Lunch at Elam Campground on Deer Creek

Back in early September 2023 I spent a week with the Big Guy next to Eagle Lake, in Lassen County. We were 45 minutes away from Susanville, in an area called Spaulding that was basically a grid of dirt and gravel streets lined with cabins, modular homes, and a few mobile homes — nothing too fancy, but we fell in love with the peace and quiet of the whole place. The turning of the season provided the perfect temperature for hiking and exploring. This was an unusual sort of trip for us, because this time, instead of going after fish, the Big Guy was traipsing the back country high desert with his compound bow, looking for deer. I know that he had a great time even though he came back empty-handed; he was always happy to describe his adventures to me in the evening as we ate dinner. This outing was also the first time I’d gone along with him on a hunting trip in at least 20 years.

Spaulding

A long walk to the water