The pleasures—and perils—of seasonal jobs
I was a student at Western Colorado University in Gunnison, Colorado when my professor told our class he had a…
MoreSandstone towers challenge this rescue team
I was high up on a cliff above Moab, Utah, as night was falling, and I couldn’t find my way…
Grand County Search and Rescue members rigging a technical rope rescue on the top of Castleton Tower near Moab. Photo courtesy Grand County Search and Rescue
MoreSome hikers leave plenty of traces
Part of my job as a Grand Canyon educator is picking up stuff a hiker drops or leaves behind next…
MoreThe slippery slope of e-bike access
When I visited Bryce Canyon National Park recently, the shared paths were crowded with electric motorcycles. They say they are…
MoreObservations of a fire lookout
The writers Edward Abbey, Gary Snyder and Norman McLean all staffed high-elevation fire lookouts in the West—their experiences rich fuel for their work. But Jack Kerouac’s reaction makes…
MoreOld fire lookout towers find renewed purpose
There’s a small wooden cabin at the top of Northwest Peak, a few miles from Montana’s borders with Idaho and…
MoreVolunteers power the Colorado Trail
The Colorado Trail, an iconic 567-mile high-elevation trail that crosses the Rockies, owes its existence largely to Gudy Gaskill, a…
Below The Three Apostles, Colorado Trail Jeff Miller and Dave Marston, Matt Smith Photo
MoreGrumpy talk on the trail
I suppose it’s the human thing on a hiking trail to acknowledge one another when passing. But on a well-used…
MoreBefore you sleep on the ground, read this
What fun: You’re going on a guided outdoor trip. As you get ready, here are some tips from actual guides…
Backpackers in the White Goat Wilderness, Alberta, Canada
MoreBuilding a huge park is anything but easy
Marc Katz is a retired entrepreneur who lives part-time in Durango, Colorado, a town of 19,000 people who all seem…
MoreA candy bar fueled the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic
If you don’t know much about the Iron Horse bike race that begins in the town of Durango in southwestern…
MoreSki bum culture hits reality
Nearly two decades ago, I moved to the mountains to be a ski bum, chasing snow. I was a stereotype—an…
Robson Hatsukami Morgan, via Unsplash
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