If you haven’t been there — or even if you have — it’s difficult to describe the maze of canyons and cliffs, the endless night sky, and the rust-hued color palette of the wildlands that comprises Bears Ears National Monument.
To many climbers, runners, cyclists and desert-lovers, it made sense when, in its last days, the Obama Administration extended far-reaching federal protections to this incredible slice of Southern Utah wilderness. And it was fairly predictable when, in its first days, the Trump Administration began hinting that it would dismantle the monument, allowing the lands to be open to oil and gas companies, and other threats.
Patagonia and Google just teamed up to make the experience more tangible, with a virtual reality website full of high-def videos and other information. The site puts you there with Tommy Caldwell, Kitty Calhoun, and other athletes, along with Native Americans who call the place home. It’s a kind of digital museum of rock climbs, trails, archaeological sites and cultural riches. So when you reach the page titled “Take Action,” you’ll know exactly why you might want to do that.
