Seeking a winter escape, my wife Tina Fixman and I headed to southern Utah in February 2026. We have always been interested in Indigenous American artifacts combined with the colorful rock formations of that area.

After visiting Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks in the winter some years ago, we decided in February 2026 to venture further east to Grand Staircase/Escalante National Monument, Capitol Reef National Park and Goblin Valley State Park near Hanksville. We were on the lookout for caves, slot canyons, natural bridges, prehistoric petroglyphs, pictographs, ancient Puebloan seed granaries, and solitude.

The high point of this trip was to be closely observed by a small herd of indigenous Bighorn sheep in Capitol Reef. They were just as curious about us as we were about them. It was a totally unexpected and cherished moment.