The biggest risk in the public-lands debate is that those who currently disagree will once again retreat to their corners and continue fighting for the only solution they can envision. Although it is risky (and, yes, scary) to engage in dialogue about what really matters to the various stakeholders, this may well be the only path to resolution of this long-standing issue. It is time to take a risk, to take steps to ensure that each party's underlying goals are understood and taken into account, and to create the opening for a problem-solving conversation. One that allows creative ideas to emerge that can meet all legitimate goals but does not advocate for any particular pre-conceived solution.