1971

Largely, I think, because so many of you are becoming "e-mail literate" I find myself in the uncommon position of having too much news to fit in the column. I hope, by the time you read this, that we will have upgraded our Web page and set up a section on which to post some of these longer missives you've been sending. Meanwhile, I'll do my best to condense without distorting all meaning.

Donald West, "in a throwback to the carefree days of long school vacations in the California Sierras and long afternoons on the Connecticut when I should have been studying at Dartmouth," has reactivated his "fly-fishing genes. After renewing my acquaintance with wind knots, while catching the pathetically easy bluegill of a nearby pond, I was ready to conduct a trout population study on a small tributary of the Stanislaus River near Big Trees. A very small number of suicidal trout attempted to do themselves in on the barbless Elk Hair Caddis and Hare's Ear nymphs that occasionally remained tied to the end of my line. Encouraged by these glimmers of success, I enrolled all ten thumbs in a fly-tying class, went on several group outings, and then took a guided instructional tour of die Sacramento River near Dunsmuir, Calif., to learn a version of the Ted Fay technique. I did so well, my instructor declared it was graduation time just after I attracted the attention of a swarm of wasps. I drove home warmed with the glow of success and an estimated 30-40 wasp stings to head, neck, and various parts of the anatomy. I don't think the guide's mere dozen stings at all justified his dirty looks and surly comments."

Nels Armstrong, continuing in his role as our roving correspondent, reports that "J. Keith Luckenbach and MikeHannigan were on campus for Dartmouth Night this year (both have legacies here!). The night was indeed fantastic! One reason why, of course, was that Mike's daughter Kelly (who, along with twin sister Elizabeth is a '97) was one of the speakers during the evening's festivities before the bonfire. And Tom Price leaves me believing classmate Charlie Johnson has become an enthusiastic, if not an avid, skier. The two spend a fair amount of time each winter traveling to different ski resorts with each other to enjoy the sport. I am expecting them to spend a weekend or two at my home this winter in order to enjoy the skiing near Hanover. Do let me know if any of you will be in Hanover at any time. It would be my pleasure to welcome you home." And I also heard directly from Keith regarding the January column: "Was surprised at Tim Dreisbach's comment re: Willie Bogan's Lambert Cup football jersey. Did Tim mean that Willie wore #20 during that championship season? At any rate, be advised that Willie wore #43 that year as an all-Ivy safety. And relative to (Mark Totman's) comments on AXA, don't give Pelton any ideas! The fraternity system at Dartmouth is on shaky enough ground as it is without suggestions from alums that houses be burned to the ground. Alpha Delta, I suppose, has also seen better days, but the house currently hosts at least one party every weekend so perhaps the undergraduate brotherhood can be excused a bit for its condition. (Are the houses getting too old or are we '71s?)"

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