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The Doc is in

Rural folks find common ground at a vet's office in Western Colorado.
Victory came from the bottom up

A vast army of determined volunteers were the force behind Obama’s success in Colorado.
Slideshow: The unflappable Doc Vincent

In rural western Colorado, a vet tends to pets and their humans. Michelle Nijhuis reads her essay, along with slides by JT Thomas.
Conscientious objectors 65 years ago

Paying homage to those imprisoned at Mancos Camp, Colo., during World War II.
Stuck in the PAWGmire

The Pinedale Anticline Working Group was supposed to give citizens input on the local oil and gas boom, but it hasn’t worked out as planned.

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Burning issues

Controversial forestry scientist Tom Bonnicksen believes increased logging is necessary to fight global warming.
Still Howling Wolf

Ranchers and environmentalists in Wyoming are still squabbling over wolves as the animal bounces on and off the endangered species list.
Liquid assets

California is enthusiastic about creating “water banks” to help the state’s cities weather future droughts.
Field Day

In some Western states, including Colorado, prison inmates are taking the place of immigrant farmworkers.

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High Country News April 02, 2007

Feature

Disposable Workers of the Oil and Gas Fields

Without a college degree, work on the oil and gas fields is the best job you can get in the rural West – unless, of course, it kills you

Editor's Note

It tolls for us

The energy boom in the Rocky Mountain West has been shadowed by a much darker boom: a frightening rise in death and serious injury

Dear Friends

Dear friends

Wilf Bruschke visits; singer John Winn writes a song inspired by Patricia Walsh’s column on green burial; Claire Anderson helps dogs in Mexico; clarification and corrections

Two Weeks in the West

No yellow snow for Snowbowl; gonorrhea and meth: a match made in hell; split-estate bills in New Mexico and Colorado; Montana’s green energy bills languish; “Rocky Mountain High” second Colorado state song, bolo tie is official New Mexico neckwear.

Uncommon Westerners

Lewis’ Web

Wyoming microbiologist Randy Lewis is fascinated by spiders – particularly by the remarkable silk they produce.

News

Harvesting the sky

Thirsty Santa Fe, N.M., considers an innovative law requiring all new buildings to install rainwater-harvesting systems.

Book Reviews

Thomas McGuane’s lonely freaks

The powerful short stories in Thomas McGuane’s Gallatin Canyon prove him to be the New West’s answer to Flannery O’Connor.

Essays

The single women who homesteaded the West

The women who homesteaded the Old West defy the stereotypes we make of them.

Heard Around the West

Reckless unicorns; dogs and kids will stay in those truck beds; calling Jesus in Idaho; Stardust reduced to dust; can’t afford to live in Seattle; moose takes on helicopter in Alaska.