Sturdy Salomons Make for Happier Hiking

I live at about 7,500 feet elevation. If I’m not walking north and south on a flat gravel road, I’m heading up steep climbs to the east and west. The ridges rise quickly to 8,500 feet and the terrain is variant, with plenty of sandstone […]

Troubling Health Signs in Utah

Cultural and business climates often run parallel to the degree of local reportage and response. The same news event will get different coverage in Boise than it will in Boston. The concern over potentially harmful environmental impact, for example, may be less officially worrisome in […]

Species Parade, Episode 19

The snow is mostly gone. Migrating birds are mostly back. It is a noisy place around here and I find myself scrambling to identify birds by call. Why do the need for a refresher course every year? And did you know that Steller’s Jays sometimes […]

Wild West (Fake) Journalism is Back!

You might think we journalists struggle more than other folks when accusations of “fake news” and “alternative facts” splash across our virtual desktops. That’s because the attack is not just on liberal news outlets but on media and the propagation of information in general. It’s […]

Bring back Wild West Journalism

Species Parade, Episode 18

Pardon my absence and that of the Species Parade. Between exciting holiday visits, a death in the family, and the development of the Best Horse Practices Summit, time got away from me. Last month, we mourned the loss of Belle, our 12-year old Basset Hound […]

Florence Williams Interview

We spoke with Florence Williams, author of The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative. Read related post here. Williams was raised in New York City and Washington D.C. As a young girl, Williams took English riding lessons at the now […]

Science has backcountry’s back

What we back country trekkers and horse owners know intuitively is being quantified more and more by science: Time outside and time with animals are key factors in a crafting a vibrant life. A recent article by Florence Williams in the Wall Street Journal highlights […]

Review: Cotopaxi’s Toliman Hoodie

For this review of Cotopaxi’s Toliman Wool Hoodie, we sought out WashingtonOutsider, Natalie Lord. The Toliman is made in Portland, Oregon, just 170 miles south of Lord’s home base. The 20-something spends more time outdoors than most of us even hope for. The talented skier […]

Patagonia Field Pants Review

For this review, we sought out Beau Gaughran, an up-and-coming photographer and videographer living in Bellingham, Washington. Check out his portfolio here. He writes: I threw on the Patagonia Field Pants as soon as they arrived at my home in Bellingham. Three fantastic days later, […]