Foto Friday: Memorial Day Weekend edition
I started writing a dispatch about how the House budget reconciliation bill still really sucks for public lands even though the public land-selloff amendment was stripped from it.
I also had a piece lined up about how Kanab, Utah, seems to aspire to become the next St. George, as in it’s growing rapidly with huge, upscale, master-planned “resorts” and “communities,” even as the region aridifies and the water supplies are all tapped out.
But that was depressing, and I didn’t want to send y’all into a three-day weekend feeling bad about things. Plus, I’m busy preparing to take part in a couple of conversations at this weekend’s Mountain Words Festival in Crested Butte (come on by and say hi).
So here are some recent photos, instead, mostly made on the public lands of Utah and Colorado — click on the images to see higher resolutions. And I’m hoping you can get out, at least for a little while, and commune with the land, air, water, and your community this weekend.
I tore up a tire on my old Jeep pulling into Beaver, Utah, a few years ago. Found a repair place and while an old geezer was fixing my flat I mentioned that I had wanted to put 6-ply tires on the Jeep but last time I ruined a tire I was in Kanab and could only find 4-plies. He gave me a long, hard look and said, "God damn I hate Kanab." I tried not to laugh in his face, but I'm not sure I succeeded.
Jonathan, your photos always bring me joy. Especially at the end of difficult weeks like this one. Thanks for reminding us all that beauty exists and will continue to exist — especially if we do our part to help it bloom and flourish.