Thanks for your public lands advocacy Sarah. In 30 years of work in the Conservation NGO world, we've never seen anything close to this. It is definitely an all hands on deck moment for any of us who care about and use public lands...I suspect that is just about 100% of the people that read your Substack. Today, Jen and I are calling our two Colorado Senators to voice our concern over the DOGE take-over of the Department of Interior. You reference this above (thank you!). I think this piece does a good job of providing some details - https://wessiler.substack.com/p/doge-just-took-over-national-parks And despite the title, this won't just impact the National Park Service, but BLM, USFWS, BIA and USGS among other agencies.
Sad but true I feel like I’m watching a train crash that I’m unable to stop. Holding out hope for libraries and museums and mud covered hikes and trail rides and runs. Bozeman is definitely on my list of places. I’m in New Hampshire right now. Ran the Revel in the rain yesterday. It seems on the east coast the further north you go the more nature based the people. Maybe just my imagination but in my town there are definitely more people in their pajamas and slippers at the 7/11, than on any trail which makes me so sad where as here I have been sharing the trail paths with all shapes, sizes, ages which gives me some hope. Catching up on my emails on my post race buffer day🤣
Well written Sarah. I would suggest that e-mails and phone calls do not have the same impact as a good old ‘snail mail’ letter. I have written multiple e-mails to Senator Rand Paul here in KY and have yet to get a response. Similar e-mails to Rep. Thomas Massie with ‘crickets’ as a response. What is happening before our eyes is unconscionable. I am a few short days from completing another trip around the sun and enjoying the last third of my life. It is heartbreaking to see what could be left for my children and grandchildren, much less what our country will resemble this time next year! But, as Joyce Vance notes in her Substack, “We’re in this together.”
As a trail runner and backpacker, it makes me sick to think of the damage that Trump's administration is doing to our national parks and monuments and the environment. This summer I'm doing a 250+ mile backpacking trip that will take me through Sequoia National Forest, Sequoia NP, Kings Canyon NP, John Muir Wilderness, Devils Postpile National Monument, Ansel Adams Wilderness and Yosemite NP. I wonder what these treasures will look like by the end of his administration.
James, thanks for reading my newsletter, and that sounds like a fantastic long trek. I hope you'll share on your social media or elsewhere what you see in terms of condition of campgrounds, trails etc. I just met with someone who camped and backpacked over spring break around Channel Islands NP and Joshua Tree and said the places were not well cared for in terms of trash and maintenance.
I recently visited Stonehenge, which is fortunately protected, and it got me thinking about how those ancient people who called it home had their own hopes, dreams and aspirations.
It definitely makes you think about what is important and what needs to be preserved. I hope somewhere along the line a more sensible administration will come into power in the US with the aim of keeping these wonderful areas for future generations.
Thanks for the post.
(Ps… thank you for sharing the article, I hope people enjoy it).
Wait, Sue the T-Rex is in Bozeman? I thought I just looked into her hollow eyes at the Field Museum ... anyway, your guess about its cowtown past is correct. Bozeman's biggest attraction in 1985 was the Rocking R Bar.
I would encourage people not to forget about the National Park Service sites that preserve our history. MAGAs don't like those either. Brown v. Board of Education in Topeka? That's DEI!!! When we lived in KC, Diane and I published a travel guide just on area historic sites. The NPS sites were best-in-class, so well done. A friend who does a father-daughter parks trip every year told me yesterday that their next trip will be to historic sites.
I appreciate this message of getting out there and enjoying and advocating for our public lands! I just visited the Grand Canyon this past weekend and was very happy to support the NPS through my camping reservation, and I was heartened to see that other visitors were still treating the land with respect.
And closer to home, I live within 30 minutes of Saguaro National Park, and run there at least once a week. I also frequent National Forest and state park trails and I continue to look for ways to support the public lands I love!
Thanks for your public lands advocacy Sarah. In 30 years of work in the Conservation NGO world, we've never seen anything close to this. It is definitely an all hands on deck moment for any of us who care about and use public lands...I suspect that is just about 100% of the people that read your Substack. Today, Jen and I are calling our two Colorado Senators to voice our concern over the DOGE take-over of the Department of Interior. You reference this above (thank you!). I think this piece does a good job of providing some details - https://wessiler.substack.com/p/doge-just-took-over-national-parks And despite the title, this won't just impact the National Park Service, but BLM, USFWS, BIA and USGS among other agencies.
