Field Notes | Page 7 of 10 | The Filson Journal

wooden bridge runs over water toward cabin in the woods

Way of Life: Westcott Bay Shellfish Co.

Erik and Andrea Anderson greet us like old friends as we walk onto their dock stretching out into Westcott Bay off San Juan Island in Washington. As at any family-run farm, their hands-on approach is obvious at first glance. Andrea sets down her pressure washer and takes a break from the farm chores with Erik

river with dense green foliage and scrub forest

Field Notes

Stewards To The Land

Spring brings about the liveliest changing of seasons, from the hibernation periods of winter into new growth for the summer ahead. This time of the year also serves as a reminder to waterfowl hunters that we must commit our own time to the stewardship of nature, which serves to produce those bounties we are so

Jainee-Wylder leads bridled white horse next to barn

Field Notes

Risk & Resilience: The Language of Horses

Story by Jainee Dial of WYLDER Photography by Abbi and Callen Hearne There is a secret language that exists between horses and humans. Voices hold no value, and there is instead, a palpable yet quiet communication between animal and rider. Volumes of silent dialogue are conveyed through body language. As prey animals, horses are constantly on guard

person standing in river in winter with pine treeline in background

Field Notes

Pursuing the Unpredictable: Fishing, Hunting & Entrepreneurship

Story by Lindsey Elliott of WYLDER Photography by Abbi and Callen Hearne Over the last two years, I’ve spent the majority of my time pursuing uncertainty in the mountain west. From the time I got my first fly rod, eight months passed along the rivers of Montana, Colorado, California, Utah, Wyoming and Idaho before I caught

Captain Neil records data at a desk in a large data-log

Field Notes

How Not to Sink a Barge of Cargo: An Interview with Tugboat Captain Neil McGourty

Like any ocean freighting job, delivering freight to Southeast Alaska requires a thorough knowledge of the local weather and the peculiarities of the sea routes traveled. The northeast corner of the Pacific Ocean is no exception. With its narrow channels and abundance of fog, the convoluted coastline has long been a maritime graveyard. As told

Greg-Reynolds hunters walk along ridge-line under overcast skies

Field Notes

Giving Chase: The search for fulfillment with Greg McReynolds

Greg McReynolds believes that America’s public lands are the ultimate expression of freedom. He loves young bird dogs and old shotguns. Located in Pocatello, Idaho, Greg works for Trout Unlimited and blogs at Mouthful of Feathers. In this Filson Life, Greg shares with us the exhilarating feeling of man and dog, in the field, together. I follow the dog.

Man casting fly-fishing rod in clear water with waterfall and alpine ridge backdrop

Field Notes

In the Fall: Fly Fishing Washington State’s Hidden Gems

Before trucker hats were a fixture of his wardrobe, Paul Moinester spent years wearing a suit and tie championing major conservation initiatives as a senior legislative aid in the U.S. House of Representatives. Tired of being an armchair-conservationist, Paul escaped from his deskbound life and spent the next two years wading waist-deep into endangered waters across the United States and Ireland.

5 Min

Filson Life - Upland Hunt Hannah Dewey log cabin and pine trees with milky way and sky full of stars in background

Field Notes

Live Connected: Hunting the Judith Basin in Montana with Hannah Dewey

A story about an all women’s upland bird hunting trip and a common desire to live a life connected told by Hannah Dewey. Hannah was raised as a nomad with the woods and mountains as her playground, in doing so her language became intrinsically tied to the rhythms and cycles of life. She feels the

Tom Brokaw sits next to taxidermy pheasant and his hunting dog with a shotgun over his shoulder

Field Notes

Hunting for Tom Brokaw with Covey Rise

Miles DeMott has been hunting compelling stories for more than three decades, writing across genres for a variety of audiences in print and digital spaces. The author of two novels, his most recent works for Covey Rise extol the virtues of prescribed burning and distill the essence of Kentucky bourbon. A native son of the

bird dog pointer on grouse hunt in the olympics

Field Notes

Guinevere’s First Grouse: Learning to Hunt in the Olympic National Forest

Patrick Colleran has spent summers exploring the Wilderness of Oregon, Montana, and Idaho as a Wilderness Ranger and backpacking guide. Alison Riley is a former hiking and rafting guide who had more bird dogs than friends growing up in rural Vermont. It wasn’t until right before Guinevere, the 11-month old Wiredhaired Pointing Griffon was born, that they started bringing shotguns into the mountains to hunt birds

Two dark labradors. One wears a camouflage jacket. near edge of lake

Field Notes

Field Guide: Duck Hunting the Skagit County Coastline

A 3-hour drive from the Filson Headquarters in Seattle will put you knee-deep in slate-gray water throwing dry flies for Steelhead, forging through a marsh with duck decoys in hand, or hiking along a basalt-rimmed plateau behind working dogs with a side-by-side. Cold fall and winter days mean it’s open season for waterfowl in the Northwest. Dropping temperatures lead to duck migration across the country and offer prime conditions for hunting.

