Fishtrap Outpost Writing Workshop
“I brushed these thoughts away, and the earth sent a breeze that kept at bay all other than the surrender, the forgetting, abandoning demand, and the final, savory settling down.” |
Background
Fishtrap’s Outpost workshop promotes writing about the natural environment of the Wallowa country and northeastern Oregon in general.
The Outpost workshop is underwritten by Ann Werner, a former wilderness ranger in the Wallowa country, in the hope of encouraging writing about the wild landscapes she dearly loves.
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| (photo: Donald Witten) |
Outpost Overview
Outpost is a week-long writing workshop during Summer Fishtrap, facilitated by an accomplished writer and teacher. Outpost provides an intensely reflective opportunity to live into a particular natural place and improve writing skills. Participants and faculty retreat to a scenic, remote location for five days of writing instruction, writing, solitude, day trips, nature study, camping, and sharing. The group returns to Wallowa Lake Camp and Retreat Center for their final day of workshop and a weekend of panel discussions, a keynote address and breakout-sessions. The intent of Outpost is to offer an opportunity for people to connect with the natural environment of northeastern Oregon and to write about their experience. Outpost is led by writing faculty who are intrigued with and have published work about the relationship between civilization and wildness. An experienced naturalist leads some interpretive walks.
“Shouldn’t someone say, ’Beware Pilgrim, you’ll come back changed. You’ll see things differently, things like tree tops and pot roasts, pine-paneled walls and wildflowers. They should say, ‘A fire is just a fire, but a campfire with voices and plucked guitar notes rising above it…well, that’s different.’ Why wouldn’t someone warn us, ‘Staying in the meadow even for short periods may involve losing your identity, or gaining it back.’?” |
Outpost Setting
Outpost began at an historic Forest Service facility called Billy Meadows Guard Station, about 40 miles north of Enterprise. The site overlooks a large wildflower meadow, is surrounded by a pine forest and is within an hour of Chief Joseph Canyon, Buckhorn Overlook of Imnaha and Hells Canyons, and Zumwalt Prairie. In 2012, the program has moved to College Creek, another historic Forest Service facility on the upper Imnaha River. College Creek has a ranch house and small bunkhouse, as well as ample space along the river for tents. The buildings are situated along the beautiful banks of the
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| 2010 Outposters: Happy Campers! (photo: Donald Witten) |
Imnaha River, a tributary to the Snake. Students are encouraged to sleep in tents, although the there are a few beds in a communal bunkhouse for those who cannot sleep on the ground or have other issues. There is a shared bathroom in the ranch house, and a single shower, although you may prefer to take a dip in the river. Meals are served camp style and prepared by local cooks experienced in camp-style cooking; some are cooked in cast iron dutch ovens. Special dietary needs can usually be accommodated. The general daily routine includes structured times for participants to respond to writing prompts in the morning; time to discuss their writing with the faculty; opportunities for quiet, solitude, and solo writing in the afternoon; and group sharing and discussions of participants' writing in the evening. Participants are requested to use paper and pen for their writing at Outpost and to leave electronics behind.Past Outposters have seen elk, deer, black bears, owls, bluebirds and many other creatures, and have thrilled to the howling of coyotes. Wildflowers are abundant, and the night skies overflow with stars. The weather can be capricious, so participants should come prepared for anything from high summer heat to cold rain.
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| (photo: Janie Tippett) | (photo: Janie Tippett) | (photo: Donald Witten) |