Items by Forrest Whitman

Rural railroads are more important than your new trails
Rural railroads are more important than your new trails
Converting rails to trails can hurt economies and make it harder to battle blazes.
What happens in a small town when the gas goes out?
What happens in a small town when the gas goes out?
A writer ponders his community’s dependence on natural gas in its absence.
Don’t give up on riding the rails
Don’t give up on riding the rails
A writer muses on a recent loss of confidence in the West’s rail system.
Dear progressives, don’t give up on the small-town West
Dear progressives, don’t give up on the small-town West
Political advice from a Democrat who ran and lost his own campaign for mayor.
Border and immigration agents have too much power
Border and immigration agents have too much power
In July, ICE sent German foreign exchange students back home.
The political right and left are stuck in polarizing myths
The political right and left are stuck in polarizing myths
Neighbors in a small Colorado town are splintered, but neither are correct.
Last ride for the West’s iconic trains?
Last ride for the West’s iconic trains?
Trump’s budget would make it harder for Westerners to ride the rail.
Lessons from the fire line
Lessons from the fire line
Reminiscing on a half-century in the forest.
The Colorado caucus system works — sort of
The Colorado caucus system works — sort of
The minuteae of the political process matter and are sometimes based on outdated systems.
Potty-mouths have a long history in Western politics
Potty-mouths have a long history in Western politics
Donald Trump is just the latest politician to resort to vulgar language.
Western nativism has a rotten odor
On E.M. Frimbo and riding the Western rails
For the love of trains
For the love of trains
Just call John Hickenlooper the Silver Fox
Train Day brought out the Chief’s supporters
A word from the grassroots
A word from the grassroots
Talking frankly with neighbors at my precinct caucus.
Not all endangered species live in the forest
Not all endangered species live in the forest
Struggling individuals in the rural West deserve as much support as needy wildlife.
Gold, guns, and suckers born every minute
Gold, guns, and suckers born every minute
With the right kind of marketing any unsound idea can flourish in the West.
Our Western heartland train is endangered
Our Western heartland train is endangered
In defense of the historic Southwest Chief.
Living in a caboose, supporting the railroad
Living in a caboose, supporting the railroad
A man who lives in a train urges us to advocate for a robust regional rail network.
High Country News Classifieds
  • DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST
    Position Summary Western Resource Advocates (WRA) is hiring an organized and creative Digital Engagement Specialist to join our Marketing and Communications Team. The Digital Engagement...
  • 92 ACRE EASTERN WASHINGTON GEM
    Welcome to Lost Creek Sanctuary... a true hidden gem in the heart of the Palouse. 1900 square feet, the main house is warm and charming,...
  • WEEKLY NEWSPAPER FOR SALE
    Vibrant, financially successful 1,100 print run, community-focused subscription newspaper in beautiful Pacific Northwest Washington seeks owner/s. It is time to retire. Now, your Norman Rockwell-like...
  • STAFF ATTORNEY - WILDLANDS AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM
    Job Opening Announcement: Wildlands and Wildlife Program Staff Attorney Reports to: Wildlands and Wildlife Program Director Location: Pacific Northwest, ideally in Eugene, Oregon, Portland, Oregon,...
  • HEAD OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT
    The Head of Project Management will oversee our project execution to ensure that we are providing our partners around the world with the field data...
  • LEGAL DIRECTOR
    Trustees for Alaska is the only nonprofit environmental law firm founded and based in Alaska. We are seeking a Legal Director, full-time based in Anchorage....
  • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
    The Fund for People in Parks seeks leader to identify, develop, fund, and facilitate high-impact projects in western National Parks. Remote position with some travel....
  • GRASSROOTS REGIONAL COORDINATOR
    Great Old Broads for Wilderness is a women-led national grassroots organization that engages and inspires activism to preserve and protect wilderness and wild lands. The...
  • GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY MANAGER
    Great Old Broads for Wilderness is a women-led national grassroots organization that engages and inspires activism to preserve and protect wilderness and wild lands. Position...
  • GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP DIRECTOR
    The Grassroots Leadership (Director) oversees the training, guidance, and support of volunteer Broadband Leaders. (Broadbands are women-led grassroots chapters, with 40+ across the country.) They...
  • FOCUS GROUP PARTICIPANT NEEDED
    We would like to invite you to participate in a 60-minute focus group to help us enhance the New Mexico Courts website (https://www.inside.nmcourts.gov/). Our aim...
  • GILA GRASSROOTS ORGANIZER
    New Mexico Wild is seeking a Gila Grassroots Organizer who is passionate about public lands and community engagement. The Gila Grassroots Organizer will take a...
  • 20/40 ACRES IN ARIZONA WINE COUNTRY
    Chiricahua riparian ecosystem: 5100 ft elevation:18+ inches of rain/year: 1/4 mile creek through property: The Chiricahuas' have been called: "The most biologically diverse place in...
  • SMALL CABIN WITH 260 ACRES
    Adorable quaint cabin on the Arizona Strip, on the foothills of the Kaibab Plateau with 260 acres bordering BLM lands on two sides of the...
  • STAFF ATTORNEY
    Food & Water Watch works to create a healthy future for all people and generations to come—a world where everyone has food they can trust,...
  • ASSOCIATE DIR OF DEVELOPMENT FOR CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION RELATIONS
    What We Can Achieve Together: Based in Phoenix, AZ, the Associate Director of Development for Corporate and Foundation Relations (CFR) works closely with the State...
  • ASSOCIATE DIR OF DEVELOPMENT
    What We Can Achieve Together: The Associate Director of Development (ADoD) works closely with the State Director, Director of Development, development team and program leaders...
  • LUNATEC HYDRATION SPRAY BOTTLE
    A must for campers and outdoor enthusiasts. Cools, cleans and hydrates with mist, stream and shower patterns. Hundreds of uses.
  • LUNATEC ODOR-FREE DISHCLOTHS
    are a must try. They stay odor-free, dry fast, are durable and don't require machine washing. Try today.
  • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
    The Civil Conversations Project, a 501c3 organization working to end racism in America is seeking an experienced and passionate part-time Executive Director. For full job...