As NOLS horsepacking instructor Ari Hertz points out, the Wilderness Act stipulates that designated wilderness areas should be large enough to absorb the impact of a two-week packing trip. Reflecting on her own experience traveling in the backcountry with a mule, Stacey McKenna explores the history of bringing stock into the wilderness. 

Lander, WY—This week the Bureau of Land Management is moving forward with an oil and gas lease sale in the Northern Red Desert, leaving outfitting, guiding, and outdoor recreation providers in the area with an uncertain future.