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Supporting wilderness and the immense value it provides

In his wildly popular 1968 book, Desert Solitaire, Ed Abbey claimed that “we need wilderness whether or not we ever set foot in it. We need a refuge even though we may never need to go there...

Students help with conservation work at Chicken Creek

In the foothills north of Mancos set against the backdrop of the prominent La Plata Mountains, you can find a web of trails meandering through ponderosa pines as far as the eye can see. Thi...

Wilderness Crew protects a majestic, powerful landscape

For the last two months, my office has been in the burn zones, alpine vistas, cow-filled meadows and log-strewn trails of the Weminuche Wilderness. As a member of the San Juan Mountains Asso...

Forest ambassador program shows positive impact on San Juan Mountains

As warm weather and a public eager to get outside returned to the San Juan Mountains this summer, forest ambassadors hit the trails representing San Juan Mountains Association and the San Ju...

Interpretive programs elevate your outdoor experience

After a year of canceled in-person events, social distancing and isolation, San Juan Mountains Association has restarted its free, outdoor interpretive programming. Over the years, SJMA has...

San Juan Mountains Association steps up efforts to protect public lands this summer

San Juan Mountains Association is comprised of an amazing team of people working on issues involving access to our public lands through education and outreach. Over the past year, the SJMA ...

Forest ambassadors to promote responsible visitation in San Juans

From the soaring amphitheater of Ouray, to the turquoise lakes of Silverton, to the red rock canyons of Mesa Verde, it was absolutely unmistakable that last year was unlike any before it. ...

Summer programs will get young, old into the outdoors

Imagine yourself as a kid again. It’s spring and you can hardly sit still in class as you gaze out the window and watch puffy clouds drift by on a warm breeze. The early flowers ...

Programs help children explore outdoors up close

With subzero temperatures and snow one week, then warm sun followed by rain and thunderstorms and T-shirt weather the next, it seems like the weather is confused about what season it is. ...

Time to rethink how we handle challenges to public lands

It needs no saying that 2020 was a radical departure from normal, and it’s becoming quite clear that it left its mark on our nation’s most iconic public lands. Countless trails a...

Standing up for public lands in the face of mounting challenges

This year, getting outside became a lifeline for Americans of all stripes, and our public lands became more popular than ever. For me, a long hike anywhere on our public lands is...

Allison’s Turkey Packers Co-op provided income during hard times

By Ruth E. Lambert During the dark days of the Depression, the residents of La Plata County struggled to survive, and in the rural areas, families helped to sustain themselves as ...