The Wilderness Record was the printed newsletter of the California Wilderness Coalition (now known as CalWild), published from the inception of the Coalition in 1976 until 2011, when it was replaced by email newsletters.

Its purpose was to inform concerned citizens all over the state about threats to wildlands and opportunities to preserve them. It encouraged the reader to speak out for wilderness. In the process, it became a chronicle of a crucial 35 years of the wilderness movement in California.

Reading through these newsletters, it is stunning to see how many times our wild lands came under threat from proposals for logging, mining, off-road vehicle abuse, dams, energy development, excessive livestock grazing, massive recreational facilities, and even overuse by backpackers. And it is tremendously encouraging to read how citizens rose up over and over to push back against those threats and preserve our wild lands. This chronicle is an action thriller full of bold ideas, values recognized, setbacks and recoveries, some losses, but a really good ending - nearly 15 million acres of wilderness preserved in California.

These are scans of original Wilderness Record issues saved by Phil Farrell. Right-click on any link to download the PDF file.

Each issue linked here is scanned in its entirety and saved as a multi-page PDF file. The files are generally each 2 to 4 megabytes in size. Filenames include the volume (vX) and number (nY) of the issue, then the year and month(s) of publication. As I have time to study each issue, I add a brief summary of some interesting articles in that issue.

Comments? Questions? Broken links? Email: info@wildernessrecord.com

Last revision September 22, 2025

Jump to: 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2016

• WRv1n1-1976-Mar+Apr.pdf - Coalition forms; first statewide wild lands inventory and map.
• WRv1n2-1976-May+Jun.pdf - Join the Coalition; special supplement on Forest Service planning process.
• WRv1n3-1976-Jul+Aug.pdf - Endangered American Wilderness Act; first wilderness workshop; area updates.
• WRv1n4-1976-Sep+Oct.pdf - Wilderness legislation roundup; ORV plans roundup; special supplement on Siskiyou Mountains.
• WRv1n5-1976-Nov+Dec.pdf - New wilderness bills pass Congress; special supplement on fight to save California desert.


• WRv1n6-1977-Jan+Feb.pdf - First year summary, including income chart - $3,600 total!
• WRv2n1-1977-Mar+Apr.pdf - new local wilderness groups; Mineral King; special supplement on California state wilderness program.
• WRv2n2-1977-May+Jun.pdf -- (missing from my collection)
• WRv2n3-1977-Jul+Aug.pdf - Description of Forest Service RARE II program and how to get involved.
• WRv2n4-1977-Sep+Oct.pdf - State reveals wilderness plans; RARE II updates.
• WRv2n5-1977-Nov+Dec.pdf -- (missing from my collection)


• WRv3n1-1978-Jan+Feb.pdf -- (missing from my collection)
• WRv3n2-1978-Mar+Apr.pdf -- (missing from my collection)
• WRv3n3-1978-May+Jun.pdf -- (missing from my collection)
• WRv3n4-1978-Jul+Aug.pdf - Results of California State Park wilderness recommendations and RARE II call to action insert.
• WRv3n5-1978-Sep+Oct.pdf - Final appeal and info for public to write RARE II comments.
• WRv3n6-1978-Nov+Dec.pdf -- (missing from my collection)


• WRv4n1-1979-Jan+Feb.pdf - RARE II results - "Wilderness Sellout".
• WRv4n2-1979-Mar+Apr.pdf - State blasts RARE II; BLM initial wilderness inventory; wilderness wildlife column debuts.
• WRv4n3-1979-May+Jun.pdf - Administration opens Forest Service roadless areas to development; BLM wilderness studies.
• WRv4n4-1979-Jul+Aug.pdf - BLM Wilderness Review; special supplement on Wilderness and Fisheries.
• WRv4n5-1979-Sep+Oct.pdf - RARE II lawsuit; special section on Kern Plateau wilderness.
• WRv4n6-1979-Nov+Dec.pdf - RARE II Wilderness legislation; wilderness wildlife: Pronghorn.


