The Checkerboard

In 99% Invisible, Roman Mars introduces a story reported by Nick Mott about a group of hunters in Wyoming who challenge the status quo of public land access. The hunters, led by Brad Cape, discover Elk Mountain, a promising hunting spot, but find it inaccessible due to a checkerboard pattern of land ownership, alternating between public and private parcels. They decide to "corner cross," moving from one public parcel to another at the corners, to avoid trespassing on private land. This action leads to a legal battle with the ranch owner, Fred Eshelman, who claims they are trespassing and devaluing his property. The case escalates, drawing national attention and highlighting the broader issue of public land access in the American West, rooted in historical land grants to railroad companies. Ultimately, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals rules in favor of the hunters, affirming the public's right to access public lands, though the issue remains unresolved in other states.