In September 2024, with deep sadness, we shared the news of Craig Ballenger’s passing. Craig was a cherished member of the CalTrout community, serving as both an ambassador for the organization and as the dedicated caretaker of CalTrout’s Trout Camp. More than that, he was a true legend in our community.
He was an accomplished author, a historian, an expert angler, and a mountaineer. He was a true man of the wild. His adventurous spirit took him on countless epic journeys around the world including into the Sierra in search of Golden Trout, and his stories—seemingly endless—captivated us all. Join Executive Director Curtis Knight in remembering Craig.
His Domain: Trout Camp
Trout Camp, CalTrout’s 40-acre property on the Upper Sacramento River, was his domain, the perfect platform, the perfect stage, to continually grow his community. It was distinctly and decisively his place. As its sole caretaker, he put his heart and soul into Trout Camp. Over the years, he built it up into a beautiful hub of community. Sure, people came there to fish, but what Craig really made it into was a place to be with community, around the campfire, telling stories of all kinds. He could banter with anyone!
His Trout Camp specialty was a cooked breakfast of “rendered pig” and scrambled eggs, and you might even get a few sprinkled with ash from American Spirits smokes. Maybe throw in some burnt pancakes too. A true gourmet way to start the day!
Craig spent 24 four consecutive seasons at Trout Camp. A conservative estimate puts that at 2,200 nights spent sleeping on the porch of the utility cabin—and that’s not even counting each August when he would make his annual traipse through the Sierra to pass a few more days and nights with no real roof over his head.
His Far-Reaching Influence
At CalTrout, we cannot find enough words to express our appreciation for the way he continually brought people into our fold. He was a great recruiter to our cause in a way only he knew how to be.
Throughout his time, he came across and won over all kinds of people. He befriended congressmen, senators, and even governors including Governor Jerry Brown. Those two hit it off “as only fellow writers and historians could”, in his words. They became good friends and stayed closely in contact. Craig recruited the former governor to help him save the Sisson Museum here in Mt. Shasta. Several times, even just earlier this year, Craig and I would be in the middle of a conversation and his phone would ring, and he’d go, “Oh hold on, it’s Jerry.”
His relations with governors and other politicians aside, it was his CalTrout community that he held closest to his heart. I used to tease him that he was born 150 years too late— he would have thrived in an earlier era! But truthfully, he thrived in this era because of the way he touched us all. He reminded us to prioritize adventure and time outside and to really be present in our joyful experiences of the natural places around us. He stayed curious to his very last day about all things and about all the people in this world. His ultimate measure was his influence on all of us. I am going to miss you, Craig.