• WRv5n1-1980-Jan+Feb.pdf - BLM completes state inventory; wilderness wildlife: endangered desert dwellers; Wild Rivers update. Also includes Feb 1980 edition of "Wild California" (jointly published by CWC and The Wilderness Society).
• WRv5n2-1980-Mar+Apr.pdf - Special supplement on BLM's first draft of the California Desert Plan.
• WRv5n3-1980-May+Jun.pdf - Feature on San Rafael Wilderness; wilderness management: fire; Siskiyou wildlife.
• WRv5n4+5-1980-Jul+Aug+Sep+Oct.pdf - Desert plan proposal released; wilderness management: wildlife; descriptions of new wilderness areas proposed in Burton bill.
• WRv5n6-1980-Nov+Dec.pdf -- (missing from my collection)


• WRv6n1-1981-Jan+Feb.pdf - Desert update; feature on Desolation Wilderness; wilderness wildlife: spotted owl.
• WRv6n2-1981-Mar+Apr.pdf -- (missing from my collection)
• WRv6n3-1981-May+Jun.pdf - updates on wilderness related bills in Congress; wilderness wildlife: bigfoot.
• WRv6n4-1981-Jul+Aug.pdf - progress on Burton bill; wilderness wildlife: condor.
• WRv6n5-1981-Sep+Oct.pdf - House passes Burton bill and Cranston introduces in Senate; Wild Kern river.
• WRv6n6-1981-Nov+Dec.pdf - Oil and gas drilling proposed in wilderness; wilderness wildlife: mountain yellow-legged frog.


• WRv7n1-1982-Jan+Feb.pdf - geothermal exploration in wilderness; bighorn sheep.
• WRv7n2-1982-Mar+Apr.pdf - Secretary Watt proposals for mining in wilderness; wilderness wildlife: newts.
• WRv7n3-1982-May+Jun.pdf - State Wilderness designations; status of BLM wilderness study areas; Forest Service wilderness history from 1931-1981.
• WRv7n4-1982-Jul+Aug.pdf - House passes mining ban in Wilderness; wilderness wildlife: roosevelt elk.
• WRv7n5-1982-Sep+Oct.pdf -Decision time for state-owned wilderness; wilderness wildlife: pileated woodpecker.
• WRv7n6-1982-Nov+Dec.pdf - RARE II lawsuit suceeds; wilderness wildlife feature.


• WRv8n1-1983-Jan+Feb.pdf - Forest Service abandons roadless review decisions; Klamath National Forest planning and roadless area descriptions; wilderness wildlife: rattlesnakes.
• WRv8n2-1983-Mar+Apr.pdf - Burton's California Wilderness bill that came in response to RARE II passes house; Phillip Burton dies.
• WRv8n3-1983-May+Jun.pdf - Pathogens in wilderness water; BLM rejects wilderness proposals in NE California.
• WRv8n4+5-1983-Jul+Aug+Sep+Oct.pdf - Federal judge halts BLM plan to develop wilderness study areas; Forest Service begins new roadless review as part of inidividual forest plans; wilderness wildlife: red fox.
• WRv8n6-1983-Nov+Dec.pdf - Status of BLM non-desert wilderness study areas; black bears in wilderness.


• WRv9n1-1984-Jan+Feb.pdf - Senator Wilson slashes wilderness proposal for California; Lists of Forest Service roadless areas to be studied again.
• WRv9n2-1984-Mar+Apr.pdf - Features on King Range, Sinkyone Wilderness, and Ishi Wilderness; mountain lions in wilderness.
• WRv9n3-1984-May+Jun.pdf - Senators Cranston and Wilson reach compromise on California Wilderness bill; analysis of BLM wilderness study area program failings.
• WRv9n4-1984-Jul+Aug.pdf - Senate passes California Wilderness bill. Some analysis of bill's provisions.
• WRv9n5-1984-Sep+Oct.pdf - California Wilderness Act of 1984 is signed. Map, list, and descriptions of new wilderness areas. Analysis of the politics of how it passed.
• WRv9n6-1984-Nov+Dec.pdf - Summary of plans to work on protection for national forest areas not in the California Wilderness Act.


