The Red Desert

An enriching journey into this largely untouched corner of Wyoming with legendary biologist, musician, and storyteller John Mionczynski.

John first ventured into this desert in the 1960s and since then has strongly advocated for its protection. As it stands, this desert is the largest unfenced area in the continental United States and moments of solitude are not difficult to come by. I captured this set of images on a tour with American Wilderness Botanicals to document the essence of travel to this region.

Harsh days in the sun gave way to gorgeously calm evenings at camp, and within the stone walls of a small natural amphitheater around a flickering fire John treated us to his “goat songs” on a 100 year old squeezebox. This particular accordion, affectionately called the “whitewater squeezebox”, is held together with tape and wire and has accompanied him on trips across the world, including a long distance kayaking trip into Guatemala in search of undiscovered Mayan ruins. Hearing the mesmerizing notes echo around camp was a captivating experience that filled us with delight.

DATE: JUNE, 2024