This past week, I joined a volunteer crew deep in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness to help maintain a remote stretch of hiking trail. We paddled across lakes, hiked into a burn zone, and cleared overgrown paths—all while braving rain, cold, and even snow. It was hard work, but a powerful reminder: these public lands don’t take care of themselves. They depend on people who care, and on the funding and support needed to keep them wild and accessible for the next generation.