National Parks, National Forests and Grasslands, BLM, our country’s vibrant wild heart, OUR public lands: the lifelines of the American wilderness’s future—each with a story to tell.

“To those devoid of imagination a blank place on the map is a useless waste; to others, the most valuable part.” -Aldo Leopold

For Sierra and Jackson, it’s a place to go.

My home on the road, lovingly nick named “The Beast.”

Jump into passenger’s seat of “The Beast” and join me, an adventurous young ecologist and my gregarious dog, Jackson, as we travel by road, by foot and by boat through the public lands of the American West and bring you a story of adventure, science, friendship, uncertainty, triumph, perseverance, hard work and love.

Feel each landscape—its rhythm, sounds, smells and the way light passes over as the day progresses.

Meet people—rangers, firefighters, guides, businessmen, and scientists—each with a story of these cherished lands and their ecological, historical and economic importance.

Gain a greater appreciation for nature—through our interactions with wildlife and experiences in each ecosystem you will learn about animal behavior, geology, evolution, ecology, and conservation and management strategies, and challenges.

This book appeals to the our sense of adventure, interest in the natural world, quest for travel, fascination with wildlife and the curiosity of our inner child.

Jackson surveys his home for the week above Thousand Island Lake.

“Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children’s children. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance.” -Theodore Roosevelt

Lakes so clear you can see the spotted backs of rainbow trout swimming along the rocky bottom, disappearing beneath submerged logs of trees fallen long ago. Towering cliff faces of red and pink rock, carved into impossible statues by the sands of time. Trees so wide you can’t reach around their rough trunks and so tall their tops disappear into a canopy of bird song and filtered sunlight. Jagged peaks, brushed with snow that look like they may touch the sky. Melodious streams overgrown by lupine and fiery Indian paintbrush. Expanses of orange earth that bake under an unrelenting sun, scattered with thorny plants and towering cacti. A world of dense grasses, wavering in a warm breeze, rolling out as far as the eye can see. Rivers with rapids raging white as they quickly loose elevation and large crystalline pools that invoke an urge to jump in their frigid waters. Desert expanses that burst with the color of spring wildflowers. Miles upon miles of footpaths that beckon you further into the heart of America’s wild lands, urging you to breathe in their beauty, drink their smells and songs, and let go.

This book will take lots of time in the field talking to experts and walking the trails of these special places to discover their secrets.

Please follow my blog, ‘Along the Way: Adventures with Jackson‘ and follow us on Instagram @SierraJoysPhotos and @Jackson2Bears to receive regular updates. Can’t wait to share the story with you.