Making a Difference : Inspirational Stories of How Outdoor Industry and Individuals Are Working to Preserve America's Natural Places

Formerly a nationally-ranked competitive rock climber and ski guide, wilderness advocate and freelance writer Amy Irvine makes her home among the red rock canyons of southern Utah. Her work has appeared in Climbing and Rock and Ice, as well as several anthologies of short stories.

"Scott had never spoken publicly in his life. He was a quiet guy, who split his time between a dek and a boat. And the gathering was daunting; when he arrived at the library the place was elbow to elbow in people. The press was there too.
"In his even-handed, methodical way, Scott told the community about Friends of the Payette and their plans to organize against the North Fork project. But he didn't come at it as an eco-freak--ready to chain himself to a dam. Instead he blew apart the project's engineering, explaining each of the flaws in its design. He finished by demonstrating how existing dams along the Payette were poorly run and only operating at 50% efficiency. Why not maximize those dams' production rather than putting in yet another project that would greatly affect everyone's enjoyment of the river?"