• WRv10n1-1985-Jan+Feb.pdf - Henry Coe State Park wilderness proposal; Forest Service recreation zoning explained.
• WRv10n2-1985-Mar+Apr.pdf - BLM wilderness review nears end; descriptions of some specific CWC proposals for BLM wilderness.
• WRv10n3-1985-Mar+Apr.pdf - New wilderness permit rules; Forest Planning updates for Angeles, San Bernardino, and Toiyabe National Forests; Golden Eagles in the desert.
• WRv10n4-1985-Jul+Aug.pdf - Plans for 1985 California Wilderness Conference; feature on Kern River; wilderness wildlife: desert pupfish.
• WRv10n5-1985-Sep+Oct.pdf - Full program for the 1985 California Wilderness Conference; destructive activities occurring in supposedly protected wilderness study areas.
• WRv10n6-1985-Nov+Dec.pdf - Possible dam would flood Kings River; photos from Wilderness Conference; Planning updates for Stanislaus and Sequoia National Forests.


• WRv11n1-1986-Jan+Feb.pdf - Cranston introduces the first draft of the "Desert Bill". Start of the nine year campaign to protect desert wilderness; articles on national forest planning.
• WRv11n2-1986-Mar+Apr.pdf - Future of Mono Lake; Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit planning update; Scope of Cranston's desert bill.
• WRv11n3-1986-May+Jun.pdf - Support for Kern and Kings wild rivers grows; Planning updates for Lassen and San Bernardino National Forests.
• WRv11n4-1986-Jul+Aug.pdf - ORVs in King Range; Shasta-Trinity and Los Padres National Forests plans propose little wilderness; effects of clearcuts on wildlife.
• WRv11n5-1986-Sep+Oct.pdf - Mt. Shasta ski area stopped; updates on wild river proposals; Mendocino, Sierra, and Eldorado National Forests planning updates; spotted owls.
• WRv11n6-1986-Nov+Dec.pdf - Sinkyone Wilderness park expansion; Inyo National Forest planning update; White-Inyo wilderness complex.


• WRv12n1-1987-Jan+Feb.pdf - Cranston re-introduces Desert Protection Act; BLM initiates final phase of wilderness study process.
• WRv12n2-1987-Mar+Apr.pdf -- (missing from my collection)
• WRv12n3-1987-May+Jun.pdf - Lawsuit tries to stop logging in sequoia groves; BLM Cache Creek area; San Joaquin roadless area; grazing on public lands.
• WRv12n4-1987-Jul+Aug.pdf - Senate hearings on desert bill; liberate Hetch Hetchy?; wildlands of the Volcanic Tablelands - Glass Mountain area; BLM wilderness recommendations for NE California.
• WRv12n5-1987-Sep+Oct.pdf - Problems with Forest Service salvage logging in fire areas; Lassic Mountains wildlands; ecological effects of wild fire.
• WRv12n6-1987-Nov+Dec.pdf - Kings, Kern, and Merced Wild Rivers designated; profile of Keep the Sespe Wild member group; wilderness wildlife: great gray owls.


• WRv13n1-1988-Jan.pdf - Grant allows paid editor and monthly publication; special on South Warner Wilderness; Modoc National Forest plan released.
• WRv13n2-1988-Feb.pdf - Proposed Soda Mountain wilderness; CWC financial report; David Gaines obituary.
• WRv13n3-1988-Mar.pdf - Off road vehicles banned and wilderness proposed in King Range; more protections for Cache Creek; Yosemite Wilderness management plan draft.
• WRv13n4-1988-Apr.pdf - Sequoia National Forest final plan rejects wilderness; ski area development proposed in eastern Sierra roadless areas; Wilderness permit rules for 1988.
• WRv13n5-1988-May.pdf - Problems with Mt Shasta ski area proposal; logging halted in Sequoia groves; Los Padres National Forest final plan proposes little Wilderness; too many roads on National Forests.
• WRv13n6-1988-Jun.pdf - Bighorn sheep threatened; Forest Service tightens appeals process; Wild Rivers bill for Los Padres NF; private land acquired in Grouse Lakes roadless area; Sherwin Bowl ski proposal.
• WRv13n7-1988-Jul.pdf - Timber salvage threatens roadless areas; old logging road still open through Yolla Bolly Wilderness; San Bernardino Forest revising wilderness plans; wilderness workshop for BLM land; BLM East Mojave plan is deficient; lawsuits on behalf of endangered species.
• WRv13n8-1988-Aug.pdf - Desert protection bill fails in Senate; Los Padres NF wilderness bill introduced; grazing impacts in Marble Mtns Wilderness; fighting timber sales in roadless areas; wilderness recreation ethics.
• WRv13n9-1988-Sep.pdf - More problems with logging in roadless areas; appeal filed for Sequoia National Forest plan; wilderness water rights diminished; Ventana Wilderness trail guide review.
• WRv13n10-1988-Oct.pdf - Logging threats to Middle Fork Feather Wild River; appeal forces more review of June Mtn ski area expansion proposal; new campaign for ancient forests; Inyo Forest Plan appealed; plan for Mt Shasta trail.
• WRv13n11-1988-Nov.pdf - Ski area proposals still threaten Mt. Shasta and Mt. Eddy; debate over "let burn" fire policies; private inholdings in Wilderness.
• WRv13n12-1988-Dec.pdf - Efforts to stop roadless area logging; private inholdings in Grouse Lakes and Castle Peak roadless areas; Tahoe Basin final Forest Plan still inadequate; Desert Colloquim organizes activists; Court rules for spotted owls.


