To whom it may concern,

Five years I’ve lived in Missoula, and the coldest winter was the first. That year my skin was bit by -26F temperatures in the mountains. Now I fear it will never happen again. Only five years have I lived in MT but already I have heard the old timers lament that winter is not what it used to be. Circumstantial evidence at best; but, the data agrees.

Since I first heard of our global climate predicament I’ve been furious. It was some time around 2005, middle school. Adults, with their politics, economy, corporations and money. Fools.

Nothing has changed in 2021.

Well…

That’s not true.

The comrades for climate change action have reason for thankfulness in the new year. Enough pessimism. If you still deny anthropogenic climate change you have something to gain from it. The rest of us have recognized we have everything to lose.

So I’ll keep on freezing my ass off riding my bicycle in winter, picking up other peoples trash on the trail, carrying armfuls of groceries when I forget my reusable bags and only drinking the fine beer of Missoula from growlers and cans (because you can’t recycle glass). So hopefully one day you, who ever you are, can enjoy the rugged places of MT, in a world still fit for human habitation.

Sincerely,

Tom Herwerden