Weekend Reading (or Watching or Listening)

Hopefully you’re outside doing something fun this weekend, but, on the off chance you are sitting around staring at your computer, here are a few worthwhile articles, videos, and podcasts that I’ve enjoyed over the last week or so:

• The Disappearing Colorado River, New Yorker Magazine – I was prompted to reread this article this week, because it profiles Kent Hollsinger, a Denver attorney who will be the guest speaker at next month’s Colorado Ag Network event.  A well written piece that gives a good overview of some of the challenges facing the West, specifically related to water.
• Where Private Land Meets Public Interest, High County News – One of my favorite topics is understanding how private landowners can work together to conserve and protect large swaths of western lands and ranches.  This article describes some innovative efforts on the Colorado-New Mexico border, and it’s definitely worth a read.
• Bird-Watching, Patriotism and the Oregon Standoff, New York Times & The Western Land Revolt, Wall Street Journal – Two opinion pieces from two publications on two opposite ends of the political spectrum.  Interesting thoughts on the ongoing rancher standoff in Oregon. (Incidentally, I noticed that the author of the NYT piece was a teacher at my high school back in the mid-90s.)
• Elkhorn Ranch gravel pit nears development as longstanding dispute continues, Grand Forks Herald – Updates on the ongoing saga just outside Theodore Roosevelt’s Elkhorn Ranch.  I’m still amazed that the people handling the transaction weren’t more thorough about understanding the property’s mineral rights.

• To Those Who Loved Doug, The Cleanest Line (Patagonia’s blog) – This article is just over a month old, but is the best I’ve read so far about Doug Tompkins’ tragic death in Chile.  Written by Rick Ridgeway who was with Tompkins on the kayaking trip, it’s an informative description of the accident, as well as a moving tribute by a great friend.  (For more on Doug, watch 180 South, described in this post)
• The Scariest Navy SEAL Imaginable…And What He Taught Me, Tim Ferriss Show – Given the ridiculous amount of driving I do, I listen to tons of podcasts, and The Tim Ferriss Show is consistently one of the best.  In this episode, he interviews former Navy SEAL Jocko Willink who, by any measure, is a total badass – tough, smart, focused, disciplined, loyal… the list goes on and on.  Jocko actually just started his own podcast, which is sure to be excellent.
• Kissing the Rock – Official Trailer – One of my life goals is to run the Hardrock 100–100 miles, 34,000 feet of vertical, over a 14er, and through some of the most spectacular landscapes in the world.  This is the trailer for an upcoming film about the race, which I can’t wait to see.  (Here’s another good 10-minute film about the 2013 race.)
• Big Horn Sheep – Yosemite Nature Notes – Yosemite National Park has a Youtube channel and regularly produces high-quality, informative short videos about different aspects of the Park.  This is the most recent film about big horn sheep, their history in the park, and efforts to reintroduce them in areas of the Park.
• And, in case you missed them, two of my most recent articles Seven Must-Read Books on Land, Ranches, and the History of the American West, LandThink.com & Fly Fishing Adventures in the Vail Valley, Mountain Khakis’ blog.