Items by Krista Langlois

The desert gets a biocrust skin graft
The desert gets a biocrust skin graft
Without its cover of living microorganisms, the desert is eroding.
Wildfire escape routes? There’s (almost) an app for that.
Wildfire escape routes? There’s (almost) an app for that.
Scientists are using crowdsourced data to help firefighters flee dangerous flames.
As citizen-led ballot initiatives soar, so have efforts to block them
As citizen-led ballot initiatives soar, so have efforts to block them
In Idaho, a struggle over Medicaid expansion exposes the limits of forcing change via ballot measure.
Tiny bits of plastic permeate our world
Tiny bits of plastic permeate our world
From alpine headwaters to city water supplies, the West is awash in microscopic pollutants.
Saving baby Jo from the smoke
Saving baby Jo from the smoke
A mother grapples with her decision to flee the 416 Fire with her infant daughter.
How whales converse with the world
How whales converse with the world
Arctic people have been speaking with cetaceans for centuries — and scientists are finally taking note.
In Alaska, wildlands lose out to roads and drill rigs
In Alaska, wildlands lose out to roads and drill rigs
An industry-friendly White House helps Sen. Lisa Murkowski score long-sought gains.
The protectors of British Columbia’s coast
The protectors of British Columbia’s coast
In the Great Bear Rainforest, Indigenous guardians enforce tribal and environmental laws.
Why the National Park advisory board imploded
Why the National Park advisory board imploded
An interview with board chairman Tony Knowles.
The price of a national park fee hike
The price of a national park fee hike
The proposed increase in entrance fees reignites old questions about who should fund the West’s open spaces.
Indigenous knowledge helps untangle the mystery of Mesa Verde
Indigenous knowledge helps untangle the mystery of Mesa Verde
Pueblo people and archaeologists work to understand the science of human migrations.
Farming in Alaska is increasingly possible
Farming in Alaska is increasingly possible
Longer growing seasons and food scarcity are turning more people to agriculture.
Down with the Glen Canyon Dam?
Down with the Glen Canyon Dam?
Activists claim that decommissioning the dam will save water and restore a wild canyon. Are they right?
Could the lure of trails salvage Alaska’s economy?
Could the lure of trails salvage Alaska’s economy?
A trail along the Trans-Alaska pipeline could be the start of a booming recreation economy.
 ‘Look for something white’
‘Look for something white’
Discovering the North through its most iconic birds.
Have we underestimated the West’s super-floods?
Have we underestimated the West’s super-floods?
Scientists warn that enormous floods may be more likely than we thought — and the Oroville Dam and others weren’t built to withstand them.
How Obama began to mend broken tribal relations
How Obama began to mend broken tribal relations
Native American leaders say Obama’s legacy is this: He listened.
What Obama can actually do about Standing Rock
What Obama can actually do about Standing Rock
According to tribal law experts, not much.
Alaska’s gas pipeline dreams
Alaska’s gas pipeline dreams
A decades-long plan to deliver the state’s gas reserves to the market remains in purgatory.
Burner of Land Management
Burner of Land Management
It takes year-round planning to host 70,000 people in one of the planet’s harshest environments.
Legislation revives Grand Canyon development question
Legislation revives Grand Canyon development question
Escalade bill leaves opponents scrambling for support, and tribal members divided.
How purple bacteria could help save amphibians in the Rockies
How purple bacteria could help save amphibians in the Rockies
A Colorado researcher is using boreal toads’ microbiomes to help them ward off a deadly fungus.
Why an outdoor group’s work is ‘more relevant than ever’
Why an outdoor group’s work is ‘more relevant than ever’
The founder of Outdoor Afro talks about racial violence and why we all need a dose of nature.
Salmon power
Salmon power
A historic legal victory could give Alaska tribes more control over their fish, wildlife and homelands.
Meet Utah’s first transgender candidate for US Senate
Meet Utah’s first transgender candidate for US Senate
Democratic candidate Misty Snow is progressive, transgender and, she says, increasingly representative of Utah.
Nature’s worth, through filmmakers’ eyes
Nature’s worth, through filmmakers’ eyes
A new wave of outdoor films encompass both conservation and adventure.
Meet the badasses bringing outdoor rec to the people who pioneered it
Meet the badasses bringing outdoor rec to the people who pioneered it
More groups are focused on getting Native Americans outside.
How a Utah county silenced Native American voters — and how Navajos are fighting back
How a Utah county silenced Native American voters — and how Navajos are fighting back
A series of lawsuits could help counteract decades of racist practices.
Rewilding the shortgrass prairie 
Rewilding the shortgrass prairie 
A scientist with ranching roots is trying to restore balance to degraded grasslands.
Trial by fire
Trial by fire
Women in the male-dominated world of wildland firefighting still face harassment, abuse and sexism.
High Country News Classifieds
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    The Matador Ranch Manager directs operations, communication, and maintenance for TNC Montana's Matador Ranch preserve with a focus on ecological management and restoration, grazing management,...
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    Thrive Hood River (Oregon) is looking for a collaborative leader who cares deeply about Hood River's wild places, farmland and the quality of life in...
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    Seeking qualified Northern New Mexico Project Manager to provide expertise, leadership and support to the organization by planning, cultivating, implementing and managing land conservation activities....
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    The NFPPRD District Administrator provides leadership and managerial services associated with the Recreation District. Facilities include a seasonal pool, ballfields, bike trails, tennis/pickleball and skateboarding....
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    The Executive Director of the Badlands Conservation Alliance (BCA) builds and leads a premiere North Dakota advocacy group that serves to protect the ecology of...
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  • SENIOR SPECIALIST, LANDSCAPE CONNECTIVITY YELLOWSTONE TO YUKON CONSERVATION INITIATIVE
    About the Organization Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) is a joint Canada-U.S. not-for-profit organization with a mission to connect and protect wildlife habitat from...
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    High Country News, an award-winning magazine covering the communities and environment of the Western United States, seeks applicants for a Virginia Spencer Davis fellow. The...
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    The Communications Director is a passionate communications professional versed in conservation and regenerative agriculture, as well as nonprofit communications and data management across several program...
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    The Education and Outreach Director is a people-oriented facilitator, communications wizard, and team leader who has experience designing, managing, and fundraising for land based educational...
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    High Country News, an award-winning magazine covering the communities and environment of the Western United States, is looking for its next cohort of editorial interns....
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    hat We Can Achieve Together: If you are a detailed individual that takes pride in your accuracy, this position may be the perfect opportunity for...
  • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - LEMHI COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY (SALMON, IDAHO)
    Are you ready to take the reins at Lemhi County Humane Society and make a difference in the lives of countless animals? We are seeking...
  • ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSTRUCTION GEOPHYSICS
    We characterize contaminated sites, identify buried drums, tanks, debris and also locate groundwater.
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    Native plant seeds for the Western US. Trees, shrubs, grasses, wildflowers and regional mixes. Call or email for free price list. 719-942-3935. [email protected] or visit...
  • CEO BUFFALO NATIONS GRASSLANDS ALLIANCE
    Chief Executive Officer, Remote Exempt position for Buffalo Nations Grasslands Alliance is responsible for the planning and organization of BNGA's day-to-day operations
  • "PROFILES IN COURAGE: STANDING AGAINST THE WYOMING WIND"
    13 stories of extraordinary courage including HCN founder Tom Bell, PRBRC director Lynn Dickey, Liz Cheney, People of Heart Mountain, the Wind River Indian Reservation...