“At first the Euroamerican settlers could not fathom the tallgrass prairie.
Stepping into it from cropland-speckled woodlands to the east, they entered
a land of sky and horizon, wind and light, flower and scent, a surging sea of
grasses that staggered the imagination. The prairie grasslands seemed to
stretch on forever, a landscape that promised no enclosure, only intensity
and exposure…”

Last week, a pivotal moment unfolded in Washington, D.C.—one that showcased the strength of a united outdoor community. Deep within the text of a must-pass budget reconciliation bill lurked a late-night amendment threatening nearly half a million acres of America’s public lands. Held in trust by the federal government for all citizens, these lands—from forested ridges to river canyons—faced the prospect of being sold off under the guise of one-time budget relief. For many, the fight began at ...