Rein van West | Ridgway, CO

Rein van West is a member of the Ridgway-Ouray Community Council Public Lands Committee

Why does wilderness matter to you?

Wilderness matters as a matter of principle for us to remember how this land was at one time before it was fenced, driven upon, signed, developed, and more - let’s now get the cattle off of our wilderness!

Why does wilderness matter to your community?

Wilderness matters to our community because it allows us to recreate on it, track animals in the snow, enjoy the sound of the wind angling thru the branches and leaves, and be with friends who have similar feelings about wilderness.

Share a story about a special experience you have had in wilderness.

One day while backpacking through a designated wilderness area we came upon a bear that was rolling back and forth on its back - it obviously didn’t know we were there and was completely relaxed - an amazing sight and feeling!!

What are your hopes for the future of wilderness?

Hopefully we will always have large tracts of wilderness to feel free and to experience untrammeled land.