Hiking and Exploring Utah's San Rafael Swell: Including a History of the San Rafael Swell by Dee Anne Finken and Geology of the San Rafael Swell by Lynn Jackson

This book covers the same areas as previous editions, but with lots of updates, plus half a dozen completely new hiking regions are included. Lots of new history added too. One is a hike, or drive if the 4WD road it's too bad, to and area where in 1943, a US Army Air Force plane went down–which happens to be in a very scenic place. Also included in the history part are a couple of shoot-outs: one being the killing of Shoot-'Em-Bill Hatfield, of Hatfield & McCoy's fame, along with new history of the San Rafael Ranches, the old mail trail running between Green River and Hanksville, plus more. It also has the story of the 2 young sheepherders who shot Sheriff Burns in 1894 in the mountains east of Castle Valley, but escaped to McCarty Canyon where they had a shootout with other marshals. Those marshals were guided by Sid & Rod Swasey. Those 2 boys escaped and lived their lives elsewhere–but no one knows where they went, or under what new names they may have used. If their kinfolk know, they aren't talking! Also in this edition is an updated history of the Swasey family and their adventures in the San Rafael region. All that research is the reason this book is a little late coming out. Also, new to this edition are lots more hikes to rock art sites.

The author was born in 1943, and experienced his earliest years of life in eastern Utah's Uinta Basin; first near the town of Myton, then Roosevelt. In 1954, the family moved to Provo, where he attended Provo High School, and later Brigham Young University, where he earned a B.S. degree in Sociology. Shortly thereafter he discovered that was the wrong subject, so he attended the University of Utah, where he received his Master of Science degree in Geography, finishing that in June, 1970.

It was then real life began, for on June 9, 1970, he put a pack on his back and started traveling for the first time. Since then he has seen 223 countries, republics, islands, or island groups. All this wandering has resulted in a number of books written and published by himself. Here are his books, listed in the order they were first published: Climber's and Hiker's Guide to the World's Mountains and Volcanos (4th Edition), Utah Mountaineering Guide (3rd Edition); China on Your Own and the Hiking Guide to China's Nine Sacred Mountains (3rd Edition-Out of Print); Canyon Hiking Guide to the Colorado Plateau (4th Edition); Hiking and Exploring Utah's San Rafael Swell (3rd Edition); Hiking and Exploring Utah's Henry Mountains and Robbers Roost (Revised Edition); Hiking and Exploring the Paria River (3rd Edition); Hiking and Climbing in the Great Basin National Park (Wheeler Peak, Nevada); Boater's Guide to Lake Powell--Featuring Hiking, Camping, Geology, History and Archaeology (2nd Updated Edition); Climbing and Exploring Utah's Mt. Timpanogos; River Guide to Canyonlands National Park & Vicinity; Hiking, Biking and Exploring Canyonlands National Park & Vicinity; The Story of Black Rock, Utah; and Hiking, Climbing and Exploring Western Utah's Jack Watson's Ibex Country.

He also helped his mother Venetta B. Kelsey, write & publish a book about the town she was born and raised in, Life on the Black Rock Desert--A History of Clear Lake, Utah.