National Treasure

Some neat rocks getting climbed on. A couple pretty pictures of mountain biking. A handful of nice campsites. A bunch of big ol’ mountain views. So what? Who cares? Whatever.

Probably better to just sell the land, defund the parks, and gut the agencies that oversee and maintain these places in order to put a small dent in the federal budget deficit for a few months.

That way, the government gets a bit of jingle in its pockets, some billionaires get to establish the resorts, mines, clearcuts and housing developments they’ve always salivated over. We can always pay for access if we want to visit our favorite places. Maybe. If they let us.

Probably not, actually. Kinda wrecks the vibe to have a bunch of rabble roaming the property.

Or maybe, these places, and the freedom to come and go into them as we please are the most important things we can hand down to our children, do for the environment, and contribute to the survival of our very species, and all species. Maybe, our best chance for salvation is through developing a reciprocal relationship with the natural world, and realizing that there is no us that exists outside of nature. That everything is one. That we must give and care as much as we take and need care.

Some people see the earth and they see only money. What the land and sea is worth in dollars and cents. Land in its natural state is an affront to these people. A waste. Look at all of the missed opportunity for profit. 

Others are thinking differently. They realize that there is an inexhaustible wealth that can be found in a mutual relationship with nature that cannot be earned by any other means.

They have felt the weight of the world disappear when exchanged for the weight of an overnight backpack. Realized that a fly rod and an alpine lake is as good as weeks of meditation. They spend as many nights outside as their obligations allow. Stay up late to watch the sun go down, then stay up even later to watch the milky way move across the sky as the moonlight paints the glaciers.

They’ve burned every second of daylight climbing soaring pinnacles of alpine granite, then curled up for the night on a stone ledge, mere inches wider than their body, with nothing but a lightweight sleeping bag; and a rope to keep them from rolling into the abyss should they happen to toss and turn. 

They’ve pulled out the maps and drawn epic backcountry mountain bike missions where a person will run out of energy and water long before running out of trail. They’ve celebrated splashing through creek crossings and reveled in the cooling water that refreshes overheated feet and refills dusty water bottles. 

On summer evenings and weekends, they’ve sampled pitches of amazing rock as the light softens to gem tones of blue, green, pink and gold. Tingled with endorphins and camaraderie as after-work rides bleed into long, late nights with friends.

Ride, climb, run, walk, fish, hunt, ski, paint, dance. A million ways to spend time in the outdoors, it’s all just a means to pay the entry fee. Once in, we are together. We have been touched by nature.

We’ve stared out at a sea of peaks and valleys; watched crisp, clear sunrises render flawless silhouettes of sawtooth horizons; seen lazy hazy sunsets color the sky and the land with soft sepia hues; knowing that each layer of the horizon holds years worth of adventure and rejuvenation. Knowing deeper than we know anything, that it just doesn’t get any better than this.

With that realization comes the knowledge that our public lands are the greatest asset we have. Politics will shift, peace and war will ebb and flow, economies will rise and fall. The land will remain magnificent. But it must be protected. If you’ve ever felt the generous touch of something greater than you when you stepped outside, it’s time to pay it back. She’s given me my life. Maybe she’s saved yours. She doesn’t ask for help. But she needs it now. You’ve received. What will you give?

New Summer Show: National Treasure - Opening July 18th
Join us for the opening of National Treasure on Friday, July 18th from 5 to 9 PM at the Scott Rinckenberger Gallery. This summer exhibition delves into the landscapes that shape us — from soaring rock faces to endless trails, and the quiet moments beneath the stars. The show will be on display through September, and we can’t wait to share this powerful work with you. Rooted in community, connection, and the urgent call to protect our public lands, National Treasure reminds us that these places are more than just destinations; they are the treasures we hold in trust for future generations.