Josh Jackson Josh Jackson

BLM Dispatch #16 - Bodie Hills, California

The stillness hits me first. More than the altitude, more than the cold, more than the last sliver of sun cresting over the Sierra Nevada.

Nearby aspen groves are lit with an October concoction of fiery orange, their leaves offering a final showcase before succumbing to the cold and falling aimlessly to the earth. Sagebrush dominates the terrain, anchoring the landscape as everything else begins to shift from autumn to winter. And to the distant north and west, the formidable sentinels of the Sierra Nevada stand watchful.

My temporary camp is all set up, and my warmest clothes are fighting valiantly against the plummeting temperature. I pour a small glass of whiskey and plop down in my chair. There is no wind, no sound, no movement.

Welcome to the Bodie Hills, I think to myself.

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Josh Jackson Josh Jackson

BLM Dispatch #15 - South Yuba River, California

I had been reading harrowing and adventurous stories about the 65-mile South Yuba River in Northern California for a decade before I finally paid it a visit. There are drownings almost every year, brought on by swift currents and underwater boulders. There are nude beaches, a twenty-mile National Trail, and enough picturesque swimming holes to keep the residents of Nevada City and Auburn cool in summer, when triple-digit temperatures bake the western Sierra slopes.

The river introduced itself the moment I opened the car door. Water thundered through the granite-walled canyon at 2,000 cubic feet per second. A deafening roar. Imagine 900,000 gallon jugs of liquid crashing past every minute.

Walking the trail in early April was like walking through a green tunnel. Madrone, interior oak, toyon, fern, and foothill pine draped over the narrow path, causing a kind of bobbing and weaving walking experience. Moss clung to big leaf maple trunks. Small waterfalls stemming from unnamed tributaries cascaded over boulders and fallen branches. And everywhere smelled like wet granite and pine needles.

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Josh Jackson Josh Jackson

BLM Dispatch #14 - The Enduring Wild Is Here!

I am thrilled to report that this book I have been pouring my heart, my body (and the shallow waters of our savings account) into for the past five years is finally here.

It’s officially publication week for The Enduring Wild.

During all those lonely days and nights writing in 2023 and 2024 — especially when putting down words felt like a slog, and my thoughts and typing fingers seemed to be working against each other — I would tell myself that eventually this would be finished, and that one day the physical book would be in my hands.

Now that day is here, and I don’t think I’ve ever felt more grateful in my professional life.

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Josh Jackson Josh Jackson

BLM Dispatch #13 - Millions of Acres of BLM Land On the Chopping Block

I continue to be dumbfounded by politicians who are ignoring the overwhelming majority of Americans and their own constituents who value our shared public lands.

According to the latest Conservation In the West poll (which does not include California, Oregon, and Washington) want their elected officials to prioritize clean water, healthy air, and wildlife habitat. An overwhelming 89% of voters across party lines support keeping National Monument protections in place.

Public lands - and the wildlife, biodiversity, watersheds, and recreation they support — remain one of the last places where Americans find common ground. Where else do you see hunters, birders, OHV users, and hikers standing shoulder to shoulder, all holding signs about the importance of keeping public lands in public hands?

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