The Western United States abounds in wide open spaces and public land. The U.S. government manages this land for all of us in the form of national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and wilderness areas. My former employer, the Department of the Interior, cares for about 1/5 of America's land, and the Department of Agriculture's U.S. Forest Service is steward for about 8% of our country. The majority of this land is in America's west.
Visitors from the eastern United States are often astonished to find so much undeveloped country. People who love the great outdoors and crave places where they can find peace and solitude often look to the west as an oasis of wild, untouched natural areas. The National Park Service is caretaker for many such areas, along with the Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Reclamation. Even the Army Corps of Engineers manages public land.
I worked with folks from the National Park Service for many years, and have been inspired by their devotion and love for America's public lands. These people, mostly career government employees, put in long hours, often without pay, to ensure our National Park units are maintained. Theirs isn't just a job--it is a vocation as well as an advocation. I respect their diligence and hard work, particularly since I am well aware of the challenges they face juggling inadequate budgets while keeping our National Parks up and running. Next time you see a park employee, thank him or her for doing such a good job of watching over many of our nation's most valuable assets.
This post introduces a trip that Keith and I recently took to several of our National Parks and monuments. I hope you enjoy the visit vicariously and will consider exploring these areas in person one day. I know you won't be disappointed.
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