Wild Ambition

HOW THE COUNTRY’S MOST CONSERVATION-MINDED PRESIDENT STILL INSPIRES US TODAY

By Ann Titus

"There are no words," he said, and then kept on talking. A naturalist at heart, Teddy Roosevelt had a lot to say about rivers, sunsets and craggy mountain peaks. From the waterfalls of Yosemite to the geysers in Yellowstone, the great landscapes of the West filled him with awe, and his remarks on the subject were poetic and prolific. More important, his glowing sentences were backed up with vigorous action.

While serving as president, Roosevelt signed legislation doubling the number of National Parks. He established bird preserves, game preserves and 150 National Forests. Under the Antiquities Act of 1906, Roosevelt established the country’s first National Monuments. In total, approximately 230 million acres were protected as a result of his bold leadership. And he never tired of advocating for the preservation of places he loved for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations.

In this century, it’s tempting to take our 26th president’s efforts for granted or to believe that his legacy only lives in the past. But as you set out on a hike in a state like Montana, so rich with scenic beauty and well-tended biodiversity, you can be assured that an enduring spirit of conservation continues to this day. And the love he felt for the environment is a sentiment that’s been handed down through generations.

Take measure of how your heart quickens when you spot dozens of wild elk wending their way through the trees, hear the whish-whish of grasses as a herd of white-tail deer prances over the meadow or notice a pair of bald eagles, standing imperiously over a riverbank, scanning for snacks. After pausing in wonder, do you turn your attention to your son or daughter? Are you hoping they see it, too?

How many times will your kids linger in amazement, not next to a Christmas tree but, rather, under an 80-foot Douglas fir? Will they know the gilded majesty of a tamarack tree as it stands in a forest of Ponderosa pines? It’s a powerful force, wanting to share in the experience of nature with the people who’ll outlive us.

So, when you visit 37,000 acres set aside here in Greenough, bring your children. Be a part of a long-standing history of Americans left speechless by spectacular scenery.

Against stirring images of rocky cliffs, in a rare recording, you can still hear President Roosevelt say, "There are no words that can tell the hidden spirit of the wilderness. That can reveal its mystery, its melancholy and its charm."

Let’s carry on in T.R.’s footprints. Let’s show our offspring the places we treasure, and maybe one day our progeny will invent the language to describe them.

Take a 3-minute trip back in time. Scan the QR code to watch the video Roosevelt’s Vision