• WRv14n1-1989-Jan.pdf - Klamath National Forest logging compromise; interview with Margaret Murie; book review: Coast Walks.
• WRv14n2-1989-Feb.pdf - Eldorado NF plan shortcomings; Cahto Wilderness proposal history; 1988 CWC financial report; National Forest plan appeals for Plumas and Tahoe Basin; more private inholdings may be purchased.
• WRv14n3-1989-Mar.pdf -- (missing from my collection)
• WRv14n4-1989-Apr.pdf -
• WRv14n5-1989-May.pdf -
• WRv14n6-1989-Jun.pdf -
• WRv14n7+8-1989-Jul+Aug.pdf -
• WRv14n9-1989-Sep.pdf -
• WRv14n10-1989-Oct.pdf -
• WRv14n11-1989-Nov.pdf -
• WRv14n12-1989-Dec.pdf -


• WRv15n1-1990-Jan.pdf -
• WRv15n2-1990-Feb.pdf -
• WRv15n3-1990-Mar.pdf -
• WRv15n4-1990-Apr.pdf -
• WRv15n5-1990-May.pdf -
• WRv15n6-1990-Jun.pdf -
• WRv15n7-1990-Jul.pdf -
• WRv15n8-1990-Aug.pdf -
• WRv15n9-1990-Sep.pdf -
• WRv15n10-1990-Oct.pdf -
• WRv15n11-1990-Nov.pdf -
• WRv15n12-1990-Dec.pdf -


• WRv16n1-1991-Jan.pdf - California Wilderness Coalition 15th anniversary articles; Wilderness Primer part VIII: history of RARE II inventory process; status of National Forest plans and appeals.
• WRv16n2-1991-Feb.pdf -
• WRv16n3-1991-Mar.pdf -
• WRv16n4-1991-Apr.pdf -
• WRv16n5-1991-May.pdf -
• WRv16n6-1991-Jun.pdf -
• WRv16n7-1991-Jul.pdf - BLM releases final wilderness recommendations for California, including map, list of areas, and analysis.
• WRv16n8-1991-Aug.pdf -
• WRv16n9-1991-Sep.pdf -
• WRv16n10-1991-Oct.pdf -
• WRv16n11-1991-Nov.pdf -
• WRv16n12-1991-Dec.pdf -


• WRv17n1-1992-Jan.pdf -
• WRv17n2-1992-Feb.pdf -
• WRv17n3-1992-Mar.pdf -
• WRv17n4-1992-Apr.pdf -
• WRv17n5-1992-May.pdf -
• WRv17n6-1992-Jun.pdf -
• WRv17n7-1992-Jul.pdf -
• WRv17n8-1992-Aug.pdf - Articles about wilderness management issues, including Forest Service wilderness planning schedule. California Wilderness Contest quiz.
• WRv17n9-1992-Sep.pdf -
• WRv17n10-1992-Oct.pdf -
• WRv17n11-1992-Nov.pdf -
• WRv17n12-1992-Dec.pdf -


• WRv18n1-1993-Jan.pdf -
• WRv18n2-1993-Feb.pdf -- (missing from my collection)
• WRv18n3-1993-Mar.pdf -
• WRv18n4-1993-Apr.pdf -
• WRv18n5-1993-May.pdf -
• WRv18n6-1993-Jun.pdf -
• WRv18n7-1993-Jul.pdf -
• WRv18n8-1993-Aug.pdf -
• WRv18n9-1993-Sep.pdf -
• WRv18n10-1993-Oct.pdf -
• WRv18n11-1993-Nov.pdf -
• WRv18n12-1993-Dec.pdf -


