Mission

Take County Commissioners and The Wilderness Society over the GORP landscape, the Crystal River Valley, and the Thompson Divide - some of Colorado’s most cherished landscapes.

From above, it’s easy to see why the Crystal River is being considered for Wild and Scenic designation - its winding, free-flowing course is not just beautiful, but vital in this era of increasing drought. We flew over the Thompson Divide, which recently received a twenty-year mineral withdrawal protecting more than 224,000 acres from new oil, gas, and mining claims. The protection is a huge win for wildlife, recreation, and future generations who will enjoy this unspoiled wilderness.

The public lands in Gunnison County host diverse wildlife, pristine ecosystems, incredible recreation, and prime hunting and angling opportunities. From the sky, the grandeur of the region is clear. Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper recently introduced the Gunnison Outdoor Resources Protection (GORP) Act in May 2025.

Over a decade of dedicated work from a coalition of local stakeholders called the Gunnison Public Lands Initiative (GPLI) went into the GORP Act. The GPLI is a group of Gunnison ranchers, sportsmen, conservationists, mountain bikers, and motorized users who are united in their goal to protect public lands in the county, while enhancing a strong and sustainable economy and supporting historic uses of public lands. The GORP Act will protect over 730,000 acres of public lands, including the designation of 122,902 acres of new Wilderness.

Photos from the flight.