Finding Our Monkey Wrench with Seldom Seen Smith: Ken Sleight - Pack Creek Ranch - October 24, 2004
by Laura Fletcher

     On October 24th the Westies followed Abbey Road to the Pack Wood Ranch. The wonderful guest ranch is where writers and environmentalist, who Ken Sleight called "very beautiful people," spend time. Sleight was a dear friend of author Edward Abbey and our writing professor, author, Ellen Meloy. We piled into the guest living room with an overstuffed couch and chairs. The warmth of the indoors was inviting and the pictures on the mantle of Edward Abbey. Abbey in the picture stood in front of the very same fireplace we were gathered around. We were drawn in by our connection to this author, Sleight, who sat in front of us like a wise grandfather.

     Sleight is better known as "Seldom Seen Smith" by his friends from the character in the book The Monkey Wrench Gang, by Edward Abbey. Sleight grew up in Utah in a conservative Mormon family. In college he took a trip to the Navajo Nation in Southern Utah. On that trip he fell in love with the outdoors. This experience changed his life. "I always wondered what the hell I was in college for," he said. Sleight decided to make a business of guiding and outfitting. The river running operation put him in the center of environmental activism.

     He formed the group Friends of Glen Canyon, a group of guides to stop the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam. Due to the over allocation of water and the division of the river in the Colorado River Compact of 1922 the Glen Canyon Dam was a political strong hold to store water for the upper states. After a series of lawsuits filed by the group "Friends of the Earth" that were eventually thrown out, the dam was built. Slate called the dam the "most traumatic experience of his life that made him an environmentalist." The dam flooded Glen Canyon, changing the ecosystem. In addition, scared places were buried under water.

     Presently, because of the seven-year drought, the canyon is starting to recover. "Thank god we got the drought," said Sleight. The side canyons are returning with the lowering of the reservoir. The ecosystem is returning slowly, cottonwoods and mosses are establishing themselves in the canyon. A rock arch called Gregory National Bridge was once covered by water and is now visible today. Currently there are groups fighting for Glen Canyon. The Glen Canyon Institute is working to re-do the Colorado River Compact to make is applicable with current water levels.

     Sleight has hope in the future generations. He stressed the importance of having radicals in movements. Sleight said, "I admit to nothing" in response the question of the involvement of a real Monkey Wrench Gang. He told us to use out talents, which to him was what the monkey wrench stands for. "Blowing up things is wrong, that is destruction of property. It makes it harder for the public to listen to you. So use your talents" Sleight reinforced. "Find your monkey wrench." We left Ken Sleight with inspiration to seek out our own monkey wrench