Wyoming’s public lands are the setting for the story of my life. I’m not at all unique in that respect. Seventy years of sailing the sagebrush sea have brought me into the company of people from all over the U.S. who are passionate users and advocates for public lands. I asked about 30 of these friends to consider the value of public lands to them and to their families.
Opinion
About half of them responded. I’ve grouped those responses into five categories, along with a smattering of their original words, which are more eloquent than anything I could ever pen.
Public lands are a quintessential American concept — an egalitarian idea that we prize for its ability to provide a place and an experience for us all, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or economic status. Time spent on public lands will yield a clear picture of their ability to transcend our superficial differences. They’re a living, breathing cross section of America, and Americans united as public landowners.
“Public lands are where we go to have our best day ever — no matter who we are. I’ve had dozens of “Best Days Ever” and all of them have been on public lands. When Theodore Roosevelt and Gifford Pinchot were creating the national forests in the early 1900s, they said they were doing so for ‘the little man’ — not the timber barons or the industrial magnates, but for all Americans. I’m never going to be rich enough to pay for exotic hunting and fishing experiences. But I can have my BDE on public lands right in my own backyard.” — Connor
“When I was growing up, my family didn’t have a lot of money for a fancy vacation. But we could afford to go camping in a national park nearby. Those experiences shaped my love for the outdoors and made me the person I am today. Just as important now are free or affordable walking distance day-use public lands where kids and families can explore nature, fish, bird-watch and learn to love the outdoors.” — Nancy
“Some of my most meaningful life lessons have come from walking familiar trails, sitting in the stillness of a meadow and pausing long enough to listen to the creek as it rushes over the rocks. Public lands have given me clarity, connection and deep sense of gratitude. They have shaped my sense of home, but not because they were ever mine, but because they were entrusted to all of us.” — Sarah
We value the freedom we find on public lands. Everyone who responded to my questions mentioned freedom in one way or another. Those who had come from someplace where public lands were few never failed to note that they had never experienced this level of freedom. Those who were native Wyomingites frequently said that access to public lands was why they stayed.
“The system of public lands we have in the United States is a marvel across the world. Here, you can hike, fish, hunt, camp, ride horses, watch wildlife, shoot guns, drive off-road vehicles on designated roads, collect firewood (with a cheap permit), view endless landscapes, and think freely.” — Jeff
“Since the early days of utilizing what I consider our greatest national heritage, my life’s thread has continued to wind tightly around public lands. My lifetime hunting, fishing and camping on public lands and my work scraping out a meager subsistence as a trout consultant and river guide on public lands allow me to live, to really live, and not just exist. Without these vast, undeveloped swaths of natural lands, I would not be able to breathe.” — Charlie
Nearly all the respondents see public lands as a legacy that we inherit from previous generations and pass on to subsequent generations. Respondents who came here from someplace else viewed those places as their places and wanted most of all for their kids and grandkids to have those same experiences.
“I have bonded with my dad and my brother while hunting on public lands for many years. My dad’s recent sheep hunt involved several backcountry scouting and hunting trips. He passed on many mature rams. Everything came together on the last weekend, and he was able to cleanly harvest a ram in the culmination of the most emotionally inspiring and physically demanding hunting experience of our lives. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience — truly — in extremely rugged, beautiful and wild country.” — Jill
“I was literally raised on public lands. I’ve always had access to the places I love in western Wyoming. I can still go to these places. I will continue to do so, and I’ll appreciate my connection to the past, to other cultures who were here long before us and to the vast opportunities our public lands provide for everyone who is daring enough to visit. Public lands are non-negotiable. They are our legacy. Anybody who thinks otherwise simply isn’t a Wyoming person.” — Cody
“I believe immigrants like me may value it in a particularly keen, conscious way, simply because we grew up on landscapes that were mostly closed to us. It’s hard to describe the sensation I still have when I park the truck at dawn, knowing that I can walk as far as I’m able in any direction without worrying about ‘no trespassing’ signs. It is the distillation of freedom. Wyoming is defined by its public land. The public domain is the only reason I came here. It’s the only reason I stay.” — Chris
“From the time I first saw parts of Wyoming on a family vacation in 1967, it was in my mind that this is where I wanted, no, needed to be. I have cherished the freedom to roam that has been an important part of making me who I am, and has had the same kind of effect on my family. As long as I’m able, I hope the ability to wander the countryside without hindrance can be part of my life and of the lives of those I love.” — Duane
Public lands: A uniquely American concept, a collection of special places we pass from one generation to the next like a family heirloom.
Tomorrow — Part 2: Public lands are where we find connections, stewardship and ethics that shape our lives.
Walt, this is simply beautiful and expresses what Wyoming means to all of us who truly appreciate what Wyoming is all about.
Thank you for this Walt. After spending my life in this state, it would be hard for me to put into words my love for Wyoming and it’s public lands. I seem to lose friends, however, when I start talking about the ecology of these lands. I would not live in Sublette County if it weren’t for our public lands.