”Echo Canyon Campsite“

36 X 36 Oil

The walls of Echo Canyon rise sharply from the valley floor like giant pock-marked monoliths reaching heights of eight hundred to twelve hundred feet. Red on any day, the walls of the canyon blaze with dramatic reflected sunlight in late evening. Familiar today to all who easily travel through the canyon on interstate highways, Echo Canyon marked the beginning of the end for the pioneers.
With Brigham Young “attacked with fever,” Orson Pratt selected a large group of men and wagons to form an advance party to open a road that would take them on the last leg of the journey. This company found its way down the narrow, red rock valley whose tall walls echoed their every sound. Fascinated by the acoustics in the canyon, many shouted, fired off weapons, and blew band instruments.

There was a very singular echo in this ravine, the rattling of wagons
resembled carpenters hammering at board inside the highest rocks.
The report of a rifle resembled a sharp crack of thunder and echoes
from rock to rock for some time. The lowing of cattle and braying of
mules seemed to be answered beyond the mountains. Music, especially
brass instruments, had a very pleasing effect and resembled a person
standing inside the rock imitating every note. The echo, the high rocks
on the north, high mountains on the south, with the narrow ravine
for a road, formed a scenery at once romantic and more interesting
than I have ever witnessed.

William Clayton

Private Collection

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