Essays
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In hunting camp, the closet is closed
A "gay, wolf-loving, tree-hugging former Marine" writes about Brokeback Mountain, elk hunting, and his own lifelong experience with shame and prejudice
by David Stalling, Mar 06, 2006 -
Waiting for Rain
The hurricanes in the Gulf and New Mexico’s endless drought lead the author to wonder why it is human beings refuse to take nature seriously
by Laura Paskus, Feb 20, 2006 -
The many problems of Richard Pombo
California Republican Rep. Richard Pombo is having a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad year
by Jon Margolis, Feb 20, 2006 -
Living with the ghosts of the Indian Wars
Montana’s "Custer Country" is a region haunted by the ghosts of the Indian Wars, where towns are still named for the so-called "heroes’ responsible for massacres such as Wounded Knee
by Mary Zeiss Stange, Feb 06, 2006 -
The unbearable triteness of skiing
Being a non-skier in a skiing-obsessed state like Utah is a lot like being a vegetarian in a slaughterhouse
by Dennis Hinkamp, Feb 06, 2006 -
What’s the NRA’s beef with roadless areas?
A hunter and member of the National Rifle Association is angry at the way the group puts gun ownership above roadless areas, wildlife, and hunting
by Pat Wray, Jan 23, 2006 -
Backcountry Ranger
Backcountry seasonal ranger Tony Prendergast has spent much of the past six summers working in western Colorado’s Gunnison National Forest
by JT Thomas, Dec 26, 2005 -
Scandal and war fracture conservative coalition
The war in Vietnam destroyed a long-lasting liberal coalition; now, political scandals and the war in Iraq are threatening the conservative coalition that took its place
by Rich Wandschneider, Dec 26, 2005 -
Vine Deloria Jr.: Writer, scholar and inspired trickster
Vine Deloria Jr., author of Custer Died for Your Sins, is remembered as a witty, impassioned and iconoclastic writer, historian, and teacher, who fought for Indian peoples and their right to self-determination
by Charles Wilkinson, Dec 12, 2005 -
Alvin Josephy: A gentle, graceful advocate for sovereignty
Writer and historian Alvin Josephy is remembered as a good friend to Indian people, especially the Nez Perce Tribe
by Rebecca A. Miles, Dec 12, 2005 -
Wheelchairs and wilderness can coexist
Accessible trails for wheelchair users should be a part of new wilderness legislation
by Erik Schultz, Dec 12, 2005 -
‘Death is stingless indeed and as beautiful as life’
Writer and activist Michael Frome looks back on more than 80 years of a life filled concern for the environment and social justice
by Michael Frome, Nov 28, 2005 -
In Washington, the most outrageous sins are legal
Given the incestuous nature of politics and lobbying in Washington, D.C., and the corruption inherent in the gambling industry, the rise of an opportunist like Jack Abramoff was all but inevitable
by Jon Margolis, Nov 28, 2005 -
The day they close the pass
As mountain towns get more accessible and lively, even in midwinter, the author relishes the way his tiny, remote town slows to a stop once the mountain pass highway is closed for the season
by Steve Voynick, Nov 14, 2005 -
Are we ready to learn the lessons of fire and flood?
Sen. Larry Craig’s suggestion that New Orleans’ 9th Ward be restored as a wetland may represent a newfound respect for the power of nature and the limits of the human ability to control it
by Rocky Barker, Nov 14, 2005 -
The end of something really big
The chance to see a huge dead whale draws "carcass tourists" to the California coast
by Michelle Nijhuis, Oct 31, 2005 -
In Bush's Supreme Court, who's on first?
Newly confirmed Chief Justice John Roberts may not be the umpire he claims to be, but he could be worse: a counter-revolutionary, like Judge Janice Rogers Brown
by Jon Margolis, Oct 31, 2005 -
Inside the fall
A writer celebrates finding happiness and finding herself, as she romps with her children in the beautiful season of autumn
by Laura Pritchett, Oct 17, 2005 -
Blood spills over a $14 camping fee
In the wake of a confrontation over a camping fee that ended in a tourist’s death, a former park ranger remembers a frightening incident from his own career
by Jim Stiles, Oct 17, 2005 -
Yellowstone's Grizzlies A success story
The National Wildlife Federation believes that the federal government’s proposal to remove Yellowstone’s grizzlies from the endangered species list represents a tremendous achievement
by Tom France, Sep 19, 2005






