New West Network

My Page: Bill Schneider

THE LEGACY OF KENTON CARNEGIE

Anything wolf makes big headlines--and, it seems, is never old news.

For fourteen years since conservationists and the federal government brought the wolf back to the northern Rockies (plus several years leading up to the reintroduction), anything and everything about the Big Dog has been, to say the least, controversial.

But something hasn't happened yet that could make it much more contentious. [more]

NOW CALLED WHOLESALE SPORTS

Putting a formal stamp on its difficult transaction that netted it 15 stores from the bankrupt Sportsman's Warehouse chain, UFA Co-operative Limited,of Calgary, Alberta, has quickly rebranded the stores as part of the Wholesale Sports chain it has owned and operated for many years in Canada.

The new signs are going up right now, says Natalie Dawes, of UFA, but customers still might find temporary banners in some locations. [more]

IS ANOTHER LAYER OF PROTECTION WORTH THE COST?

If you've read any of my past columns, you know I'm a strong proponent of designating more Wilderness, but when considering whether to support including our national parks under the National Wilderness Preservation System, I have to wonder if this is a good idea. Here's why. [more]

"STATEWIDE WILDERNESS BILL" COMING SOON

After 26 years, will this be the year Montana breaks the Wilderness Drought?

Perhaps. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) and his staff are working hard with stakeholders right now and preparing to introduce a bill that combines aspects of three collaborative efforts that could loosely be defined as a statewide wilderness bill, but it probably will not have the word "wilderness" in the title. [more]

HOW TO ENJOY BICYCLING CITY STREETS

More and more people are making the big move to bicycle commuting and finding out it isn't that difficult or dangerous to make it to work or school or coffee shop or grocery store, but even more haven't make the move. Having talked about this issue with many who haven't, I made a list of practical tips and advice that address many of the common concerns I've heard.

I've been commuting around town on my bicycle for thirty years without a single accident involving a motor vehcile, and for a long time, I couldn't understand why people didn't do it, but now, I get it. [more]

ADDRESS AMERICA'S NO. 1 CONSERVATION ISSUE

Something happened, back on Earth Day 2009, that didn't get nearly the fanfare it deserved.

Citing the critical need to improve environmental education across the country, Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and Congressman John Sarbanes (D-MD) introduced House and Senate versions of the "historic" No Child Left Inside Act of 2009. If passed, it would mark the first environmental education legislation to pass Congress in more than 25 years.

And long overdue, I might add. [more]

THREE FREE WEEKENDS IS GREAT; NOW TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Yesterday, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced he was waiving national park entrance fees for three prime summer weekends (June 20-21, July 18-19 and August 15-16), a widely reported and welcomed pronouncement.

But I'm more interested in the back story.

To me, even though Salazar didn't say a word about it, his action seems to forecast a new philosophy coming out of the National Park Service (NPS), starting with this admission that ever-increasing fees are partly responsible for steadily declining park visitation. And ending, hopefully, with something I trumpeted two years ago in this column, making our national parks a free tradition.
[more]

SEE CHANGE COMING FOR THE FOREST SERVICE THIS AFTERNOON

Anybody who has even casually followed the on-and-off legal and political battle over the Clinton Era Roadless Rule meant to protect 58.5 million acres of unroaded national forest until its permanent future is decided knows there has been a problem. The Forest Service keeps approving developments that destroy the roadless nature of the land and foreclose future options to keep it roadless forever.

That is going to change this afternoon. [more]

GAME OVER, FINALLY, GUN GUYS WIN

I suppose I should let it go, but nobody else does, so why should I?

This is my third column about the now-infamous administrative rule to allow loaded, concealed firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges (links at end of column). The rule evolved into a symbolic and high priority political battle, and both pro-gun and anti-gun groups seized on it as a way to find out who had the power.

And now we know. The gun lobby wins, easily, which is no surprise to me. [more]

LOCAL MICRO-CLIMATE CLEARS THE TRAILS EARLY

In May, winter still clings tight to most popular hiking areas in the northern Rockies such as Glacier, Frank Church, Wind Rivers, Bitterroots, and Absaroka-Beartooth. This means cabin fever can become a pandemic in May as hikers anxiously wait until late June if not July for the snow to give up the trails.

But unknown to most hikers, they can enjoy fantastic early-season hiking--backpacking or day hiking--on many trails in the northern sections of Yellowstone National Park from early May to early June. [more]