#ed abbey

[entheognosis]

If people persist in trespassing upon the grizzlies' territory, we must accept the fact that the grizzlies, from time to time, will harvest a few trespassers.

Edward Abbey

[minimonstermovies]

Adventures in Nature Writing: A Short Story (2024)

The masterful prose of the depicted writers (Robin Wall Kimmerer, Edward Abbey, and Annie Dillard in their respective works of Braiding Sweetgrass, Desert Solitaire, and Pilgrim at Tinker Creek) create an intimate reading experience -- as if the writer is speaking directly to the individual reader -- but in three distinctly different ways from book to book.

This cartoon illustrates my experience as a reader traversing the three books. It was a lot of fun to use this opportunity to experiment with comic art!

[forreststories]

Do not jump into your automobile next June and rush out to the canyon country hoping to see some of that which I have attempted to evoke in these pages. In the first place you can’t see anything from a car; you’ve got to get out of the goddamned contraption and walk, better yet crawl, on hands and knees, over the sandstone and through the thornbush and cactus. When traces of blood begin to mark your trail you’ll see something, maybe. Probably not. In the second place most of what I write about in this book is already gone or going under fast. This is not a travel guide but an elegy. A memorial. You’re holding a tombstone in your hands. A bloody rock. Don’t drop it on your foot — throw it at something big and glassy. What do you have to lose?

- Ed Abbey

[adventurealldays]

"Standing there, gaping at this monstrous and inhuman spectacle of rock and cloud and sky and space... I want to know it all, possess it all, embrace the entire scene intimately, deeply, totally..." -Ed Abbey

[uncleweed]

Before & After: ABBEY & DE PUY'S HIDEAWAY, 1970s and Today

In the 1970s, Edward Abbey often spent time with his old pal, the great Southwest painter, John De Puy. Abbey and De Puy had a hideaway--act

October 3, 2017

In the 1970s, Edward Abbey often spent time with his old pal, the great Southwest painter, John De Puy. Abbey and De Puy had a hideaway–actually De Puy owned the property, Abbey was a frequent visitor— somewhere in southeast Utah. The land was off the grid and away from the highways. They built a small ramada, pulled in a old trailer, and called it home from time to time.

From their remote undisclosed location, Abbey and De Puy hid out a lot and occasionally entertained guests. (The 1970s photos are courtesy of John and Isabel Depuy)

In 1980, Abbey moved to Tucson and De Puy sold his land and moved to Bluff (and later back to New Mexico). But what happened to the De Puy/Abbey hideaway? It’s still there, 40 years later, slowly returning to Nature…JS

[uncleweed]

THE ZEPHYR CHRONICLES: The First 25 Years, Pt 1...by Jim Stiles

BEGINNINGS...1988-1996 Here’s how far we’ve come. Shortly after The Zephyr’s first issue appeared on newsstands, in mid-March 1989, I wa

APPROACHING VOLUME 1 NUMBER 1… MARCH 14, 1989 & ED ABBEY

In early 1989, Moab was still buzzing from the November election. Grand County citizens had approved a measure to stop a toxic waste incinerator and had thrown two of its incumbent commissioners (and incinerator proponents) out of office.  But the vote against toxic waste had crossed demographic lines; an interesting and diverse groups of Moabites had united to change Moab’s future.  At the time, it felt like a new beginning for Moab.  I figured, what better way to keep this spirit alive than to create an ongoing dialogue with the new commissioners. I contacted incumbent Dave Knutson and newly elected commissioners Fern Mullen and Merv Lawton. All were agreeable to a monthly sit-down with The Zephyr, on tape, to discuss current issues. Later Mayor Tom Stocks also agreed to a spontaneous monthly, on the record interview.

In December, Ed Abbey made what would be his last trip to Moab. While he signed copies of “Fool’s Progress” at Ken Sleight’s book store, I told him about the proposed Zephyr. Abbey was delighted and later, as we sat in my VW Squareback, sipping beers, he offered to send something for the first issue. “I want to put an original story in your Zephyr,” he said. “Maybe I can become one of your regular corespondents.”

I’d already circled the first ‘press day’ on my calendar and so I told Ed, “March 14 is what we’re hoping for.”

Abbey replied, “I’ll get you something before then.” We shook hands in the cold December darkness and I watched him amble away in his long, loping walk. I figured I’d see him next Spring.

[uncleweed]

At 87, eco-legend Ken Sleight of Ed Abbey fame is still fighting Lake Powell — but knows it's a losing battle - The Salt Lake Tribune

June 21, 2017

Moab • Ensconced at the base of the La Sal Mountains, 15 miles south of Utah’s redrock capital, storied environmentalist Ken Sleight looks out over the landscape of a rich life.

Immortalized as Seldom Seen Smith by Edward Abbey in his 1975 anarchist primer “The Monkey Wrench Gang,” Sleight, now 87, ponders the past and future of his beloved Colorado Plateau.

 ~~~

In “The Monkey Wrench Gang,” Abbey draws Seldom Seen Smith as a “Jack Mormon” river guide who talks a lot like Sleight. He is one of four main characters, along with Doc Sarvis, Bonnie Abbzug and George Hayduke. Together, they work to thwart interests that would pollute or despoil the Colorado Plateau and its waterways — but most of their revenge is focused on Glen Canyon Dam.

In real life, Ken and the Western River Guides Association, which he had founded, were too small and unorganized to stop the dam. David Brower and his Sierra Club, on the other hand, turned their backs on the effort to save Glen Canyon — a decision Brower lived to regret.

In summer 2000, Ken joined forces with Jim Stiles, the feisty editor-publisher of the Canyon Country Zephyr, to establish a southeast Utah chapter of the Sierra Club. Their little-disguised mission: to drain Lake Powell. But the statewide chapter, based in Salt Lake City, opposed the notion, fearing the Sierra Club would be cast as environmental crazies.

Now, Jane and Ken are searching for artifacts, such as old river boats, that may be in the hands of various collectors, along with historic photos and other keepsakes, in an effort to ensure the canyon’s treasures are not forgotten.

“I’ve given up hope that Glen Canyon will be restored in my lifetime,” Ken says. “But this [museum] is the next best thing.”

At 87, eco-legend Ken Sleight of Ed Abbey fame is still fighting Lake Powell — but knows it's a losing battle

Moab • Ensconced at the base of the La Sal Mountains, 15 miles south of Utah's redro

[uncleweed]

KEN SLEIGHT, MOAB, RAFTING, WESTERN, PHOTOS, LETTERS, MEMOIRS

Source: KEN SLEIGHT PROJECT BOOK

KEN SLEIGHT COLLECTION - Letters, Stories, Photographs

Jane Sleight and a family friend, Greg Henning, launched a project in 2012 to collect letters, stories and photos from Ken’s friends.  Celia Alario digitized the collection and Martha Ham fashioned a printed scrapbook of sorts to present to Ken.  None of the submissions were edited.  The intent of this collection was to amuse Ken and celebrate his life of adventure and influence.

The book was presented to Ken in March 2014 at Pack Creek Ranch during a lighthearted gathering of 40 friends remembering the passing of Ken’s good friend Ed Abbey.

As it turns out, others want copies of the collection. Anyone interested in a copy may order on this web page.

The cost of the book is $35 which includes mailing, handling and tax.  Ken and Jane will hopefully receive a few dollars from the sale of each book.  All others involved have volunteered their time and efforts.

Please feel free to contact me if you have questions or suggestions.