Celebrate the nation’s anniversary by speaking up for public land
As we mark our nation’s 250th anniversary, it’s worth celebrating what we the people have in common. What we literally…
Idaho, hiking in the Selkirk Mountains photo by David Gluns
MoreWhat keeps you going?
I’ve been asked that question twice recently, in very different contexts. The first time was after I described a hike…
Hiking the rugged Siskiyou Mountains of Oregon, photo by Pepper Trail
MoreThe West is about to inherit more abandoned oil wells
Here’s a true story about the West: An oil company leases some public land, drills a well, pumps the oil,…
Midland Texas pumpjack, Delfino Barbara, unsplash,
MoreWhen hiking is touted as a piece of cake
Overconfidence can ruin a good hike. When I surf through outdoor sites on social media, here’s the essence of what…
MoreThe Antiquities Act has served Utah and the nation well for 120 years
This June, the Antiquities Act turns 120 years old. Since Teddy Roosevelt signed the law on June 8, 1906, nearly…
Orderville Canyon, Zion National Park, Utah, Stephen Trimble photo
MoreTrump administration resurrects dangerous cyanide bombs
M-44s are spring-loaded devices stuck in the ground and scented with decomposed animal tissue. They blast cyanide into the mouth…
MoreFor a dose of awe, visit Spiral Jetty
Whenever life becomes too turbulent, I like to visit Robert Smithson’s most famous work of art—Spiral Jetty. He completed it…
Spiral Jetty by Dennis Hinkamp
MoreTed Turner leaves a legacy of protected land in the West
Before he died at age 87 in early May, Ted Turner knew that stewardship of land would be his real…
MoreCongress is gunning for a national monument in Utah
In backcountry first aid, the rapid assessment of someone injured was for years summed up by the ABCs: check the…
MoreWhen snow runoff is low, so are our spirits
At this time of year in Western Colorado, my friends and I watch rivers. We’re eagerly anticipating a bruising spring…
With fellow paddlers back in the day of heavy runoff, Auden Schendler, right, celebrates after running a river, courtesy Auden Schendler
MoreThe West heads for wildfires unprepared
The West is staring down a dangerous wildfire year. A dry winter and historically low snowpack have set the stage…
Calwood Fire outside Boulder Colorado, courtesy Malachi Brooks on Unsplash
MorePlanting one million trees to cool a desert city
Tucson lies in the heart of the Sonoran Desert where summers are serious business. In 2024, a record-breaking 112 days…
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