Wilderness Heroes

Katya in the Badlands

When Katya Spiecker walked into the offices of the Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA) earlier this year, she probably didn't imagine that in a few short months she would take a leading role in the effort to protect Central Oregon's Badlands as wilderness. The Badlands, located just 15 miles east of Bend, is a 30,000-acre area containing fascinating lava flows and ancient junipers. This area was named for its harsh terrain and fantastic rock formations.

Jonathan Hanson, near Tucson; © Thomas Veneklasen

When you think about living the dream, you think about Jonathan Hanson. The native of rural Tucson who with his wife Roseann now lives southwest of Tucson, is building their home from sustainable materials and is a writer who edits and co-owns an eco-adventure magazine. He sea kayaks in the Sea of Cortez, leads African safaris, and is a vocal advocate for open space protection and preserving our wild public lands as Wilderness.

Dianne Erskine-Hellrigel in DC

Volunteering is second nature for Dianne Erskine-Hellrigel. In addition to leading The Community Hiking Club in Santa Clarita, California, she plants community gardens with native plants, organizes trash clean-ups in wild places, and helps map proposed wilderness areas in Angeles National Forest. Dianne is devoted to improving her community and the wild places she cherishes.

Harry Romberg on Mid-Fork Snoqualmie Trail; © Don Parks

Harry Romberg is a native of the Puget Sound area - a rarity these days among Washingtonians. His love for and enjoyment of the outdoors started at an early age, encouraged by his father who took Harry hiking and camping as a child and helped him get a job at Mt. Rainer when Harry was in college. "I always attribute my interest in the outdoors back to my father and I think it evolved more than he ever expected it to."

Roxanne Sterr hiking in the snow.

Roxanne Sterr's love for the desert and the eastern Sierra began as a teenager with the Explorer Scouts when she learned to rock climb with this co-ed mountaineering club. Roxanne grew up 5 blocks from the beach in southern California, but after discovering the Sierra and learning to rock climb she gave up the sand and waves and spent as much time as possible climbing and backpacking on the east side of the Sierra, in Joshua Tree National Monument (now a National Park), and many other magnificent places.

For over fifty-five years, Dr. Sanford "Sandy" Schemnitz has been a friend and champion of the wilderness. A lifelong hunter, Sandy has brought his love of outdoor recreation and his commitment to wild land preservation to his work as a professor of wildlife sciences.

Brandon Dennison, a senior at Shepherd University and youth group leader at Shepherds- town Presbyterian Church, has long been a hero to the young people of his church, with whom he has worked for the past three years as a counselor, mentor, and friend. This month, we are proud to recognize him for his commitment to engaging youth and furthering the cause of wilderness protection for the last wild places in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest (a.k.a. the "Mon").

Bill Grant of Grand Junction, CO has always been a westerner at heart. He grew up in the shadow of the Appalachian Mountains in western North Carolina, but subsequently lived in several parts of the country. Prior to moving to Colorado, he spent twenty-one years in Ohio where he was a professor of western history and culture at Bowling Green State University.

"I always had one foot in the West," says Bill. "I was ready to discover the Rocky Mountains long before I ever got there."

As pastor of a congregation in Tempe, Doug Bland is naturally interested in the spiritual lives of our church members. He sometimes asks his congregation, "When have you felt closest to God?" Unfortunately, he says, "they don't say: ‘During your sermons.'"

Lynn Ryan has a secret-a powerful one. And for more than 30 years, it has been the key to her success in saving some of her favorite forests, beaches, mountains, and quiet wild places.

"It really comes down to grassroots organizing," says Lynn. "There's a joy in it."