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Buzz Burrell's avatar

A pair of equally nasty stories!

Yes, while national support for public lands is strong, a few but notable Utah politicians are infamous for wanting to sell it off to profit their corporate friends, even though the economic benefits of recreation are vastly larger than their extractive plans (housing is a valid goal but in most cases a ruse).

And while taper mishaps seem disproportionately common, yours seem disproportionately large! Condolences. (Although as you know, equine mishaps are anything but rare. I had a friend killed by a horse).

Don't slip on a bar of soap in the shower!

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Sarah Lavender Smith's avatar

Thank you Buzz! Your Utah perspective is appreciated ... but I still can't figure out why Utah doesn't get rid of Mike Lee. And yes, I'll be careful about slip and falls!

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Blue's avatar

I don’t even have words for how I feel about the state of this country at this particular moment. I guess keep fighting the good fight. Do what we can locally and individually. Hopefully the tides will turn before it’s too late. Also 😬 yup gotta watch them ponies🤠

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Jane Sindell's avatar

THANK YOU for this very important post!!

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James Garner's avatar

The thought that millions of acres of forest land and BLM land could be put up for sale is heart breaking. A number of areas that I’ve either hiked, backpacked, trained or ran races on would be impacted. When I look at the map, I see a lot of local areas that I hike and train on (sections of the PCT, Thomas Mountain, large section of forest around Idyllwild) are all impacted. While I get ready for a 260-mile backpacking trip through the Sierra’s none of the actual trail is impacted but the road leading to the trailhead and Onion Valley where I go to resupply in Independence goes through forest that would be impacted as is my next resupply location VVR at Lake Thomas Edison. Also, the Sequoia National Forest to the west of where I’ll be is impacted. You mentioned Hard Rock could be impacted, so could races like the Oregon 200, Bigfoot 200 which I’m running in August or a Tushar 70/100k races which I planned on running next year. But what bothers me most is how devastating it’ll be for wildlife.

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Jennifer O’Connor's avatar

The potential sell-off of public lands is sickening. I've even seen some normally MAGA-friendly people in Auburn opposing this bill, so who knows. But the future is worrying.

Stay healthy and uninjured! And thank you for the reminder not to start crazy projects during taper (which I've also been known to do).

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Josh Jackson's avatar

Thanks for highlighting some of your favorite landscapes that could be on the chopping block. We need thousands more who are speaking up for the places they love. Thanks for adding your voice and pointing folks in the right direction!

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Sarah Lavender Smith's avatar

Thanks for all you do, Josh.

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Polly Elizabeth's avatar

The selling of federal lands should be a bi-partisan issue. Ranchers graze their cattle on BLM and forest service lands all summer. I will mention that when I call my Republican congressman. Also, in my opinion, your Hardrock training should be number one. Perhaps put the memoir work aside until after the race?

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