I authored this piece on Lake Powell. pessimism, optimism and the age of climate change…

On the Wild Road – A Journey through Colorado, Wyoming & South Dakota Sept. 16 – 26, 2016
My good friend Patrizia Antonicelli of Seven Direction Tours in Santa Fe, New Mexico in conjuction with High Country News is offering a 10-day wildlife tour of some of America’s greatest wildlife habitat and iconic scenery.
Inaugural Tour from High Country News Travel
A Journey through Colorado, Wyoming and South Dakota
September 16 – 26, 2016
Book now
This is an activist’s journey. The wildlife and wildest places in the American West are under perpetual threat. This tour aims to connect those that care about our wildlife and wild places with both the wildlife and those working to protect those resources. In this small-group wildlife tour participants will meet with biologists, educators, wildlife sanctuary and preserve operators. You will have the opportunity to better understand the challenges faced by conservationists and find ways that you can help become a more active member of the conservation community.
Journey through the American West with two of the region’s most trusted and innovative guides! Seven Directions offers exploratory trips through the region, connecting inquisitive travelers with the natural beauty and diverse cultures that created this unique landscape, and High Country News, through in-depth journalism, informs and inspires people to act on behalf of the West. We invite you to join us on what promises to be an unforgettable inaugural tour.
History, conservation and commitment come together as we make our way through some of the West’s most iconic scenery and wildlife habitat. Visiting a variety of wildlife preserves and sanctuaries, you will encounter the region’s great predators, such as grizzly bears and gray wolves, as well as its magnificent grazers, including pronghorn antelope and bison. At the same time, you’ll learn about different approaches to protecting wildlife in the modern world.
It is our hope that by sharing these experiences, and by giving you the opportunity to engage in direct conversation with people who care passionately about Western wildlife, you, too, will be inspired to strengthen your commitment to conservation and our collective future.
10 percent of all proceeds from this tour will be donated to the sanctuaries and preserves we visit.
This wildlife tour will take you to Colorado wildlife sanctuaries, wild horses in eastern Utah and Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park, the National Elk Refuge and much more.
A detailed roundup of the tour itinerary can be found here.
How you travel says a lot about who you are, and traveling to learn and give something back says that you care –– a lot. Our On the Wild Road tours are an educational, wildlife conservation and philanthropic experience all rolled into one travel adventure. On this journey, you will not only gain a closer connection to the West’s wildlife, you will also be directly supporting the environmental stewardship of this region –– a place whose unique natural beauty lies at the very soul of our nation.
Along the way, you’ll stay in some extraordinary places and view the scenery that makes this region so special. By meeting with biologists, educators, wildlife sanctuary and preserve operators, you will learn more about the complexities of conservation work and its challenges and successes. We hope these experiences will encourage you to become even more active members of the conservation community. This tour is designed to encourage the preservation of nature. When you travel with us, part of your fees flow directly to organizations that work to protect Western wildlife and the habitat it needs. Your trip will become a powerful incentive for local communities to protect their own natural resources and make room for the wild animals that make the West so special. And you’ll go home an informed and enlightened ambassador for conservation.
High Country News Travel has partnered with Seven Directions|Cultural and Sustainable Tours to bring you this exclusive travel experience. We hope that this connection will become a gateway to increased awareness of the need for sustainability and wildlife conservation throughout the American West.