Man with tensed fly fishing rod standing in lake

Field Notes

Fly Fishing the American West with Tyler Sharp

Tyler Sharp is a documentary photographer, writer, and filmmaker based out of Dallas, Texas. Today, Tyler explores the American West in Montana with a fly rod and his family.

Field Notes

Red Slashed Gills and Yellow Days: Late Summer Cutthroat Fishing in The Rockies

Blaine Peetso is a mill worker in Northern Alberta and a self-described daydreamer. With a penchant for the outdoors and for photography, he created The Borealist blog as an excuse to capture images of his part of the world and to rearrange the alphabet as he sees fit. Follow Blaine as he spends the last

Filson backpack rests on a rock overlooking a valley

Field Notes

Explore the End of Summer: 4 Late Season Hikes in the Northwest with the WTA

Washington Trails Association is a member-supported nonprofit that works to protect trails and promote hiking in Washington through volunteer trail maintenance, education and advocacy, and inspiring the next generation of hikers. Learn more at wta.org. Labor Day weekend is past and the days are getting shorter, so it may seem like prime hiking season is drawing to

petrified waterfall hierva agua amongst rolling green hills

Field Notes

Filson + Magnum Photos Contest Winners

After carefully reviewing the multitude of impressive photo entries we received, we are pleased to announce the winners of the Filson + Magnum Outdoor Photography Contest. We couldn’t have been happier with the caliber of submissions and portfolios from our fans, and wanted to thank all those who entered. First-place Winners and recipients of

16” Redside, Oregon’s native Rainbow Trout in net

Field Notes

Unfailing Dads: Like Father, Like Son

Our fathers have endured many early mornings and painstaking days teaching us how to cast a fly rod, fell a tree, and to safely handle an over-and-under; and we couldn’t be more grateful. With Father’s Day right around the corner, it feels fitting to return the favor and share stories of appreciation for the men

man removes waders and boots after flyfishing sitting on tailgate of his bronco

Field Notes

Reflections on a Rhode Island Ramble: Fly Fishing with Forest Woodward

Forest Woodward grew up in the mountains of North Carolina. At the age of one he was fortunate to meet his best friend Jacob, and over the course of the next 26 years they have had countless misadventures. When Jacob came to visit him in the spring of this year, they decided to load up the old Scout for old times sake and head North in search of fish and maybe a little (mis)adventure. We found one of those things.

5 Min

Field Notes

From SoDo to NoHo: Filson to open New York Store

We’re pleased to announce the opening of the company’s first retail store on the East Coast. The approximately 1800 square-foot Filson store is located in the NoHo district at 40 Great Jones Street between the Bowery and Lafayette Street. Filson’s sixth location is next door to the iconic Beaux Arts firehouse, home to Engine

woman sitting on roof of white car in open green field with dog sitting on ground

Field Notes

Wagons West: Exploring Palo Duro Canyon with Tyler Sharp

Tyler Sharp is a documentary photographer, writer, and filmmaker based out of Dallas, Texas. Traveling extensively on assignment, he has filmed and photographed a myriad of cultures and landscapes, and slept under the stars in some of the most remote regions of the world. Today, Tyler explores Palo Duro Canyon, the “Grand Canyon of

8 Min

Field Notes

The Last Best Quail Country with T. Edward Nickens

T. Edward Nickens reports on conservation, the outdoors, and Southern culture for some of the world’s most respected publications. He is editor-at-large for Field & Stream and a contributing editor for Audubon magazine. He hosts Field & Stream’s television shows The Gun Nuts and The Total Outdoorsman Challenge for Outdoor Channel. From the Nicaraguan rainforest

boat in lake with foggy pine treeline backdrop

Field Notes

Winter Steelheading on the Snoqualmie

There’s nothing like winter steelheading. The search for the elusive slivers of chrome in dark green water is wrought with frustration, undeniable joy, and constant anticipation. Much like panning for gold, it’s an exercise in determination and persistence, and offers comparable bounty to those who show commitment to the cold. As our breath

autumn forest with yellow and green and red foliage bisected by river

Field Notes

Finding a Reason to Wander: Grouse Hunting with Blaine Peetso

Blaine Peetso is a mill worker in Northern Alberta and a self-described daydreamer. With a penchant for the outdoors and for photography, he created The Borealist blog as an excuse to capture images of his part of the world and to rearrange the alphabet as he sees fit. Follow Blaine as he finds a particular kind of beauty in his own backyard on a late Autumn grouse hunt.

person with filson pack stands on deck of high mountain lookout above clouds

Field Notes

Washington State Fire Lookout Project with Kyle Johnson, Part 2

Kyle Johnson is a 29 year old editorial and commercial photographer hailing from the Pacific Northwest. He strives to create images that are intriguing and classically executed. Kyle’s aesthetic pairs textured natural settings with a distinct photographic perspective.

