The desert is a lot like beer

By Jack Smith

Cathy

“The desert is a lot like beer; it’s an acquired taste.” That’s what a friend of mine told me some years ago. I think he may have been onto something. However, these northern cold desert areas of Wyoming are neither a smooth lager nor an easy-drinking American pilsner. Rather, I seem to be continually thinking of a bitter pale ale as I sit on the cracked gray clay sipping warm water from my water bottle. It is a hot day in early June and I am in the middle of the Honeycombs wildlands in Wyoming’s Big Horn Basin. Although I am only 20 miles from the city of Worland, I feel I could be a thousand miles or a hundred and fifty years away from any western population center.

 

The Honeycombs have been an area of mystery since humans first ventured into their maze of mudstone badlands and gullies thousands of years ago. These rugged badlands have long represented one of the last vestiges of a vanishing Wyoming Basins wildness. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recognized that wildness when it established the 21,000-acre Honeycombs Wilderness Study Area in 1991.

 

These wildlands are certainly an area of extremes. Temperatures can vary from 105 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer to minus 50 degrees in the winter. Although precipitation bounces around a typical eight inches per year, intense summer thunderstorms carry sagebrush corpses, pronghorn antelope bones, and tons of fine sediment down to the Big Horn River. These dramatic precipitation events also create new hoodoos, destroy old hoodoos, and bring ancient mammalian fossils to the light of day.          

 

The Honeycombs are truly a wilderness with a small “w.” And this wilderness encompasses much more than the current wilderness study area. Subsequent assessments identified four contiguous areas with an additional 38,700 acres of wilderness-quality lands. A Honeycombs wildland unit of almost 60,000 acres is a sizeable chunk of possible northern cold desert badlands and basin wilderness.

Unfortunately, the Honeycombs are probably one of the most endangered wildlands in the nation. I won’t try to kid myself or anyone else; there is little chance their wilderness characteristics will survive in today’s motorized, fossil-fuel-hungry world. Even today, there is pending federal “wilderness” legislation, the Wyoming Public Lands Initiative Act, that would eliminate the Honeycombs Wilderness Study Area and declare these badlands no longer suitable for possible future wilderness consideration. The irony is, these lands are not on the chopping block because they lack wilderness qualities or possess other resources more valuable than wilderness. It is simply because it is so easy to write off something someone knows so little about, something not fully appreciated or understood.

It is getting late and the sun is dropping toward the horizon. I adjust my pack and begin the trip back to the front country. Earlier in the day, I drove past portions of an active oil field on my way to these wildlands. I think of all the bladed roads, well pads, storage tanks, and pump jacks spread across that development. Will this sensitive cold desert badlands environment be sacrificed in the search for more oil and gas? Will this be the Honeycombs’ ultimate destiny? Geological reports suggest no economic reserves would be found. However, the footprint and newly-gained access from exploration efforts would forever change this landscape.
     

But what if public input overwhelmingly rejects the current legislation and requests Congress go back to the drawing board when it comes to BLM-administered wilderness study areas in Wyoming? What if, in the give and take of negotiation, the Honeycombs are not sacrificed in hopes of cementing the inclusion of other, better-known desert wildlands? Isn’t there room in the great state of Wyoming to preserve all BLM-administered wildlands as wilderness? Preserve all 3.1% of the state’s BLM-administered lands? I take a deep breath with hopeful answers to those questions floating through my head.

On this trip I have once again uncovered a few more of the secrets held by this threatened wildland. But there is still so much more needing to be passed on to me and other adventurers. The wild heart of these badlands does not need to be silenced. All I ask is you take a sip and savor the Honeycombs as the unique, cold desert wilderness it has always been. Then, take another sip. This desert is, after all, an acquired taste.

 

Honeycomb Hoodoos by Jack Smith

 

Honeycomb Hoodoos Jack Smith


Jack is a retired environmental scientist who has roamed through many of Wyoming’s Wilderness areas and wildlands for over 60 years. He lives in Lander, Wyoming and is currently on the governing board of the Wyoming Wilderness Association. Each time he enters the Honeycombs wildlands, he learns something new. Jack hopes that education will be available for future generations.

 

 

Editor's notes:

“Wilderness Experienced” is our shared stories and musings about recent experiences in our nation's Wildernesses. Stories focus on the virtues of Wilderness and/or challenges facing the National Wilderness Preservation System. We want to hear your story! Learn more and submit a story.

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We encourage readers to engage the authors and other commenters through the comment feature. Please be respectful and thoughtful in your response, and focus your comments on the issues/experiences presented. Please refrain from personal attacks and harassment, using rude or disruptive language, providing misinformation, or promoting violence or illegal activities. We reserve the right to reject comments. Thank you for your cooperation and support.

