On the latest Great Wide Open, host Lisa Hathaway and her three intrepid guests take us on a journey into the Book Cliffs, a giant tract of rugged land that juts into Grand County. Although there is a long history of grazing and extractive projects in this area, ‘wildness’ remains the Book Cliffs most predominant feature. Since the 1980s, plans to pave a road through this area have been floated - lots of money has been spent on potential projects - but none have yet come to fruition. Guests Trish Hedin (Grand County Commissioner), Sam Van Wetter (Save The Book Cliffs) and Jared Trader (Book Cliffs Enthusiast) discuss this resource and keeping it pavement-free.

// Show Notes

// Save the Book Cliffs: A History

https://www.savethebookcliffs.com/history

// The Canyon Country Zephyr (Aug 2014): Take it or Leave it – Book Cliffs Highway Update & Some Thoughts on ‘Production v Consumption…by Jim Stiles’

https://www.canyoncountryzephyr.com/2014/08/03/take-it-or-leave-it-book-cliffs-highway-update-some-thoughts-on-production-v-consumption-by-jim-stiles/

// KUER (Mar 2022): Rural counties won’t pursue controversial Book Cliffs Highway…for now

https://www.kuer.org/health-science-environment/2022-03-11/rural-counties-wont-pursue-controversial-book-cliffs-highway-for-now

// KUER (Jun 2021) Highway Through The Book Cliffs Is Back On The Table, Despite Protests By Property Owners And Grand County

https://www.kuer.org/health-science-environment/2021-06-07/highway-through-the-book-cliffs-is-back-on-the-table-despite-protests-by-property-owners-and-grand-county