Kara's Running So the Trout Don't Have To

In July, I'm headed back to Uncle Ted Turner's Vermejo Ranch in New Mexico, where I will compete in the noble sport of running up mountains, catching trout, and drinking beer. Those are the three official events of each Flyathlon, and I take all of them very seriously.

The Flyathlon supports Running Rivers, a nonprofit that funds conservation projects for native trout and coldwater fisheries across the West.

Last year, I participated in the inaugural Vermejo race and got to see something really special firsthand: streams where Rio Grande cutthroat have been fully restored after years of conservation work. Native fish back in native water. It’s the real deal.

Running Rivers helps fund the on-the-ground work that makes that happen: habitat restoration, fish passage, and protecting the cold, clean water these fish need to survive. A lot of that work happens right here in Colorado as well.

These are strange times, and everyone is being thoughtful about where their dollars go. If you’re in a position to give, I’d be grateful for your support. Contributions to Running Rivers go directly toward tangible, practical conservation work — the kind that results in healthier rivers, stronger fisheries, and wild trout where they belong. 

Las truchas dicen gracias; I'll say it again at the finish line, con una cerveza.