From a Simmer to a Boil

From a Simmer to a Boil

Corner-crossing case ignites firestorm with messy history

By Christine Peterson

Long before a group of hunters from Missouri hoisted a ladder over a fence in southwest Wyoming—setting off a series of headline-grabbing court cases and breathless predictions—the US government had a plan.

Unlocking the Corners

Unlocking the Corners

Finding future solutions for recreational access to corner-locked land

By Heather Hansman

The hunters, technically, never touched the ground.

Editor’s Note – Issue 15

Issue 15 of Western Confluence will explore the unique history and modern-day implications of the checkerboard pattern of public and private landownership in the West. Stories will be released online throughout 2025 and in print January 2026.