 

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Comments 73

Guest
Guest - Bob Loomis on Wednesday, 12 June 2024 12:21

Thanks for this essay. I love the desert, California variety. Had never heard of the Honeycombs. I hope it can be preserved.

Thanks for this essay. I love the desert, California variety. Had never heard of the Honeycombs. I hope it can be preserved.
Guest
Guest - Catherine Pomerleau on Wednesday, 12 June 2024 12:17

It is truly time to go with the mantra "Hands Off" all natural, undeveloped treasures. In fact, we need to work to restore every inch of the environment we have touched back to its natural, untouched beauty.

It is truly time to go with the mantra "Hands Off" all natural, undeveloped treasures. In fact, we need to work to restore every inch of the environment we have touched back to its natural, untouched beauty.
Guest

Once these natural landscapes are destroyed, they're gone forever along with the wildlife and flora that inhabit them. We must stop greedy corporate robber barons from destroying wilderness for their personal short-term financial gain.

Once these natural landscapes are destroyed, they're gone forever along with the wildlife and flora that inhabit them. We must stop greedy corporate robber barons from destroying wilderness for their personal short-term financial gain.
Guest
Guest - Mike Dee on Wednesday, 12 June 2024 12:02


Stop the greedy people from grabbing all our beautiful resources they cannot be replaced. These land need to stay intact for future generations. It’s our duty as custodians to preserve these places.

Stop the greedy people from grabbing all our beautiful resources they cannot be replaced. These land need to stay intact for future generations. It’s our duty as custodians to preserve these places.
Guest
Guest - Lynn Ricci (website) on Wednesday, 12 June 2024 12:01

My heart hopes SO much that the RIGHT thing is done so that ALL living can live their life.????. What if YOU were any OTHER living, how would YOU want to be treated and live your life? ????

My heart hopes SO much that the RIGHT thing is done so that ALL living can live their life.????. What if YOU were any OTHER living, how would YOU want to be treated and live your life? ????
Guest
Guest - Benjamin Zumeta on Wednesday, 12 June 2024 11:59

I write in support of Wilderness designation and protection of the Honeycombs in Wyoming. These refuges of wildness are integral to wildlife and human well being. Sacrificing them for short term extractive profit is a sacrifice of our descendants inheritance.

I write in support of Wilderness designation and protection of the Honeycombs in Wyoming. These refuges of wildness are integral to wildlife and human well being. Sacrificing them for short term extractive profit is a sacrifice of our descendants inheritance.
Guest
Guest - Lawrence L Benvenuti on Wednesday, 12 June 2024 11:49

Protect and Preserve !

Protect and Preserve !
Guest
Guest - Gene Kostruba on Wednesday, 12 June 2024 11:47

Please preserve the Honeycombs. Fossil fuel expansion must end now.

Please preserve the Honeycombs. Fossil fuel expansion must end now.
Guest
Guest - Harry on Wednesday, 12 June 2024 11:41

To echo previous posts, please, Congress, preserve Wyoming’s desert badlands just as they are. They are beautiful wilderness areas that must remain free of commercial and industrial interference and pollution. Let them be as they are—wild and wonderful. Please also consider legislating their expansion. Whether our nation’s wilderness areas are comprised of deserts or forests, they make America beautiful. They deserve our respect and protection. I had never heard of this wilderness area and it is amazing. Certainly it is an area that should be preserved. I will never understand why people feel it is their right to destroy anything so that they can make money and pollute the world! It would be tragic if this unique place and its inhabitants are destroyed. Please save the Honeycombs!

To echo previous posts, please, Congress, preserve Wyoming’s desert badlands just as they are. They are beautiful wilderness areas that must remain free of commercial and industrial interference and pollution. Let them be as they are—wild and wonderful. Please also consider legislating their expansion. Whether our nation’s wilderness areas are comprised of deserts or forests, they make America beautiful. They deserve our respect and protection. I had never heard of this wilderness area and it is amazing. Certainly it is an area that should be preserved. I will never understand why people feel it is their right to destroy anything so that they can make money and pollute the world! It would be tragic if this unique place and its inhabitants are destroyed. Please save the Honeycombs!
Guest
Guest - Faith Strailey on Wednesday, 12 June 2024 11:17

I unique formations of this area are irreplaceable. America should celebrate such formations and protect them for future generations to visit and marvel!

