katja + richard

cedar mesa engagement photos

the utah desert is so much more than just arches and canyonlands national parks. now, don’t get me wrong, i love those parks. i’ve spent the better part of the last decade (whoa, i’m old) exploring, guiding, and backpacking in those parks. but there is a side of utah that a lot of us never get to see, a side that is more remote, a lot harder to get to, and just a bit more wild.

katja fell in love with this part of the desert when she had the chance to work there for a few months. that’s why when she and richard got engaged, she seemed to know exactly where she wanted to go. when i first got her e-mail about this particular location for their cedar mesa engagement photos i was beyond thrilled. i don’t hear many people asking to go to this part of utah, and i love getting off the beaten path, so i was a definite and emphatic hell yes.

we rendezvoused at the lookout point one sunday evening, watching the sun go down, exploring as we hiked along. lucky for us we had the place all to ourselves. though that’s not terribly surprising when you consider the drive to get there. after the sun disappeared we caravaned down a windy road, closer to the canyon floor to a different location to camp and stargaze. we woke up to a whole different world of tall sandstone towers and blooming yucca, and the warmest sunrise greeting us on one of the best monday mornings i’d had in a while.

congratulations you two! thanks for sharing this little slice of the utah desert with me.

p.s. if you want to learn more about how to travel respectfully in this area, swing by the bears ears education center. and if you do head that way and love it like we do, consider donating to friends of cedar mesa.