Save Wild Utah

And the sign said anybody caught trespassin’ would

be shot on sight

So I jumped on the fence and-a yelled at the house

“Hey! What gives you the right?”

“To put up a fence to keep me out or to keep mother

nature in”

If God was here he’d tell you to your face,man,

Your some kind of sinner”

              Five Man Electrical Band

Save Wild Utah

Well I am back blogging having been sidelined longer than expected with Mortgage Application, Medicare sign-up’s, but most important a great family visit from James, Melissa, Alexander, Silas and Ella, Oh and Sandri the “Au Pair” who has been an integral part of their family for almost 2 years now!

Had a great time skiing with James, and Alexander (actually they “rode” snowboards) and then watching Silas take his first ski turns. I also took Silas and Ella (with Sandri’s help) to the Utah Natural History Museum to see the huge Dinosaur Exhibit.  Utah you see is a real hotspot for fossils.

Anyway today’s Blog entry has been sparked in particular by signs in our neighborhood that say “Keep Utah Wild” and Save “Wild Utah”.  Utah is a beautiful place and frankly if my grandkids were not in Colorado I think we would have stayed here.  Whenever I hike up into the hills behind our little enclave I see a number of these signs posted.   I also walk past a “Private road- no trespassing” sign along a road that accesses some hiking trails (pic of me and grandkids on one of them ).  These are all  on public land.   It was my neighbor, an Ethnic Russia- Ukrainian Expat who first advised me that this road cannot really be restricted from public access.  I am not sure but what the heck a Russian named “Vlad” probably  "knows" everything about what goes on!  

These types of signs always bring to mind the song “Signs” quoted above.  I always think of how we as human beings and “members” of tribes often  "think" we see the world through different lenses, but the reality is it is all about internal perceptions.

I see the “Save Wild Utah” and posted “No Trespassing” signs put out by people of different tribes as one and the same.  We, liberal and conservative all deep down want the same things. 

Those who espouse the “Save Wild Utah” signs in my neighborhood believe further development of our Canyons, Ski Areas, and local National Forests should be stopped.  I look at the sign and think 40-50 Years ago these lovely homes in this lovely spot were “Wild”.  Now your “here” and have yours you want it stopped.  Why?  Well to preserve what YOU have.  This is really not all that different than the three curmudgeon houses on the “private road” trying to stop hikers and nature lovers from violating their private serenity.

I have played this game as well.  I was once  a supporter of Stowe Land Trust, a group of people in beautiful Stowe, generally well-heeled, who seek donations to buy up open spaces and prevent further development.  The logic is to keep Stowe preserved for future generations -especially for me and  mine of course.  Heck my house has more value if others do not build.  I can attest that the majority of the members of the Land Trust are wealthy  members of “the other tribe” but hey they want to save the birds and stuff from development…..now that they have theirs. 

Now it is easy to poke fun at hypocrisy, all humans are at times hypocrites in their behavior.  Heck Jesus said something about logs and eyes. 

So is there any greater thoughts lurking in this topic.  Well let me add on or two but I welcome more.

Utah has been stirred up by the recent designation of Bears Ears as a huge National Monument by our outgoing President.  Many in this state are mad at what they see as a sudden “takeover” of huge swaths of land already Federally “owned’ (which is in and of itself is an interesting topic) and as off limits to future economic activity.  Well for sure certain types (mining and oil exploration for example).  When the State Government protested this Federal Action  the “Environmental” Capitalists pulled out of their annual convention here (think Patagonia, North Face hiking and kayaking vendors etc.) it was the biggest gathering of such companies in the business and a big deal to our local economy.  They wanted to teach Utah a lesson in expressing local will against their interests.

Now mining and oil companies etc. traditionally pays the US Taxpayer hefty fees for their activities on Federal Leases but how much of Eco Tourism products sales goes to help the Taxpayer maintain our beautiful natural areas??  Not much unless you’re a Duck Hunter.   Look I love “Wild Utah”, “Wild Colorado”, even of course “Wild Vermont” (which interestingly has no Federal Lands, they are in charge of their own).  But I also understand that locals can resent the actions of their "overseer's.

Finally as to my favorite State Politically, it’s funny to observe Vermont’s recent conflicts. Just think a State that banned road signs (I actually loved that) is now putting up Windmills on pristine Mountaintops and large solar farms in place of Dairy Farms.  For all it's faults one thing I loved about Vermont was at least they boldly controlled their own destiny locally even if many ideas were terrible.  At least the locals were the ones who lived with it, and it was all of their own making!

Think and live local I say!  If you do not like it…..move it’s a big country!

Until next time

Adieu