I unique formations of this area are irreplaceable. America should celebrate such formations and protect them for future generations to visit and marvel!
Guest
Guest - Robert Moore on Wednesday, 12 June 2024 11:16

Please protect more of this most unusual and beautiful place.
Thank You

Please protect more of this most unusual and beautiful place. Thank You
Guest
Guest - Jaime Nahman on Wednesday, 12 June 2024 11:10

I am not a desert person but I do believe that the natural enviornment deserves to be protected for its beauty and inhabitants. Stop the assault on Public Lands by protecting the Honeycombs. As I said, I am not a desert person but I am in awe and appreciation of it when I drive thru it or visit desert places. Please do the right thing and save the enviorment for future generations.

I am not a desert person but I do believe that the natural enviornment deserves to be protected for its beauty and inhabitants. Stop the assault on Public Lands by protecting the Honeycombs. As I said, I am not a desert person but I am in awe and appreciation of it when I drive thru it or visit desert places. Please do the right thing and save the enviorment for future generations.
Guest
Guest - Carlos Acosta on Wednesday, 12 June 2024 10:59

Wilderness & all it's habitants should be left alone by man

Wilderness & all it's habitants should be left alone by man
Guest
Guest - Eloise Swenson (website) on Wednesday, 12 June 2024 10:42

Please, Congress, preserve Wyoming’s desert badlands just as they are. They are beautiful wilderness areas that must remain free of commercial and industrial interference and pollution. Let them be as they are—wild and wonderful. Please also consider legislating their expansion. Whether our nation’s wilderness areas are comprised of deserts or forests, they make America beautiful. They deserve our respect and protection. God bless America.

Please, Congress, preserve Wyoming’s desert badlands just as they are. They are beautiful wilderness areas that must remain free of commercial and industrial interference and pollution. Let them be as they are—wild and wonderful. Please also consider legislating their expansion. Whether our nation’s wilderness areas are comprised of deserts or forests, they make America beautiful. They deserve our respect and protection. God bless America.
Guest
Guest - Mary Dosch on Wednesday, 12 June 2024 10:40

I respectfully urge you to protect the Honeycomb Wilderness now, before it's too late. If the Honeycomb is sacrificed for someone's (or some
corporation's) bottom line, then Mother Nature won't be able to reproduce it thereafter. We need to think of the big picture and future generations rather than shortsightedly rubber stamping the erasure of what took eons to come to be.

I respectfully urge you to protect the Honeycomb Wilderness now, before it's too late. If the Honeycomb is sacrificed for someone's (or some corporation's) bottom line, then Mother Nature won't be able to reproduce it thereafter. We need to think of the big picture and future generations rather than shortsightedly rubber stamping the erasure of what took eons to come to be.
Guest
Guest - John Lippiello on Wednesday, 12 June 2024 10:37

The Honeycombs are probably one of the most endangered wildlands in the nation.
This wilderness and animals that inhabit them should be preserved and left alone.

The Honeycombs are probably one of the most endangered wildlands in the nation. This wilderness and animals that inhabit them should be preserved and left alone.
Guest
Guest - David Lavender on Wednesday, 12 June 2024 10:28

I have never traveled to Wyoming but I have seen the natural beauty of this area. I ask why would anyone want to destroy it? Our country has so many beautiful places and it all needs protection.

I have never traveled to Wyoming but I have seen the natural beauty of this area. I ask why would anyone want to destroy it? Our country has so many beautiful places and it all needs protection.
Guest
Guest - Richard McAnulty on Wednesday, 12 June 2024 10:26

These beautiful resources cannot be replaced. Let’s save them for future generations. Once and forever. Thanks.

These beautiful resources cannot be replaced. Let’s save them for future generations. Once and forever. Thanks.
Guest
Guest - John Ostaszewski on Wednesday, 12 June 2024 10:23

The Honeycombs have been an area of mystery since humans first ventured into their maze of mudstone badlands and gullies thousands of years ago. These rugged badlands have long represented one of the last vestiges of a vanishing Wyoming Basins wildness. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recognized that wildness when it established the 21,000-acre Honeycombs Wilderness Study Area in 1991. Please preserve this special resource.

The Honeycombs have been an area of mystery since humans first ventured into their maze of mudstone badlands and gullies thousands of years ago. These rugged badlands have long represented one of the last vestiges of a vanishing Wyoming Basins wildness. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recognized that wildness when it established the 21,000-acre Honeycombs Wilderness Study Area in 1991. Please preserve this special resource.
Guest
Guest - Joan Garnett on Wednesday, 12 June 2024 10:21

What little is left of wilderness is worth more to the human psyche than any short term gain. Please preserve the Honeycomb Wilderness. It is needed for our present and future.

What little is left of wilderness is worth more to the human psyche than any short term gain. Please preserve the Honeycomb Wilderness. It is needed for our present and future.
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Tuesday, 16 July 2024

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