Hell's Backbone

plein air, 6" x 8", oil, 'Escalante' 

Hell's Backbone Road is a 38 mile gravel road that was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930's. The road connects the towns of Boulder, Utah and Escalante, Utah. Halfway along the road is Hell's Backbone Bridge, which is 109 feet long, and 14 feet wide. A 1,500 foot drop is on either side. Near the bridge are spectacular views of the Box-Death Hollow Wilderness. From late spring to autumn, the road, which climbs to more than 9,000 feet elevation, is easily passable by ordinary passenger vehicles, but it is very narrow and winding, and not for the faint of heart.

Hell's Backbone Road is a high country alternative to the paved Utah Scenic Byway 12, which also connects Boulder and Escalante, 27 road miles apart.

This is a photo I took on my first trip across Hell's Backbone Bridge. It was a breath taking moment!

Escape

plein air, 9" x 12", oil, 'Retirement Home'

I Feel Honorably Mentioned

plein air, 12" x 16", oil, 'Smokey Mountain Road' 

Honorable Mention Award, 9th Annual Escalante Canyons Art Festival 2012

I was ecstatic when I received this text from my artist friend Brad Holt from Cedar City, Utah about the March 2013 issue of Plein Air Magazine. It is about our recent awards at the 9th Annual Escalante Canyons Art Festival last Fall. I received the Honorable Mention Award for Oils. Brad Holt receive the Artists' Choice Award, and was also the featured artist of the Festival. I am on the front row and center, surrounded by other fun loving artists.