A Rough Base Camp
Many fishermen set up a "base camp" from which they travel to various fishing holes over a few days rather than moving camp every morning. After their arduous trek up Grandy's Brook, Zane Grey's fishing team and their guides cleared a tiny stretch of land for their own base camp.
In a letter to his wife from the base camp, Zane Grey wrote,"We had to fix a camp that was habitable. It was a job. Flies and mosquitoes by the millions, hungry as wolves. We built fires, which alone made the job possible. The mud was a foot deep, brush wet, trees thick. But we cleared a spot, and unsightly as it is it will be possible to stay here a few days. The pool in front of the camp is a wonderful one, where we expect to catch some salmon.”
Zane Grey's camp was along this stretch of Grandy's Brook at a place known as "the Meshes". This photo provides a perspective of the wild country where they camped and fished.
After taking the panoramic view of Grandy's Brook, Bob Carney likely took this image of the base camp from a spot downhill.
A closer look at the Grandy's Brook base camp, which we believe to at "the Meshes" near a fishing spot called "Long Pool", shows the rugged accomodations experienced by the Grey fishing team.
This image perhaps best shows Grey's base camp. You can see the saplings the guides cut down to provide a smooth surface for the tents. Also note the "oven" set up in the dining area. The guides assuredly rolled their eyes since they were the ones who had to haul the heavy thing upriver in the boats.
Romer Grey and his father, Zane Grey, looking a bit worn out, sitting in front of their tents after helping the guides set up the base camp on Grandy's Brook.
Though a bit scratched, this is a wonderful picture of Zane Grey's cook and general man-around-camp, George Takahashi, at work at Grandy's camp with a towel around his head to provide protection from flies and mosquitos. R.C. Grey is sitting in front of his tent behind Takahashi.
Romer Grey and George Takahashi bathing in Grandy's Brook. This image might also be from a swimming hole not far away, but it is grouped in Daniel Zirilli's collection with other images from the base camp.