Letter to the editor

“Land-Grab Universities” (April 2020) called for reconciliation efforts at schools that have endowments derived in part from the taking of Native American lands in the 19th century. South Dakota State University has dedicated around $636,000 in annual endowment income from these lands to programs and support for Native students. If all 52 universities in your […]

Most Western states have regulated seasons for shed hunting and designated open and closed areas (“The ethics of shed-hunting,” Outdoor Rec & Travel 2020). Nothing unethical about following these regulations to shed hunt. Those who flout the regulations are not only unethical but committing crimes. Shed hunting per se is not unethical. —Richard B. Jones, […]

I think we’d best beware of the “fascism” that we already have! Trump is using the COVID-19 pandemic to relax environmental standards for industries as it is. If anything, we’re going in a totally opposite direction than what this suggests. Our once-relevant Environmental Protection Agency has been mostly hijacked early on by the Trump administration. […]

While I share the concern as to the intrusion of technology and impact of placement of towers, I am also reminded of the multiple deaths and rescues that have occurred due to ill-advised flatlanders who attempted to climb Longs Peak or similar destinations in Rocky Mountain National Park in poor weather conditions. You’re not going […]

In response to Nick Bowlin’s article about Backcountry Film Festival (“Snow-blind,” Outdoor Rec & Travel 2020), we at the Backcountry Film Festival and Winter Wildlands Alliance would like to address what Bowlin’s critique missed. BCFF’s films come from a variety of backgrounds, speak to relevant issues regarding a variety of backcountry and environmental issues, and […]

We’re actually covering settler colonialism and some of its ramifications now in my class, specifically related to water resources and ecology, as it problematizes ideas of ecological restoration, stakeholders, historical water rights and other things we treat as givens in the dominant culture. And I totally agree with this last statement: “ ‘You can’t go […]

The way forward requires a new norm. As David Sloan Wilson writes in The Neighborhood Project, “If you’re undermining the commons, you’re degrading your soul.” —Wesley Rolley, via Facebook This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline New norms.

This is sad news indeed, but after working with the Forest Service on bighorn sheep range studies for three summers in the backcountry, it comes as no surprise (“Competitor of conscience,” Outdoor Rec & Travel 2020). Bighorns are a sensitive and easily spooked genus. Researchers need to make sure their data is rock-solid, do additional […]

This is a much-needed deep dive into the issue of land “grant” universities. Let’s hope this sparks real dialogue and action today as we move forward with true partnerships with Indigenous people, education of Indigenous students, hiring of Indigenous faculty and staff, and ethical research to support (and in collaboration with) Indigenous communities. —Michael Dockry, […]

Does one person of a certain identity represent all people of that identity? Of course not (“Conservation justice,” February 2020). In his interview, Sergio Avila affirms that truth when he describes the misstep of generalizing about people. Unfortunately, Avila went on to generalize repeatedly about “white people.” What about those of us who seek knowledge […]

How could you publish an article about public transportation in the Northwest without mentioning Amtrak once (“Mass transit West” January 2020)? The Coast Starlight train runs daily from Seattle to Los Angeles. The Empire Builder runs from Portland and Seattle connecting to Spokane and Chicago and has coach and sleeper car options.  Amtrak Cascades offers […]

I retired from a career with the Bureau of Land Management in 2009. From over 33 years of public-lands stewardship “in the trenches,” I was gifted with many things, the best of which was a deep understanding of the power of the land and those who are connected to it and, of course, the natural […]

I can’t remember a time when we didn’t have High Country News in our household. I still get excited every time I see one of your stories pop up online in other platforms, even as that happens more and more regularly. I don’t know if I would have solidified myself as a Westerner as strongly […]

In “Colorado Throws Wolves to the Vote” (March 2020) Ethan Linck maintains that whether to reintroduce wolves to Colorado is a philosophical question not answerable by science. Putting wolf reintroduction to a vote is the right way to go. After all, why should Colorado Parks and Wildlife scientists enjoy privileged status when it comes to […]

I was recently immersed in an interview in The Sun, “Blind Hate: Randy Blazak on Why White Supremacy Persists.” One of Blazek’s points is how changing American demographics are affecting white males who grew up in a country dominated by “straight, white, able-bodied males.” In their hearts, they feel safe and important in settings of […]

For years, I have gotten grief for hiking and backpacking in jeans and T-shirts instead of lightweight zippered shorts/pants and sweat-wicking shirts; eating M&Ms and PB&J sandwiches, rather than custom gorp or Clif Bars; and for cross-country skiing in the same jeans and T-shirt with old 75-mm three-pin bindings. As a white guy, I let […]

In “The Elon Musk dilemma” (March 2020), Brian Calvert gets a number of facts wrong about climate change, electric vehicles, and renewable energy. He starts the column by highlighting Americans’ “beliefs” in climate change. As a climate scientist, I would like to point out that the climate doesn’t care about people’s beliefs. It doesn’t care […]

WTF has gone wrong with HCN? I understand your need to diversify, but a lot of recent issues stray too far from your roots and from many readers’ interests. The January issue is another issue on cultural diversity, but this one entirely devoted to it? I always save my HCNs, looking forward to reading them […]

In “Perfectly natural” (February 2020), Brian Calvert seems to want to redefine the term nature so that it includes humans and their machines. One of the great advances in human civilization and environmental ethics was the recognition that what we call nature was not placed on this Earth for the benefit of humankind to be […]

As I read Adam Sowards’ perspective, “Where NEPA fell short” (January 2020), I reminisced about my long-ago days at the Environmental Protection Agency during the second term of EPA Administrator Bill Ruckelshaus (May 18, 1983, to Jan. 4, 1985). I disagree with the assertion that NEPA fell short. It did not. It was, and still […]