Giving a 6-year-old fire-tending responsibilities is good for the whole family.
Recreation
Posted inArticles
Montana’s only congressman sells public lands short
Recreation-based businesses like canoe guiding rely on continued protection for national monuments.
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Exchange or exploitation? Ski towns turn to foreign students
The J-1 program is the main source of migrant labor for the ski industry.
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Republican politicians should support the outdoor industry
Public lands should be conserved — not exploited for short-term gain.
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What Westerners take for granted
“I never really considered the concept of public lands until I moved to Iowa.”
Posted inMarch 5, 2018: Drilling Chaco
An armchair journey to the desert
A photography book captures the natural splendor of Utah’s five national parks.
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The Wyoming Public Lands Initiative risks collapse
As conflicting groups search for middle ground, some say the process is being rushed.
Posted inMarch 5, 2018: Drilling Chaco
Latest: Outdoor recreation recognized as economic contributor
The Commerce Department affirms the growing clout of outdoor retailers.
Posted inFebruary 19, 2018: Unfrozen North
National parks, where landscape and culture intersect
A photography book explores the history of travel within our nation’s parks.
Posted inArticles
Protected lands generate big-time revenue
In Alaska, sustainable recreation dollars help advocates for protected areas.
Posted inFebruary 5, 2018: Caught Between Crises
When elk get iced; Raw water craze; Nudes in Utah
Mishaps and mayhem from around the region.
Posted inArticles
A Montana bill takes aim at wilderness study areas
Sen. Steve Daines wants to slash protections for some of the state’s wildest land.
Posted inJanuary 22, 2018: A Separatist State of Mind
Water-fat mountains; Pence visits Aspen; Oregonians gas up
Mishaps and mayhem from around the region.
Posted inJanuary 22, 2018: A Separatist State of Mind
The ski resorts of the West
From Alaska to New Mexico, a new map offers a comprehensive look at where to shred.
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How to turn motorized rec into a sustainable economy
In 2010, Challis, Idaho, created a trail for ATV riders. Now, it’s enjoying an economic boost.
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What the two-wheeled tourist can offer tiny towns
Cycling tourism contributes nearly $377 million annually to Montana’s economy.
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The tiny power plant that shapes the Colorado River — merely by existing
The Shoshone power plant is the cornerstone for water rights in the upper river.
Posted inDecember 25, 2017: Bear Essentials
In the home of the bear
In the McNeil River Sanctuary, bears and humans have learned to share the landscape.
Posted inDecember 25, 2017: Bear Essentials
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.
Posted inNovember 27, 2017: Profit and Politics
Macho moose; thousand-dollar bobcat; lost in Dark Canyon
Mishaps and mayhem from around the region.