‘Commodification of college campuses’

Public universities in the U.S. are largely a relic of the past. Today, higher education is mainly a private venture, but not without consequence. It’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment when...

‘See bigger picture of our careless lives’

Guides in the outdoor industry inevitably come up with collective nicknames for customers. On horseback they’re “dudes,” on the river they’re “mers” –short for customers – and they’re “stick...

Pulling thistles, sowing hope

For the past few years I’ve participated in “Thistle Thursdays,” targeting a popular trail near Jackson, Wyoming. The weekly weed party was organized in 2019 by Morgan Graham, wildlife habit...

This Week in History

The following is a recap of local events for this time period throughout history. 41 years ago (1982) The long-awaited referendum on beer and wine licenses for restaurants will take place Ja...

Ski resorts turn ‘blind eye’ to weed, alcohol use

Colorado’s ski season has officially begun and mountain etiquette is already in question. If you were at Winter Park’s opening weekend, you probably know what I mean. For all the joy cruisin...

Buck good reasons to give up House seat

Who among us thought that the Ken Buck we’ve known for so many years would apparently end his political career by calling out the Republican Party for its, well, fecklessness – my word, not ...

Flying today is an insult to cattle

I saw a recent cartoon that depicted a couple on an airplane having dinner circa 1960 to 1970s. They were dressed for fine dining, complete with a white tablecloth, expensive place settings,...

Farewell to wildly different radicals

The West lost two larger-than-life conservationists this year, and while I considered both friends, they couldn’t have been more different. Yet both were radical in their own ways. One was r...

‘Words matter, represent what we stand for’

Offensive place names stain public lands across the nation. In Colorado, we’re changing that narrative. Legislation was recently introduced in Congress to change Mount Evans Wilderness to Mo...

‘Check facts’: Vote ‘yes’ on Prop. II

We all live in a bubble of information of one kind or another. We defend our families, believing they can do no wrong. Our bubble of love prevents us from seeing a possible reality. We belie...

Local hunters should come before nonresidents

Hunting may be losing popularity nationally but in the West, the number of hunters is climbing. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in 2022 there were 10% fewer hunters across t...

Welcome back, Nuggets. Something to cheer for again

Finally, some great news. Our NBA-title-defending Nuggets tipped off the basketball season on Tuesday with a 119 to 107 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Before the game, NBA hoopla included ...