Writers on the Range

Just weird enough: The quirky, kitschy and beautifully morbid allure of the Salton Sea; By Dennis Hinkamp / Writers on the Range

Hey, Utah: Americans love their public lands, so stop trying to get rid of them; By Aaron Weiss / Writers on the Range

A false solution: It’s time to get real about plastic recycling – or lack thereof; By Karen Mockler / Writers on the Range

A wake-up call: Devastation of L.A. fires could happen anywhere – even Durango; By Dave Marston / Writers on the Range

Savoring darkness: Alaska’s endless nights offer cool respite from Earth’s encroaching heat; By Tim Lydon / Writers on the Range

Of bears and Bears Ears: A rundown of what Westerners cared about in 2024; By Betsy Marston

All along the watchtower: Observations of a San Juan Mountain fire lookout; By Rick Freimuth / Writers on the Range

Turning 'nothing' into something: ‘Centennial’ reminds us land is more than just the backdrop to the West; By Patricia J. Rettig / Writers on the Range

Scrapping the stigma: Opening up about mental illness will help make us all healthier; By David Marston / Writers on the Range

Trump's public lands playbook: This time, public sentiment, law are on conservation’s side; By Jennifer Rokala / Writes on the Range

Recipe for disaster?: Trump’s unsound policies on tariffs and workers portend an economic fallout; By David Marston / Writers on the Range

Coexisting with compassion: Takeaways in the wake of Grizzly 399’s tragic death; By Wendy Keefover & Kristin Combs / Writers on the Range

Western lament: Red-leaning states are abandoning pragmatic conservatism; By Jonathan Thompson / Writers on the Range

A natural ally: We need mountain lions to do their job; By Dan Ashe / Writers on the range

Dam'ed if they don't: Lake Powell operators can no longer turn blind eye to dead pool; By Zak Podmore / Writers on the Range

Pick your poison: How a controversial herbicide saved a Utah lake; By Ted Williams / Writers on the Range

People power: Without volunteers, the Colorado Trail would be nowhere; By David Marston / Writers on the Range

Wolf tales: Biologist details 40 years of living with wolves in northern Montana; By Ben Long / Writers on the Range

Fire on the mountain: When fire danger is high, hikers turn into smoke-battling vigilantes; By Zeke Lloyd / Writers on the Range

Beyond net zero: Utilities should focus on better batteries and smarter management; By Auden Schendler / Writers on the Range

The Pole

Getting soaked: 02/06/2025; Floating the Grand Canyon could get a lot more expensive for private boaters. The National Park Service is seeking public input on a proposal to increase the per-person cost for rafting Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek from $90 to $310. The cost of floating Diamond Creek to Pearce Ferry, now free, would increase to $55/person. The $25 lottery permit fee would remain unchanged.

Lockdown: 01/30/2025; For many Durangoans, their bicycles may be their most prized – and only – set of wheels. Which is why bike thieves are among the lowest of the low. But, with bike thefts on the rise, Durango Police are helping residents protect their bikes through a free registration system called “Project 529.”

The end is Sneer: 01/23/2025; If you’re planning on drinking your winter blues away at Snowdown this year, you’ve likely already been to Magpies Newsstand to grab your board games gear to celebrate. As Snowdown merch central, they have t-shirts, hats, buttons, posters and info pamphlets. Get your butt down there if you haven’t already, as supplies are dwindling! However, if you go to Magpie’s in search of the venerable Snowdown Sneer, the satirical newspaper that mysteriously shows up around town (almost) every Snowdown, don't get your hopes up just yet.

So Rando: 01/16/2025; It’s been 10 years since locals Peter Carver and Joe Philpott died in separate avalanche incidents. Since then, the nonprofit organization founded in their memory, Know the Snow Fund, has raised tens of thousands of dollars and handed out hundreds of scholarships for avalanche safety training. In 2024 alone, KTSF supported scholarships for nearly 100 individuals.