is your guide to leading a more exciting life in the great outdoors. As 倏喝喧莽勳餃梗s outdoor lifestyle columnist, he writes about the intersections of science, news, politics, gear, vehicles and travel, empowering readers to better understand the world theyre recreating in. Wes lives in Montana with his wife, Virginia McQueen, and their three rescue dogs.
Find Me
Published
On a good day, driving down I-405 here in Los Angeles is considered the commute from hell. Yesterday, things got a little more literal.
REI and the North Face have joined the Ventura-based gear maker in standing up for our public lands
Donald Trump just reduced Bears Ears by nearly 85 percent. Here's what you're saying.
The all-new 2018 Wrangler will be more capable both on- and off-road
The new three-row car is the largest Subaru has ever made
Hunting fights habitat loss and poaching, even in unstable countries
Forget the cooler. In-car fridges make fresh food way more convenient in the outdoors.
This month's massive government climate report sounds the alarm about the rising risk of wildfire. Will the Trump Administration listen?
The $50 tool will save you from the runs caused by bacteria, protozoa, or particulates found in U.S. backcountry water sources
Stuff you can add to your truck to make it better for off-road travel
The GOP doesn't think the feds should oversee our national heritage. Here's why they're wrong.
Essentials to get you huntingor just make being outside more enjoyable
A practical approach to making mass shootings less deadly
We raise $3 billion every year for conservation, then we go out on those public lands and help manage wildlife populationsfor free
Putting your dog in risky situations might actually be the best thing you can do for him
The Arctic National Wildlife Refugeone of our most threatened landscapesmay be opened up to drilling, and opponents are taking to Instagram to protest
The first car-based Range Rover honors the brand's off-road legacy, even though the on-road experience could use some improvements
It's smokeless and sears hotter than anything else I've tried
The Boy Scouts of America just announced that it will accept girls in its Cub Scouts programs, and it's working to integrate the Boy Scouts by 2019
The end goal: stop the environment from getting in the way of oil and gas extraction
Overnight, 14 fires rampaged over eight counties in northern California
Roomy, safe, fast, and affordable, full-size trucks are the ultimate adventure enablers
Giving disaster-struck communities the ability to produce their own clean water
A piece of granite "the size of an apartment building" sheared off while 30 climbers were on the wall
Yes, its a speaker built into a real Pelican Case
Ryan Zinke's report to Donald Trump recommending alterations to 10 national monuments is based on a pack of falsehoods. Here we break down the worst ones.
The new bill is part of the GOP's latest assault on public lands
There are 137 large wildfires raging across 7.8 million acres in what might be the worst fire season ever
Funding the difficult recovery period with footwear
Ford Australia is teasing a Ford Ranger Raptor. Could it come to the U.S.?
Over 99 percent of the people who commented on Trump's national monuments review supported the protected areas. Why did Zinke discount the public's voice?
Looking for a practical, versatile car that's luxurious and well-designed? Take the all-new 2018 Volvo XC60 for a test drive.
Loving your pet too much is putting people with real disabilities at risk
And what I learned from an island camping trip with a bunch of disadvantaged youth
The GOP's war on public lands threatens to alienate a key part of its voting basesport hunters
Seven tips to enjoy the weekend safely and comfortably
Turning a puppy into an adventure companion is hard. This stuff will help.
American cowboy or posturing Trump enforcer?
Quietly, is the short answer. Or as loud as you want, if you're way out in the middle of nowhere.
Or, the greatest oversimplified explanation of how to navigate ever written
Having an off-leash companion in the outdoors is the whole point of having a dog
Pitching a tent, healing a wound, and finding your way are about the most important things you can learn how to do. They're also the easiest.
Are you still mapping like it's 1999?
You have through today to tell the government what you think of its plan to steal your public land
Imagine all the fun of an outdoor blade in a package you can use more often. Put one to use in your kitchen, and it might make cooking dinner feel a little more exciting.
Bear spray, plus a few other simple precautions, should keep you perfectly safe
Meet the 16-year-old working to end discrimination in the nation's largest youth outdoors program
Can you still expect to have a comfortable summertime camping trip in the lower 48? Absolutely, but you probably need to upgrade your approach to dealing with the heat.
Read these and start thriving outdoors
If you want to make an adventure buddy, the first few weeks are critical
All you really need is a good set of tires
You might be a disappointment, but the stuff you give your dad doesnt have to be
Chasing sales, multitool companies are getting away from genuine utility. And that needs to stop.
Nemos 1.75-pound Hornet Elite 2P is shockingly livable for an ultralight shelter
The BSA's latest policies are a step toward including other genders. Inclusiveness can't come soon enough.
Most of us really only need one internal-frame pack. Here's why it should be the Osprey Aether AG and not one of its super high-end, tech'ed out competitors.
If you exchange money for a dog, youre doing it wrong
The outdoor brand unveils the newest iteration of its car-camping products. We came away convinced it's all most of us will ever need.
Using a phone outdoors? This is what you need to know to stay in touch.
The men's shoes, clothes, and equipment you need to stay comfortable on the trail
Look normal? Thats because every component has been made giant, including the 36-inch wheels.
Mexicos Wild West is best seen from two wheels
The gear that will fix your problems when youre a longways from nowhere
The long-term impact of the president's first 100 days could destroy an industry with more jobs than oil and gas and automotive combined. Yep, you guessed it: outdoor rec.
If you've never picked up a gun before but are interested in harvesting your own healthy, sustainable, humane meat, here's why you should get started with birds
One mans quest to avoid bad coffee and dirty bathrooms