a tight knot after which it can be used to gently pull it apart as shown:

Ok, so you’re convinced the corkscrew has worth, but you’d still like to have a Phillips head screwdriver on your Swiss Army knife (which the corkscrew replaces). No problem, just use the Swiss Army can opener for Phillips screws:

Words by Judith O’Keefe
Photos courtesy of Burkheimer Rods

I love casting a fly rod.

That used to be all I’d have to say.  It was generally assumed I was referring to my single hand rod, and I was.  I learned to fly fish on the Deschutes River, casting a sink-tip fly line as far as I could, hoping to entice a steelhead to the fly.  Six months later, just months into my initiation, I was comfortable with larger rods and longer casts.  Why would I want to learn to cast a double-hand rod?  I’m not what some would refer to as a “gear-freak.”  I don’t need a lot of stuff.  In fact for me, less is usually more.  I’m not one to follow the latest craze either, so I really didn’t see any reason to put down the trusty nine and a half foot, 7 weight.

“Here was a stretch of eighty-three days without catching a fish.  I know quite well it cannot be beaten.  Here is a record that will stand.”  — Zane Grey.

I have not beaten Mr. Grey’s record, and as far as I know, it still stands, but a few years back I was in a steelhead slump.  The frustration set in and the more I tried, the worse it got.  Was it the wrong fly, the wrong fly color?  Was I fishing too deep, not deep enough?  And that back-cast seemed to hang up in the weeds more often than not!  I needed a new strategy, an attitude adjustment and a double-handed rod, or as they are commonly called, a spey rod.

Some of my closest friends are spey casters.  A few even hold national and world records. Some people never learn to cast a single-hand rod, they just use that double-hand rod in every situation.  Not I.  I don’t aspire to break any records and most of the time, my single-hand rod will do the job nicely.  But when it comes to many larger steelhead streams, my spey rod and I are going to become fast friends.

This past fall I was fortunate to fish with the owner of the C. F. Burkheimer Rod Company, Kerry Burkheirmer and his son, Carl.  Not only was I impressed with the way those guys could cast, I was equally impressed by the rods they were casting.  And I was quick to accept Kerry’s invitation to take a tour of the rod shop and take a spey casting lesson on the beautiful Washougal River.  A few months later, I drove past the fallow wheat fields of northeastern Oregon, crossed the mighty Columbia River into Washington state and eventually found my way west to the town of Washougal and the C. F. Burkheirmer rod shop on Main Street.  All Burkheimer rods are designed and built “in a little shop, in a little town, along the banks of a very big river.”  That afternoon made a believer out of me. Each of their five rod builders brings that old world, craftsman frame-of-mind, into that shop every day.  I’ve handled my share of fly rods and toured more than one factory, and I have to say that their attention to detail and finish quality, border on the obsessive.  They say they strive to make only the most exceptional fly rods, and I have to agree, they are truly outstanding.

I am now the proud owner of not only a CF 8128-4 (12 foot 8 inch #8) Classic double-hand rod, but also a CF 795-4 (9 foot 6 inch #5) ST, single-hand as well.  I’ve had a few lessons, and I need to get in some serious practice time, so as soon as my pond thaws, you’ll know where to find me.  Then it’s North Umpqua River, here I come.

Bridle Leather:  We choose to use the highest quality bridle leather. It’s finished and smooth on both sides, as it must be comfortable next to the horse’s face. It’s subject to high loads and twisting, so it’s incredibly strong. It’s out in the weather for years, and it’s proven to stand up to the elements. It has character and becomes even more beautiful with age.

Fittings of Brass:  It’s strong under heavy use, and takes nicks and abrasion with ease. It won’t rust, so it stands up to wet and harsh weather conditions. It’s lustrous; pleasing to the eye and the touch, with a finish and beauty that lasts for years.

Rugged Twill:  It’s an extremely heavy, tightly woven fabric that starts out strong. After being soaked in our paraffin-based oil finish wax, the result is a highly water-repellent fabric that will stand up to the worst abuse.

Vegetable Tanning:  While very expensive, we use vegetable tanning on top quality hides like our genuine Bridle Leather.  The process utilizes natural ingredients from tree bark, not chemicals like chrome tanning.  It takes up to 40 days for the tanning to occur, rather than 1 day for chrome, but it gives the leather flexibility and rich, warm tones, that aren’t found elsewhere.

Below, find pictures of one of our Original Briefcase‘s after traveling over a million miles.  The bag is just beginning to break in.

‘In Your Words’ explores the incredible stories we’ve received from Filson fans across the globe.  Send us your own experiences with our clothing or product here for a chance to be featured on the Filson Life blog.  Thanks to Sonny from Erie, Colorado for his story and support, here’s to many more years in the field.

I have spent the past 24 years serving as a law enforcement officer. When I do get a chance to take some time off, I find my most memorable experiences are times afield or fly fishing; away from traffic, phones and deadlines. My year is spent upland bird hunting in the Fall and Winter with a springer spaniel and casting a fly in the Spring and Summer, and the Fall if it doesn’t interfere with upland bird hunting. I enjoy seeing new land and water and have come to rely on quality gear. These Filson chaps are my second pair over many years of upland bird hunting in South Dakota, Kansas, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania. They are great at keeping me dry and warm and get butter soft over time. I highly recommend these. You won’t be disappointed. Each sportsman has only so many opening days and days when the “hatch is on.”  Enjoy every second of it with family and close friends. The time to live is now.

In 1897, the original Filson store was opened.  C.C. Filson’s Pioneer Alaska Clothing and Blanket Manufacturers specialized in goods made to outfit the stampede of laborers to the Klondike Gold Rush.  Tales of the cold and harrowing circumstances that persisted the Yukon were commonly reported.  According to the diary of Hume Nisbet, written in 1897, even the Spring season in the area was unbearable:

“Try to recall your sensations on the coldest night you have ever known; try to intensify the most bitter ice blast that has ever pierced your marrow by a thousandfold; even then you will not be able to realize spring in the Chilkoot Canyon, far less midwinter on the Klondike.”

It was exactly these conditions that prompted and inspired all of C.C. Filson’s product development.  In this original store, Filson operated his own mill on-site and manufactured Mackinaw clothing, blankets and knit goods made from this incredibly heavy-weight water-repellent wool fabric.  Furthermore, the store sold boots, shoes, moccasins and sleeping bags that were all specifically designed for the grim conditions of the North.  Customers came to rely upon Filson’s high-quality garments for protection and warmth.  The customers came to rely on Filson himself as well.  C.C. Filson stayed in close contact with his customers, constantly striving to improve his goods to meet their specific needs.  This was an era when clothing wasn’t a matter of choice or style, but solely of survival.

Filson soon became known as the premier outfitter in the Northwest, with a business built on rugged goods that were made to hold up under the most demanding conditions.  A tradition and heritage that continues to this day.