Land Report: Dry, dusty, sublime ...

... and not as crowded as I'd feared

(Note: In order to get the full effect of the photos, go to landdesk.org.)

Dust-enhanced sunset over the San Juan Basin. Jonathan P. Thompson photo.

There is something about water in the desert. Its redolence is that of blood on the tongue, or metal against teeth. Iron, I suppose. When the dusty-wash wanderer senses its presence, he celebrates, albeit qu…