• WRv19n1-1994-Jan.pdf -
• WRv19n2-1994-Feb.pdf -
• WRv19n3-1994-Mar.pdf -
• WRv19n4-1994-Apr.pdf -
• WRv19n5-1994-May.pdf - Senate passes the Desert Protection Act.
• WRv19n6-1994-Jun.pdf -
• WRv19n7-1994-Jul.pdf -
• WRv19n8-1994-Aug.pdf -
• WRv19n9-1994-Sep.pdf - 30th anniversary of Wilderness Act - articles on history and plans for future protections.
• WRv19n10-1994-Oct.pdf -
• WRv19n11-1994-Nov.pdf - Desert Protection Act signed; full map, descriptions of new wilderness, analysis of the 9 year political struggle; Jim's "Monthly Report" highlights CWC's long involvement in this effort.
• WRv19n12-1994-Dec.pdf - CWC conservation report for 1994 describes wide range of projects and campaigns for the year.


• WRv20n1-1995-Jan.pdf -
• WRv20n2-1995-Feb.pdf -
• WRv20n3-1995-Mar.pdf -
• WRv20n4-1995-Apr.pdf -
• WRv20n5-1995-May.pdf -
• WRv20n6-1995-Jun.pdf -
• WRv20n7-1995-Jul.pdf -
• WRv20n8-1995-Aug.pdf -
• WRv20n9-1995-Sep.pdf -
• WRv20n10-1995-Oct.pdf -
• WRv20n11-1995-Nov.pdf -
• WRv20n12-1995-Dec.pdf -


• WRv21n1-1996-Jan.pdf -
• WRv21n2-1996-Feb.pdf -
• WRv21n3-1996-Mar.pdf -
• WRv21n4-1996-Apr.pdf -
• WRv21n5-1996-May.pdf - Includes 1996 Wilderness Guide supplement.
• WRv21n6-1996-Jun.pdf -
• WRv21n7-1996-Jul.pdf -
• WRv21n8-1996-Aug.pdf -
• WRv21n9-1996-Sep.pdf -
• WRv21n10-1996-Oct.pdf -
• WRv21n11-1996-Nov.pdf -
• WRv21n12-1996-Dec.pdf -


• WRv22n1-1997-Jan.pdf -
• WRv22n2-1997-Feb.pdf -
• WRv22n3-1997-Mar.pdf -
• WRv22n4-1997-Apr.pdf -
• WRv22n5-1997-May.pdf -
• WRv22n6-1997-Jun.pdf -
• WRv22n7-1997-Jul.pdf - Tributes to Jim Eaton upon his retirement as CWC Executive Director.
• WRv22n8-1997-Aug.pdf -
• WRv22n9-1997-Sep.pdf -
• WRv22n10-1997-Oct.pdf -
• WRv22n11-1997-Nov.pdf -
• WRv22n12-1997-Dec.pdf -


• Volume 23 - 1998 - not yet scanned


• Volume 24 - 1999 - not yet scanned


• Volume 25 - 2000 - not yet scanned


• Volume 26 - 2001 - not yet scanned


• Volume 27 - 2002 - not yet scanned


• Volume 28 - 2003 - not yet scanned


• Volume 29 - 2004 - not yet scanned, except:
• WRv29n2-2004-Spring.pdf -- (missing from my collection)
• WRv29n4-2004-Fall.pdf -- (missing from my collection)


• Volume 30 - 2005 - not yet scanned, except:
• WRv30n1-2005-Winter.pdf -- (missing from my collection)


• Volume 31 - 2006 - not yet scanned


• Volume 32 - 2007 - not yet scanned


• Volume 33 - 2008 - not yet scanned


• Volume 34 - 2009 - not yet scanned


• Volume 35 - 2010 - not yet scanned, except:
• WRv35n1-2010-Winter.pdf -


• Volume 36 - 2011 - not yet scanned


• The Wilderness Record ceases publication in 2011. Email newletters begin in 2014. A special issue is published in the original format for the 40th anniversary of California Wilderness Coalition.
• WRv40n1-2016-Oct.pdf - Special 40th anniversary retrospective commemorative issue.