Articles from the Cache

A former ski racer who was raised in Sun Valley, Idaho, in a family of adventure hounds, Zach Crist has spent his fair share of time in uncomfortable situations. Whether it was standing at the top of a race course on a mountain in sub-zero weather wearing nothing but a race suit and ski boots, waiting for the sun to hit the run, or logging mile "too-many-to-count" while backpacking in his "home range" of the Sawtooth Mountains when he was a little kid, Zach learned how to embrace challenge from an early age. This tolerance for challenges, evidently, turns into an appetite for adventure. As the owner/operator of Sun Valley guides, Zach has built a life around sharing his passion for adventure and wild places with others. He is committed to giving his clients the experience, skills, and understanding of operating in the backcountry that will keep them coming back to the mountains again and again.

Some girls get to have all the fun! In early September, some very lucky girls—from 8 years old to 14 years old—were on the water in Sun Valley, Idaho, learning the basics of fly fishing and the importance of being good stewards of river ecosystems. Expert guides were on-hand to share their passion for fishing and their well-earned expertise with these future fly fishers.

It started with one (simple?) question, “If you only had one fly to fish for a day, what would it be?” A question originally floated to a wide audience by legendary angler Lee Wulff in a story he published in Outdoor Life . It's the fly fisher's version of "If you were stranded on a deserted island..." Let the daydreams and the arguments over the virtues of one fly over another begin. A decade or so later, in 1986, Jackson-based fly fishing guides Jack Dennis and Paul Bruun took that question and turned it into what has now become the Super Bowl of fly fishing. Or the longest-running, most hell-yes-I-want-to-be-a-part-of-that-event, fresh-water fishing competition in North America. For 38 years now, One Fly has been a weekend in September where some of the world's most passionate (crazy?) followers of the fly descend on Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to relish in the joys of competition, raise money for conservation, and build community around a shared passion.

Guy Robins was raised with a deep connection to the outdoors, learning fishing and guiding at a young age from his father in Scotland. His adventurous spirit led him to the Himalayas where he co-owned an expedition company and discovered a passion for mentoring young guides. Based in Idaho for the past 20 years and working as a respected fly fishing guide, Guy, never passes up a chance for a day on the river or an adventure in the mountains. The father of two, being active in the outdoors is as necessary as oxygen. And he shares that passion with others, generously.