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Foreword

I’ve had the privilege of sitting in a front-row seat on dozens of Grant’s Getaways television adventures. As one of his regular guests, the two of us have enjoyed some remarkable adventures and several of them in the company of youngsters. Whether it was trout fishing on Henry Hagg Lake with my son or helping Eric McOmie land his first steelhead on the Cowlitz River when he was just a lad, I’ve watched Grant work his magic in translating these wonderful moments into memorable television segments. Those stories have fired the ambition and dreams of parents and kids around the Pacific Northwest, helping to create a new legion of outdoor enthusiasts.

A little about Grant. What you see is what you get. He’s as passionate about the outdoors as you see in his regular broadcasts and he genuinely loves what he does. Who wouldn’t?

Just a few months ago, we enjoyed a trip on the Columbia River with our mutual friend and professional fishing guide, John Krauthoefer. Grant hooked and landed a gorgeous, ocean-bright chinook salmon. This fish was strong, pulling line off the reel in long, dogged runs. Just when we thought we’d had this fish beat, off it would go. When we finally got it in the net, Grant sat on the gunwale of the boat with a big smile of satisfaction and said, “Look, I’m shaking!” Sure enough he was. Even after landing hundreds of salmon, Grant’s excitement was real and visible. It reminded me that no matter how old we are or how often we’ve done something in our lives, there’s a kid in all of us.

Twenty years ago, I watched Grant tame a fifth-grade class in minutes. He was making school visits around the Portland area and invited me to join him. Grant opened with a series of questions, not just any run-of-the-mill “do you spend time outdoors” questions, but ones that immediately captured the attention of the class. “What’s the Oregon state bird?” A couple students raised their hands, waving in earnest, straining to be recognized. “The western meadowlark,” one student blurted. “That’s right, very good, let me tell you a little about the western meadowlark….” Grant shared the what and why of Oregon’s state bird and followed it with another series of questions that kept the kids completely engaged the entire hour of his visit. Watching it, I thought, he’s good. He had this group in the palm of his hands in seconds. No easy feat.

Grant’s desire to share his love of the outdoors with kids is part of who he is. On one of our many trips for spring chinook, we’d been trolling fruitlessly for hours. As we waited for the fish to bite, we talked about fifty different things ranging from our families to work as we mined the Willamette River for these wonderful fish. Out of nowhere, Grant asked, “You know why we love to take our kids fishing?” I must have looked like I had no clue because Grant quickly added, “Because we get to relive these experiences all over again—through their eyes.” He’s right! That indelible conversation reshaped how I viewed those experiences and I’ve grown to enjoy them even more, understanding that those moments are as special for me as they are for kids.

Grant knows better than most how important it is to connect kids to the outdoors. He’s seen it through his kids and those of his friends. Those grade school years are so formative and impressionable, more so than any other time in our lives. Kids remember those adventures for a lifetime. This collection of trips and adventures Grant’s assembled in his latest book, Grant’s Getaways: Oregon Adventures with the Kids, are all kid-tested and are sure to create important outdoor connections and inspire many lifetime memories. Whether it’s pulling in pot loads of Dungeness crabs or catching trout or pitching a tent and sleeping under the stars, these stories are ideal getaways for the entire family. Take Grant’s advice and “Get out there and enjoy the great Oregon outdoors!”

—Trey Carskadon