A sign, seen on Oct. 8, 2020, marks trails in the BLM Campbell Tract in Anchorage. The tract is among the public lands that could have been selected for sale under a proposal a U.S. senator is seeking to revive. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
I have only lived in Alaska for 24 years, but have a lifetime of Alaskan adventure under my belt. During my time here I have worked as a biologist, field archaeologist, lodge owner and wilderness guide. In my off time, I have explored thousands of miles by dog team training for and running the Iditarod and Yukon Quest among other races, floated hundreds of miles of wild rivers, and hiked hundreds of miles of tough terrain. I have filled my family’s freezer yearly from the abundant fish, wild game and berries this land has to offer … every single one of these activities have been done almost exclusively on our public lands. Public lands are more than lines on a map, as Alaskans, we are tied to the land for food, economic benefit and recreation. These public lands are our shared inheritance, our greatest privilege — and our most fragile asset.
So when Congress tries to sell them out from under us, we pay attention…