This post came from our (10-page!) application to participate in the 2024 Race to Alaska. We’re sharing snippets in a 3-part series to introduce you to Team Sail Like A Mother. > Read about Brianna, Chief Tango Instructor, here. How does a Montana girl end up as a sailboat captain […]
As we got ready to board our first of three flights from Missoula, Montana to Bogota, Colombia, “bust” seemed like the more likely option. In the weeks leading up to our departure, everyone had been sniffling, coughing or feverish due to a revolving menagerie of viruses. Rob had barely recovered […]
The Endangered Species Act is turning 50. Has it succeeded? The law has kept many species from dying out — but few have made it off the ‘endangered’ list. BY BRIANNA RANDALL Science News Explores | December 2023 A little brown bat swoops out of the night sky. With sharp […]
We pulled on foul weather gear in Squalicum Harbor’s parking lot, tugging Gore-Tex over limbs already thick with wool and fleece. The day was gray, the wind was cold and gusty, and the mast was newly standing. Perfect time for Team SLAM’s inaugural sail aboard our new-to-us boat, Wild Card. […]
Can Farmers Save the Great Salt Lake? There’s no silver bullet to solve Utah’s water crisis, but farmers are doing their part by choosing to do more with less. The Bear River flows out of Wyoming’s Uinta Mountains, winding 350 miles through sagebrush meadows and agricultural fields in Idaho and […]
The Endangered Species Act at 50 & What’s Next for Wildlife By Brianna Randall // Photos by Joel Sartore THE SIGHT OF A BALD EAGLE GLIDING OVERHEAD, white head framed against the blue sky, is sure to spark a sense of awe—and perhaps a breath of gratitude. An emblem of strength, […]
Police stops, blow torches and dicks in a bag. A perfect day in western Washington. So, to recap: this summer Katie, Brianna and Melissa decided to sail in the Race to Alaska in June 2024. That was the easy part. Next up, we had to figure out what the hell […]
Sailing solo on Montana’s Flathead Lake inspires a “yes” to brave 750 miles of gnarly, cold currents … and Team ‘Sail Like A MOTHER‘ is born! Tiller between my legs, I hold the finicky jib sheet in one hand and my sparkling water in the other. Sueños picks up speed […]
I have a confession to make: I love reading romance novels. It’s pretty weird, right? The stack next to my bed teeters high with whale biology research, Science News magazines, and old National Geographics. But when I want to totally escape, I reach for my Kindle and download a new […]
A humpback whale swam halfway around the world. His name is Frodo. A record-breaking ocean journey from the Mariana Islands to Mexico shows that whale migration patterns are more complex than we thought. Read more >
This marine biologist is on a mission to save endangered rays – Figuring out where the enigmatic creatures mate and migrate is key to their conservation. Read more >
Ocean Gardeners: Why Whale Poop Matters Now More Than Ever – Whales play a crucial role in our ecosystem. Learn about the fascinating concept of whale pumps, how whale poop sustains marine life and its impact on climate change. Read more >
Dust from a shrinking Great Salt Lake may be accelerating Utah’s snowmelt – Snow in the Wasatch Mountains melted 17 days early in 2022 thanks to a record amount of dust. Read more >
Protecting the Coolest Types of Bats in North America – Bat species have unique abilities. Take a closer look at the coolest types of bats in North America and find out how they help people and the ecosystem. Read more >
The Great Salt Lake is shrinking. What can we do to stop it? A recent report suggests the lake could disappear within five years. Read all about it >
‘Jet packs’ and ultrasounds could reveal secrets of pregnant whale sharks – Until now, our knowledge of pregnancy in the world’s largest living fish came from one female. Read more >
Sailing in Yellowstone National Park – Fewer than 100 people visit these remote parts of Yellowstone Lake each year. All of them come by foot, paddle or sail. Read more >
America’s Billion-Dollar Tree Problem Is Spreading – Grasslands are being overrun by drought-resistant invaders that wreck animal habitats, suck up water supplies, and can cost landowners a fortune. Read more >
A Piece of the Pie: Forming a shared-boat partnership, or fractional ownership, can greatly expand your cruising horizons.
Fertile Legacy – When it comes to vanishing prairies, even the smallest remnants are worth saving. Read this cover story >
Tree-climbing carnivores called fishers are back in Washington’s forests – Learn how biologists worked together for 20 years to bring back these animals after trapping and habitat loss had wiped out the population. Read this cover story >
Burning Up – Heat, drought and wildfires are ravaging western wildlife while conservationists try to help ecosystems adapt. Read more >
“5 Reasons You Need to Adventure With Your Baby.” It’s true: you SHOULD take your baby with you for outdoor adventure! Read on for first-time family trip ideas and tips, including floats, hikes, and camping adventures.
In Nebraska’s Loess Canyons, Setting Trees Ablaze Gives Prairie Birds a Boost – For generations Great Plains ranchers saw fire as a foe. Now they’re banding together and embracing it as a tool to restore grassland habitat. Read more >
Where Big Data Meets Cowboy Boots – A powerful, free web app developed by University of Montana is revolutionizing how rangelands are managed. Read more >