Howie Wolke is a long-time wilderness advocate, author of two books, columnist, public speaker, university instruction, and for more than 35 years, a professional wilderness guide. Wolke is well known in the conservation movement for his expertise on public lands and wilderness. After working as the Wyoming representative for Friends of the Earth in the mid-1970s, he co-founded the original Earth First! In 1980. He is a past president of the national conservation group Wilderness Watch.