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Something for the Kids

Something for the Kids THIS HAPPENED OUT THERE IN THE HIGH COUNTRY, which is about the only place it would happen, old field men being what they are. There are things that those jaspers just don't talk about much, partly because they can never say it the way they feel it, and partly because the men they'd say it to already know, anyway. But now and then, out somewhere back of beyond or over in the high lonesome, a seasoned ranger or game warden will start jawing and reveal something of the dreams and hopes that impel him. Five of us were ending a long day aro~nd the evening fire just under timberline. We were on our way out of the summer elk range and were camped on a timbered bench above a creek that flashed with cutthroat trout, a diamond of a place, with the night wind carrying the rumble of sliding talus from the other side of the valley. We had topped out at noon, coming over the Divide in a sleet storm and drifting down toward treeline behind a band of elk. We were two days' ride from the nearest fence 199 Something for the Kids TIll'> ....rnN~l,) 0U'r TlURI: 'N TIll HICJl COWlTRY, which i5 about the only place it would happen, old field men being what they are, Thtre UI' things that those jaspeT5 just don't talk about much. partly be they can never uy it the way th..y f"",1 it, and partly beou!;\> the men Ihey'd ...y i. 10 already know, anyway. But now and then, out somewhere back of beyond Or over in the hig.h 10n('$Ome, a i1I'awnl'd ranae. a. game warden will start jawing and reveal wmething of the dl'l'ams and hopes that impel him. five of u, weJ'l' ending a long day around the evening fire just under timberline. We Werl' on our way out of the summer elk range and were camped on a timberl'd bench above a cl'ftk that f1nhed with cutthroat trout, a diamond of a place, with the night wind carrying the rumble of sliding talus from the othe. side of the vaUey. We h.ad topped out at noon, coming Over the Divide in a sleet storm;md drifting down toward treeline behind a band of elk. We were two days' ride from the nearest fence '" Something for the Kids TIll'> ....rnN~l,) 0U'r TlURI: 'N TIll HICJl COWlTRY, which i5 about the only place it would happen, old field men being what they are, Thtre UI' things that those jaspeT5 just don't talk about much. partly be they can never uy it the way th..y f"",1 it, and partly beou!;\> the men Ihey'd ...y i. 10 already know, anyway. But now and then, out somewhere back of beyond Or over in the hig.h 10n('$Ome, a i1I'awnl'd ranae. a. game warden will start jawing and reveal wmething of the dl'l'ams and hopes that impel him. five of u, weJ'l' ending a long day around the evening fire just under timberline. We Werl' on our way out of the summer elk range and were camped on a timberl'd bench above a cl'ftk that f1nhed with cutthroat trout, a diamond of a place, with the night wind carrying the rumble of sliding talus from the othe. side of the vaUey. We h.ad topped out at noon, coming Over the Divide in a sleet storm;md drifting down toward treeline behind a band of elk. We were two days' ride from the nearest fence '" 200 JOHN MADSON and now, full of trout and sourdough biscuits, we loafed beside the bull fire and talked it over. We had been working most of the week in the high elk range-a game warden, a forest ranger, a biologist, a writer, and the supervisor. Total conservation mileage: about 150 years. And for some reason the talk turned away from horses, hunting, and women, and got to be a seminar on conservation. It didn't last long. The men around that fire weren't given to much highblown philosophy. But this is the way it went: They spoke of wild country that has become the battle ground of the spoilers and savers. The spoilers being self-serving politicians , the dam builders, poachers, certain stockmen and miners and lumbermen, but mostly...