After a decade of exploring Utah’s Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument on many short trips, in spring 2023 I loaded my truck with ten weeks of freeze-dried food and headed east to the canyon country. This trip was unlike many of my previous point-to-point hikes on the Colorado Plateau. On this occasion, I split my time between exploring the furthest corners of the two-million-acre monument and taking time to learn about the land through the local people.
Working with the friends group Grand Staircase-Escalante Partners, I was introduced to writers, photographers, paleontologists, tribal members, explorers, and scientists. With my sketchbook as my primary tool, I let curiosity lead the way through an intense and engaging two and a half months.
With new knowledge, new questions, and my desert skills sharply honed, I returned to my studio with inspired energy and focus. But my sketchbook is just the beginning. Now, I will create a series of detailed drawings for the Grand Staircase-Escalante Partners as part of their
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