Essays
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A long journey home
The Winnemem Wintu Tribe wants to return salmon to California's McCloud River by bringing back the fish’s descendents, now in New Zealand.
by Marc Dadigan, Jan 04, 2011 -
Teaching Whitney to cook
An environmental educator discovers a rewarding way to help the planet -- teaching a young woman how to cook.
by Julia Corbett, Jan 01, 2011 -
Room for everyone
A "hodgepodge of humanity" visits Mojave desert hot springs -- and there's room enough for all.
by Brad Monsma, Dec 05, 2010 -
Lone shepherd on a distant promontory
A writer wanders the mountains north of McCall, Idaho, with Peruvian shepherds, their dogs and sheep.
by Kurt Caswell, Nov 21, 2010 -
Grace behind glass
An fish ladder on the Columbia River provides a view of unexpected wonders.
by Ana Maria Spagna, Nov 11, 2010 -
Us and them vs. all the rest
During the labor struggles of the early 20th century, rough-and-tumble Butte, Mont., survived as a community because of -- rather than despite -- its ethnic diversity.
by Edwin Dobb, Nov 02, 2010 -
Fighting the logic of fire
When her new home is threatened by the Fourmile Fire in Boulder, Colo., a writer reassesses her love for the West.
by Alexandra Witze, Oct 14, 2010 -
The Western Lit Blues
A Western writer is tired of being typecast as a Western writer.
by Laura Pritchett, Sep 26, 2010 -
The Second Second City
A native Chicagoan who now lives in Montana goes searching for New Chicago, Mont.
by Jeremy N. Smith, Sep 19, 2010 -
The Terrain of This Ambition
A writer wrestles with the huge shadows cast by the men and women of “Literary Utah.”
by Christopher Cokinos, Sep 05, 2010 -
A brush with cowboy culture
A former ranch kid who now lives in Denver has mixed feeling when her 2-year-old tries "mutton-busting" at a rodeo.
by Amanda Leigh Mascarelli, Aug 29, 2010 -
Ready ... or not
Sometimes a close encounter with wildlife is a little too close for the wildlife's comfort.
by Jane McGarry, Aug 15, 2010 -
Summer blizzard
Wonderful things are everywhere -- but you have to pay attention in order to see them.
by John Calderazzo, Aug 05, 2010 -
Turning back the tide
A volunteer naturalist describes the unique beauty -- and fragility -- of California's Elkhorn Slough Reserve.
by John Moir, Jul 15, 2010 -
Guns -- and none
A woman who grew up with guns goes on to a life without them.
by Diane Halsted, Jun 22, 2010 -
Nature illiteracy
Many hikers are obsessed about correct identification of flora and fauna, but a stalwart few are fine with simply seeing a bird as a bird.
by Donald R. Nelson, Jun 08, 2010 -
Walking Woman
The Owens River is flowing again -- and Mary Austin's Land of Little Rain is rejoicing.
by Kim Todd, May 27, 2010 -
Little doses of danger
A formerly fearless outdoorswoman becomes unexpectedly wary once she becomes the mother of two children.
by Laura Pritchett, May 11, 2010 -
Crossing over
This particular city girl never wanted to live in a small mountain town – until she fell in love with one of the residents.
by Cara McDonald, Apr 25, 2010 -
Out of the cubicle, into the canyon
After he gets laid off from his job, a writer seeks consolation hiking in the Sierra Nevada.
by Byron Schneider, Apr 11, 2010
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