I always loved wild, open country, from the time I was a kid. I spent much of my youth on a canoe or lost in some forest. It’s why I came West. In 1982, I heard about a new grassroots…
Note: The original version of this story appeared in the June 1991 Zephyr. For decades, since the Wilderness Act was passed by Congress in 1964, citizens of this nation have waged war with each other over the need for wilderness…
On May 5, 2003, Erica Walz conducted a lengthy interview with Tori Woodard and Patrick Diehl at their home in Escalante, Utah. Both Woodard and Diehl are actively involved in Utah public lands issues and have been vocal opponents of…
Paul Vlachos is a New Yorker who understands The West. And he is a New Yorker who understands New York. Wherever Paul goes, he finds signs of life… 1. Indio, California – 1998 Indio keeps getting bigger and bigger. At…
“As far as technological culture is concerned, we lag miles behind America. But all that is frightfully costly and already carries the germ of the end in itself.” – Swiss Psychiatrist Carl Jung, 1909 On Valentine’s Day, 1884, when he…
EDITOR’S NOTE: Be advised that there is language in this story which may be offensive to some readers. However, for accuracy, we have transcribed quotes as they appeared originally, in this case, on Andy Lewis’ publicly accessible facebook page. ‘As…
The Sinai Peninsula is one of the most spectacular places on the face of the earth. Armies of the ages have used the rolling sand dunes of northern Sinai as a highway to battle. Ancient Pharaohs, Mesopotamian monarchs, Alexander the…
Existential Roads The right-of-way for the construction of highways across public lands not otherwise reserved for public purposes is hereby granted — Revised Statute 2477, 1866 Mining Act. When you construct a road does it have to go anywhere? Is…
It’s late July and the Rufous Hummers are back. Feisty little devils, they are. Ready to pick a fight, just to have something to do. I sit on my porch swing in the early evening and watch the aerobatics, the…
EXTRATERRESTRIAL BEINGS FROM BEYOND? For decades, I was convinced I’d found an alien landing site. More 20 years ago, I wrote this: ‘Alien visitations? The proof is here, on an isolated ridge in the northern part of Grand County.…