Obama’s administration is considering 14 potential national monuments in 9 states, according to a leaked Department Of The Interior document. And whenever there’s talk of turning a place into a federally protected national monument, there’s going to be debate. Some are happy with the idea of federal protection, thus helping to save these beautiful places for our kids, but with national monument status comes more regulation as to what types of activities are allowed in the area.

In addition, government officials in Utah are angry because they claim that no state or local officials were contacted about the proposal. Utah Governor Gary Herbert claims, “I will challenge federal officials to explain to me how they could possibly be in a better position to know what’s best for our rural lands than those of us here on the ground in this state.” Below are the areas being considered for national monument status.

San Rafael Swell, UT
Montana’s Northern Prairie, MT
Lesser Prairie Chicken Preserve, NM
Berryessa Snow Mountains, CA
Heart of the Great Basin, NV
Otero Mesa, NM
Northwest Sonoran Desert, AZ
Owyhee Desert, OR/NV
Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, CA (expansion)
Vermillion Basin, CO (pictured above)
Bodie Hills, CA
The Modoc Plateau, CA
Cedar Mesa region, UT
San Juan Islands, WA

More info at The Adventure Life.

Posted: February 22nd, 2010 under Politics, Public Lands.
Comments: 1

We took a train up to Cold Spring on Saturday morning to meet some friends (thanks for the pictures) at their Main Street mansion of an apartment and hike up Bull Hill, also known as Mount Taurus. Part of the handsome Hudson Highlands, Bull Hill (1,620 ft) is taller than its more famous neighbor, Breakneck Ridge (1,260 feet).

Before the hike, we stopped at the farmer’s market for some jalapeño-cheddar bread and dijon, then carried onto Bull Hill’s south base, home to the remnants of an old quarry. It’s an easy hike to the top, and although I wished I hadn’t dragged the snowshoes on the train only to leave them in the car, there was enough snow, quiet, and views of the Hudson to remind us not to wish winter away just yet.

Posted: February 18th, 2010 under Public Lands.
Comments: 2

Harney Peak, located within Black Hills National Forest, is the highest mountain in South Dakota, and at 7,244 feet, the highest point in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. The peak was named after Williams S. Harney, commander of the military in the Black Hills area in the late 1850s. An abandoned fire lookout tower is situated on the summit with a plaque that reads “Valentine McGillycuddy, Wasicu Wacan.” The plaque marks the final resting place of Dr. Valentine McGillycuddy (pictured above). Harney Peak is also the place where Black Elk had his “great vision” when he was nine years old.

Dr. Valentine (good timing, eh? get it now?) McGillycuddy is famous for being the doctor who treated Crazy Horse at the time of his death. While he is known to the Lakota of the modern-day Pine Ridge Indian Reservation as “Friend of Crazy Horse”, he was not so much loved by some other Lakotas, including Red Cloud, a major Sioux chief. Red Cloud’s accusations of mismanagement led to several investigations of Dr. McGillycuddy’s administration. In the days leading up to the Wounded Knee Massacre, Red Cloud conceded that McGillycuddy had been a “young man with an old man’s head on his shoulders.” Whatever that means.

Posted: February 12th, 2010 under History, Public Lands.
Comments: 1

Watch: 1972 clip of Edward Abbey telling KUTV about the importance of keeping southern Utah wild

Read: Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance

Posted: February 10th, 2010 under Long Hairs, Public Lands.
Comments: none

Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota:

American Indian stories dating back centuries speak of a “hole that breathes cool air” in the Black Hills. Cowboys came across a breathing hole in 1881 and the exploration of Wind Cave began. In 1903 Wind Cave became the first cave anywhere in the world to be designated a national park. Cave explorers are still finding new rooms and passages in Wind Cave, the fourth longest cave in the world. The cave is well known for its outstanding display of boxwork, an unusual cave formation composed of thin calcite fins resembling honeycombs.

Posted: January 27th, 2009 under Camping, Public Lands.
Comments: 1

Zabriskie Point, Death Valley

Zabriskie Point Soundtrack

MP3: Roscoe Holcomb – I Wish I Was A Single Girl Again (Thanks)

Posted: November 26th, 2008 under Music/Movies/Books, Public Lands.
Comments: none

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

MP3: Bill Monroe – Remember The Cross

Posted: November 17th, 2008 under Public Lands.
Comments: none

Toyota donates 5 million dollars to the Grand Canyon*

MP3: Loudon Wainwright III – Dump The Dog

Posted: September 19th, 2008 under Public Lands.
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35 million dollars worth of grass found in Redwood National Park.

From Planetsave:

On Wednesday a 5 acre marijuana farm located in Redwood National Park was raided by over 60 park rangers and other cooperating law enforcement officials. The farm was located less than six miles away from the world’s tallest tree. It is the first major marijuana growing operation to have been found in the well-known park

The world’s coolest car + Steinbeck on the redwoods

MP3: Skygreen Leopards – Jesus Was Californian

Posted: September 15th, 2008 under Public Lands.
Comments: 1

Fort Tilden and Fort Tilden

MP3: Todd Rundgren – I Saw The Light

Posted: August 11th, 2008 under Public Lands, Uncategorized.
Comments: none