Mike Burkley | Paonia, CO
Mike Burkley is the Volunteer Public Land Committee Chairperson with Western Slope Conservation Center.
Why does wilderness matter to you?
When I enter a Wilderness Area my soul is uplifted due to solitude, scenery, wildlife encounters, quiet. I escape the distractions of my normal day-to-day activities, the news, TV, computer and text messages. I can reflect on my life—and people in my life—past and present.
This country needs to permanently preserve and protect these wilderness areas from future development. Without designation of wilderness, it's hard to keep them protected. If not, we could lose that area for protection forever. We continue to lose more than thousands of acres of open space a day to development. More can be done to ensure these lands are a natural legacy for future generations.
Wilderness also provides undisturbed ecosystems that produce clean water for thousands of communities. Undeveloped public lands are a haven for animals, fish, and birds of all types, providing them with safe places to live, raise offspring, rest, and feed during migrations.
Why does wilderness matter to your community?
I live in North Fork Valley of the Gunnison River. The main economic drivers in our valley are organic farms, small ranches, vineyards, orchards and wineries. Recreation and hunting in our mountains is a big source of revenue. Much of these mountains are already in designated wilderness areas. Hunters come from all over America for the opportunity to hunt in these wilderness areas. They appreciate the abundant wildlife and ruggedness of the mountains and canyon country. This valley also has some of the finest fishing streams. We rely on clean drinking and irrigation water which these undisturbed ecosystems the wilderness areas produce.
Our Valley has an informed and engaged community that builds to protect the lands, air, water and wildlife here on the Western Slope. We advocate for wilderness and other public lands protection defined by resilient ecological systems, where water management, agricultural, recreation opportunities allow people and the environment to flourish.
Share a story about a special experience you have had in wilderness.
Rainbow Bridge National Monument, while extremely remote and rugged, is not within a designated wilderness. It's on Navajo Nation land. The trailhead is located in the vicinity of Navajo Mountain and terminates at Rainbow Bridge National Monument. The trail traverses rough canyon country. Of all my backpacks, Rainbow Bridge Trail is perhaps my favorite. I feel the spirit of the ancients. So although this is not in congressionally designated wilderness, it has all the characteristics of wilderness. The hike itself traverses below the sacred 10,400 foot Navajo Mountain. It goes in and out of several steep canyons then the deep Bridge Canyon takes you to Rainbow Bridge, one of the largest formations in the world. We've had the magnificent Rainbow Bridge all to ourselves. As far as canyon hiking goes, this adventure is one of the wildest desert terrain. The highlight may be relaxing by the campsite and feeling the spirit in those canyons.
What are your hopes for the future of wilderness?
My volunteer work with Western Slope Conservation Center (WSCC) here in the North Fork Valley includes advocacy work with our USFS and BLM local offices—for example, recommending certain additions to existing Wilderness areas. I feel this is where I personally have the most direct impact on hopes in the near future.
My hope is that there will be many other such Wilderness bills passed. More and more Americans are beginning to realize that our Public Lands are worth preserving—they should not be for sale. I hope this opinion of conservation continues to be appreciated by our elected officials in government. I hope that more and more of our elected officials will share the consensus of Americans that our public lands are worth preserving and protecting—ideally as designated wilderness areas.