Thank you, Bob, for the work you do!
Sad but true I feel like I’m watching a train crash that I’m unable to stop. Holding out hope for libraries and museums and mud covered hikes and trail rides and runs. Bozeman is definitely on my list of places. I’m in New Hampshire right now. Ran the Revel in the rain yesterday. It seems on the east coast the further north you go the more nature based the people. Maybe just my imagination but in my town there are definitely more people in their pajamas and slippers at the 7/11, than on any trail which makes me so sad where as here I have been sharing the trail paths with all shapes, sizes, ages which gives me some hope. Catching up on my emails on my post race buffer day🤣
Thank you for reading all of my backlogged posts and I really appreciate all your comments!
Well written Sarah. I would suggest that e-mails and phone calls do not have the same impact as a good old ‘snail mail’ letter. I have written multiple e-mails to Senator Rand Paul here in KY and have yet to get a response. Similar e-mails to Rep. Thomas Massie with ‘crickets’ as a response. What is happening before our eyes is unconscionable. I am a few short days from completing another trip around the sun and enjoying the last third of my life. It is heartbreaking to see what could be left for my children and grandchildren, much less what our country will resemble this time next year! But, as Joyce Vance notes in her Substack, “We’re in this together.”
Thank you for reading and for your wise words!
As a trail runner and backpacker, it makes me sick to think of the damage that Trump's administration is doing to our national parks and monuments and the environment. This summer I'm doing a 250+ mile backpacking trip that will take me through Sequoia National Forest, Sequoia NP, Kings Canyon NP, John Muir Wilderness, Devils Postpile National Monument, Ansel Adams Wilderness and Yosemite NP. I wonder what these treasures will look like by the end of his administration.
James, thanks for reading my newsletter, and that sounds like a fantastic long trek. I hope you'll share on your social media or elsewhere what you see in terms of condition of campgrounds, trails etc. I just met with someone who camped and backpacked over spring break around Channel Islands NP and Joshua Tree and said the places were not well cared for in terms of trash and maintenance.
I recently visited Stonehenge, which is fortunately protected, and it got me thinking about how those ancient people who called it home had their own hopes, dreams and aspirations.
It definitely makes you think about what is important and what needs to be preserved. I hope somewhere along the line a more sensible administration will come into power in the US with the aim of keeping these wonderful areas for future generations.
Thanks for the post.
(Ps… thank you for sharing the article, I hope people enjoy it).
Thanks for this post, Sarah! Public lands need us all right now to speak up.
Thank you Scott for reading!
All of you—check out & follow the nonprofit Scott directs, Colorado Wildlands Project https://www.cowildlands.org/ and on Instagram @co_wildlands
Real good work with your county commissioners!
Thank you for always inspiring me to take action steps. You do not ever sit idle. I appreciate that about you.
Just checked out the book The Entire Sky from Wilkinson Library - Jeff and I will battle over who gets to read it first. ◡̈
I still have the library’s copy and loaned it to my brother; I hope the library has a second copy for you!
Are you able to share a link to the resolution? I'd love to pass it on here in Wisconsin. Thanks.
thanks for reading! It's through this link, item 9b: https://sanmiguelcoco.portal.civicclerk.com/event/12/files/agenda/1159
and I can email you the one La Plata passed.
Wait, Sue the T-Rex is in Bozeman? I thought I just looked into her hollow eyes at the Field Museum ... anyway, your guess about its cowtown past is correct. Bozeman's biggest attraction in 1985 was the Rocking R Bar.
I would encourage people not to forget about the National Park Service sites that preserve our history. MAGAs don't like those either. Brown v. Board of Education in Topeka? That's DEI!!! When we lived in KC, Diane and I published a travel guide just on area historic sites. The NPS sites were best-in-class, so well done. A friend who does a father-daughter parks trip every year told me yesterday that their next trip will be to historic sites.
I appreciate this message of getting out there and enjoying and advocating for our public lands! I just visited the Grand Canyon this past weekend and was very happy to support the NPS through my camping reservation, and I was heartened to see that other visitors were still treating the land with respect.
And closer to home, I live within 30 minutes of Saguaro National Park, and run there at least once a week. I also frequent National Forest and state park trails and I continue to look for ways to support the public lands I love!