Public Lands | Outdoors
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Everest A ‘Garbage Dump’ During Deadliest Season Ever, Says Wyoming Climber Who Was There
Mount Everest has become a crowded garbage dump and graveyard, says a Wyoming mountaineer who attempted to summit the peak last month. He’s not sure when he’ll go back.
Mark Heinz4 min read
Dismissal Likely Not The End For ‘Corner-Crossing’ Case, As Appeals Can Drag On
A U.S. District Court judge’s ruling in favor of four hunters in a Wyoming “corner-crossing” case of alleged trespassing in Carbon County is likely to be appealed and could drag on, says a legal expert.
Mark Heinz4 min read
Cowboy State Places: Managing Thousands Of Miles Of Wyoming Trails Is A Science
Before the West was settled, Wyoming’s thousands of miles of trails were life-or-death connections. Maintaining them now for recreation takes a lot of work, and science.
John Thompson6 min read
Wyoming Mountaineer Doesn’t Regret Abandoning Everest As Death Toll Soared
Casper's Joe McGinley said his decision to leave Everest without summiting was the right decision as crowds and accidents have made this one of the deadliest seasons on record. His goal of climbing the highest peak on all 7 continents has not been deterred, he said.
Mark Heinz6 min read
Boysen Tornado Topples And Flattens Campers, Marina Says
The Boysen Marina management announced late Friday that a tornado crashed across the lake that afternoon, downing power lines, toppling and flattening campers, but only causing minor injuries.
Clair McFarland2 min read
Now There's A Movement To Ban Campfires
Believe it not, there's a growing movement among some outdoors-people to ban campfires. They say campfires cause too many wildfires, prompt folks to take too much dead wood from the forests and cause cancer.
Mark Heinz4 min read
Don’t Worry, Procrastinators, Wyoming State Parks Still Have Memorial Day Campsites Available
As camping season kicks off over Memorial Day Weekend, Wyoming’s state parks should be busy, but not overrun — and it's not too late to get a spot.
Mark Heinz3 min read
Climate Change Gets Blame For Forest Fires, Evidence Suggests Management, Weather Patterns Have More Impact
Forest fires in Alberta, Canada, have fueled the annual reports of wildfires driven out of control by climate change, even though there’s no upward trend in acreage burned. An ecologist says wildfires are driven more by management practices and weather patterns.
Kevin Killough4 min read
Wyoming’s Rangelands Could Become A Lightning-Fueled Tinderbox This Fire Season, Firefighters Say
Just how bad the fire season could get across Wyoming’s vast rangelands this summer and fall isn’t clear. It all depends on the volatile mix of dry grass and lightning, say state wildfire experts.
Mark Heinz5 min read
Colorado River Deal Helps — For Now — But Anything Past 2026 Still Uncertain
A deal struck between California, Arizona and Nevada to trim their use of Colorado River water over the next three years is a good “short-term” move, but longer-term solutions may remain evasive.
Mark Heinz4 min read
With Raging Wildfires Already Occurring In Canada, Is Wyoming Heading For Monster Fire Season?
Despite an early start to the wildfire season in Canada, Wyoming may be spared from a bad fire season due to shifts to an El Niño weather pattern
Mark Heinz4 min read
Smoke in Northwestern Wyoming Coming From 91 Wildfires in Canada, 27 Out Of Control
Wildfire season jump-started this month in Canada, where dozens of out-of-control wildfires are sending thick smoke into northwestern Wyoming. This hazy photo was taken by Dave Bell in Pinedale, Wyoming.
Jake Nichols3 min read