In the outskirts of Escalante, a small town in Utah, USA, brimming with roadside eateries and swirling dust, adventure tour guide Rick Green is exploring an unusual and untamed frontier that remains one of the Earth’s most enigmatic locations.
From a platform on hilly terrain, a 30-meter deep canyon comes into view, narrowing from 30 meters to a mere 30 cm as it descends to the desert floor. Nearby, there is an intricate network of uncharted canyons with rocks displaying orange veins, reminiscent of a perfect sunset. A profound stillness envelops the surroundings.
Despite scorching temperatures reaching 40°C, only mitigated by the shade within the canyon, Green perseveres, equipped with a helmet, harness, climbing rope, rappelling rings, and carabiners facilitating his descent into the concealed valley. Beyond, options for exit are scarce.
“No one paid attention to this place for a considerable time,” remarks Green, co-owner of Escalante Excursions. “This is where the last mountain range in the U.S., named Henry, is situated. It harbors the final rivers with designated names. It stood as the last place in the U.S. to be explored in the 1870s.” “People consistently bypassed it due to its perceived danger,” he adds.
Initially designated by Bill Clinton in 1996, the national monument has been a persistent political concern. Former U.S. President Donald Trump opted to open the area for development, reducing its size by half. However, President Joe Biden reversed this decision in October 2021, issuing a presidential proclamation that adjusted the boundaries and reinstated its preservation status.
The original decree outlines the rationale for this designation: “This high, rugged, and remote region, where bold plateaus and multicolored cliffs stretch distances that defy human perspective, was the last place in the continental United States to be mapped,” it asserts. “The monument holds a lengthy and dignified human history: it serves as a location showcasing how nature shapes human endeavors in the American West, where challenges of distance and aridity have tested our dreams and courage.”
Supporting this assertion, historical accounts from the late 1880s describe how pioneers initially forged a route from Escalante to what is now Fortymile Spring, attempting to create a shortcut to the San Juan River but encountering excessively rugged terrain. The proclamation argues that no place in the U.S. presented a greater challenge to overcome.