6 Min

New Zealand polaroid of snowy mountains and green hills

Field Notes

Mikael Kennedy Is Lured to the Road

As a talented travel photographer, Mikael Kennedy is always on the go, escaping from the clamor of New York City to calmer ground with his Filson gear and camera. In November, Mikael will be releasing 100 signed and numbered books exclusively through his website, featuring photographs dedicated to the allure of the road. “I saw

woman with green plaid shirt harvest Dancing Signorina Mushroom at Bear Cave Place

Field Notes

The Time of the Harvest: Mushroom Foraging with Jonathan Levitt

Jonathan Levitt lives on an acreage near the village of Ducktrap, Maine. There, in Ducktrap, and on the islands of Penobscot Bay, early fall is the time of the mushroom harvest. The Trumpet of Death, The Dancing Signorina, The Pollo of the Woods, The Bear’s Head, The Little Red Fox — all of the wonderful

brown, wet plain leads to tetons on an overcast day

Field Notes

A Traveling Tradition: Halley and Bobbe Hit the Road

Halley Roberts is a photographer based in Portland, Oregon. No stranger to the outdoors and to travel, Halley and her mother Bobbe Besold took to the road — revisiting one of their favorite family traditions. When I was five years old, my mother Bobbe plopped me, my books, The Talking Heads, Paul Simon and our

Harvest Moon 2012 rises above alpine treeline

Field Notes

Searching the Night Sky with Photographer Daniel McVey

Camera, tripod, headlamp, thermals, Filson jacket, knit hat, and gloves; it’s July at 10,000+ ft. and I am planning on going out to work under the stars. My name is Daniel McVey and I am an astrophotographer in Summit County, Colorado. It’s never warm here at night and that’s something I love about the Rockies.

Old growth pine forest with lush green undergrowth and moss covered tree trunks

Field Notes

Behind the Cover: Filson Flies with Photographer Peter Sutherland

In early June, a small number of Filson employees boarded a float plane with a charter set for the remote lake community of Stehekin, Washington. Flying under the ceiling of ash-gray sky, the small metal structure weaved and pitched its way through a narrow mountain pass and made a successful landing on the aquamarine glacial

silver land rover SUV on dirt road in valley

Field Notes

Traveling the Trans-America Trail with Jonathan Gallegos

Jonathan Gallegos encompasses a diverse and technical skill set. When not found working as a tax accountant for a “Big Four” firm, he enjoys moonlighting as a writer and photographer for various publications, poring over automotive news, and traveling with his wife. This summer Jonathan was able to hitch a ride with Land Rover along

Black and white alpine hills and clouds with river and mountains in background

Field Notes

From Birmingham to Bellingham with Photographer Ryan Russell

Ryan Russell is a music photographer hailing from Birmingham, Alabama. Over the past 13 years, he’s shot some of the biggest acts in rock including Paramore, Manchester Orchestra, Death Cab for Cutie, Green Day and Blink-182. Recently, Ryan picked up from his home in Alabama and moved to the Pacific Northwest near Bellingham, Washington. He

Grit: Marc Warnke’s Pack Goats

Way of Life: Westcott Bay Shellfish Co.

Stewards To The Land

Risk & Resilience: The Language of Horses

Pursuing the Unpredictable: Fishing, Hunting & Entrepreneurship

How Not to Sink a Barge of Cargo: An Interview with Tugboat Captain Neil McGourty

Giving Chase: The search for fulfillment with Greg McReynolds

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In the Fall: Fly Fishing Washington State’s Hidden Gems

Live Connected: Hunting the Judith Basin in Montana with Hannah Dewey

Hunting for Tom Brokaw with Covey Rise

Guinevere’s First Grouse: Learning to Hunt in the Olympic National Forest

Field Guide: Duck Hunting the Skagit County Coastline

Fly Fishing the American West with Tyler Sharp

Red Slashed Gills and Yellow Days: Late Summer Cutthroat Fishing in The Rockies

Explore the End of Summer: 4 Late Season Hikes in the Northwest with the WTA

Filson + Magnum Photos Contest Winners

Unfailing Dads: Like Father, Like Son

Reflections on a Rhode Island Ramble: Fly Fishing with Forest Woodward

From SoDo to NoHo: Filson to open New York Store

Wagons West: Exploring Palo Duro Canyon with Tyler Sharp

The Last Best Quail Country with T. Edward Nickens

Winter Steelheading on the Snoqualmie

Finding a Reason to Wander: Grouse Hunting with Blaine Peetso

Washington State Fire Lookout Project with Kyle Johnson, Part 2

Mikael Kennedy Is Lured to the Road

The Time of the Harvest: Mushroom Foraging with Jonathan Levitt

A Traveling Tradition: Halley and Bobbe Hit the Road

Searching the Night Sky with Photographer Daniel McVey

Behind the Cover: Filson Flies with Photographer Peter Sutherland

Traveling the Trans-America Trail with Jonathan Gallegos

From Birmingham to Bellingham with Photographer Ryan Russell