They're two breeds of guard dogs used around here--Great Pyrenees and Akbash. They live with the sheep. They don't herd and they are not pets--as far as dogs and sheep are concerned, they're part of the same family. These dogs do a great job of discouraging predators.
The pups are put with the sheep and bonded with them at a very young age, in some instances even nursing from an ewe. That's the only training they need. If they can't or won't bond with the sheep, they aren't kept.
When one looks through the photos that have been submitted to New West over time, either directly or through our robust Flickr pool of enormously talented contributors, it is clear that the landscape inspires creative genius. To date, our 835 Flickr group members have uploaded nearly 27,000 photos, and many of them are jaw-dropping-ly gorgeous.
In reader survey after reader survey, the New West audience continues to peg outdoor recreation as their favorite topic of interest, and with the stunning Rocky Mountain backdrop, the (recreation and photo) possibilities are endless.
When we match the two – reader interest and beautiful photos – we come up with a new editorial home which also serves as a great place to show off the robust Rocky Mountain photo talent: Adventure Rockies.
The writers for Adventure Rockies have diverse interests and styles, and they write about river guiding, running, hiking, rafting, and a whole host of other outdoor recreation. The stories are anchored by a changing set of photos, so please visit and then promptly…..send us your best shot(s)! We will run as many of them as time and space permits, and then we will run them again here to give your work the widest exposure possible. It’s a win/win.
Scenes From the New West Festival Kickoff Party 
Grand Canyon 
Megaloads Roll Through Missoula 
Photo Essay: The View From Salmon Mountain Lookout 
