Listen to “Endangered Spaces: Bears Ears” Dirtbag Diaries Podcast Episode

“If you really want to have an adventure that’s not going to be sexy—it’s gonna be dirty and it’s gonna be rowdy—there’s a place out here for you,” says Josh Ewing. “It’s the chance to do something where you’re not going to see another climber.”

In the beginning, Josh came to Bears Ears, Utah, in search of adventure. But the more time he spent there, the less his relationship with the landscape had to do with first ascents, and the more it had to do with connecting to the current people and ancient cultures who call Bears Ears home. Now, Josh is a leader in the fight to protect the 1.9 million acres of wild, history-rich, red sandstone landscape.

For the first episode of our “Endangered Spaces” series—a series about threatened places and the people who care for them—we take you to Bears Ears National Monument to follow Josh’s transformation from climber to climber-activist.

Explore Bears Ears with our 360° virtual reality tour, and take action to help protect your new National Monument.

Visit dirtbagdiaries.com for links to past episodes, music credits and to pledge your support. You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher and DoggCatcher, or connect with the Dirtbag Diaries community on Facebook and Twitter. The Dirtbag Diaries is a Duct Tape Then Beer production.