This week's reading: That Wild Country-Mark Kenyon
So the introduction of this book laid out a scene of the author and his wife of exploring Utah's (and Arizona's) public lands. Within this scene he painted the plot of the story and the reason for it's plot: the "land-transfer movement". This concept was not knew to me (think about in a people perspective-groups of people were transferred everywhere and to the highest bidder) however,, I was unaware of how much traction it has gotten for our land. I naively thought that the majority of our population, in this day and age, understood the consequences and the responsibilities of "owning" living and breathing species. The argument that land and animals are different then people...well, I would point to science with a raised eyebrow and "oh yeah"? Whether one believes in creation or evolution, one cannot ignore the scientific (both social and physical) evidence of our similarities: we all have cycles of birth, life and death, and its species that have a brain big enough to think outside that cycle (ie, people and animals) show the depth of emotion that cycle's reaction. Culturally speaking, one can even argue that mother nature even shows that depth of emotion in where and when she cycles through (think about the natural occurrences-floods, eruptions, storms, etc.- and how much time it can take to naturally grow back).
The book continues on this epic journey to seek knowledge, and ground the author (and reader) in it's physical state of the land in which was in question...and it's historical one. He starts out in Wyoming at Yellowstone, and lemme tell you, I got a thrill just thinking about it! Yellowstone my favorite place in America ever! Which is really only based of the idea of it, as I am very much more comfortable in my little city box in the heat, not snowy/rainy open wilderness. However, the idea of having that much space to freely roam, to look at the pretty landscape and its animals (if you are lucky) and think about what it all means, where it came from and how it perseveres. With every evolution of change, whether that's man made or natural, it perseveres: deplete/control certain resources? others will take its place, will adapt, will adjust and cycle through. This might mean invading domesticated areas, this usually means adding something to strength its defenses and protection so it isn't as easy to clear out/control and it definitely means that it will find someway to make the one seeking that resource work for that control.
When talking about Yellowstone one can not not talk about Roosevelt and his life long pursuit of the public land management. A avid nature lover conservationist and hunter, he understood intrinsically that you can't have one without the other and to continue to do one, you must protect and preserve the other. Yellowstone was Roosevelt's breakthrough and with it, he preserved and protected many other public lands we all enjoy today. The author visits his beginnings (Theodore Roosevelt National Park and Little Missouri National Grassland-in North Dakota) and weaves some background knowledge of his plight and lifelong adventure.
The author's next adventure tale was through Lewis and Clark National Forest and the Bob Marshall Wilderness (Montana) and the historical significance it and the men brought to the table. Lewis and Clark were famous for their trek (and wilderness work) through the wilderness and thus appreciated through the their namesake. I was not aware of Bob Marshall or his career so it was an interesting tidbit. Marshall and his cohorts explored and gain traction in protecting forest lands through their conservation work and research. This particular stretch of wilderness was a combined landmass in which Bob Marshal first explored and was amassed and protected in honor of him and for his dedicated work in its field of study.
His adventure tales through Picture Rock National Lakeshore (Michigan), Ruby Mountains Wilderness (Nevada), Arches National Park (Utah), The Uinta National Forest (Utah), the Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming) and Custer Gallatin National Forest (Montana), regaling us in family stories and historic facts of when and how and who these majestic public lands were fought and won from. The 60s and 70s adding certain bodies of water and shorelines to its protection act, the various legislation and organization or reorganization to its foundations, and ending its sweeping progress was 1980 and its Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. As with every new pull there was push back (the Sagebrush Rebellion) that this transfer movement has roots in. Currently legislation is in the push back- cutting away at previous legislation for more resource usage, and while this is not the outright sell of public land (because of the huge amount of financial cost that would create), it is the beginning of a new age in the battle of public land.
The end of the book brings hope to the future of protecting the public lands. Crowds and events have seen the tides of what will ultimately cycle through again. People of all different communities united for the same cause (much like Roosevelt and Muir). His last adventure tale is set against the backdrop of Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve in Alaska. He tells a tale of his hunt for caribou and through it, he recognizes his own meaning in why he (and others) fight the fight of protecting the land and what it gave us: the future.
Mark Kenyon also has a YouTube channel (WiredToHunt), documenting his adventures!
