Utah’s Pasture is a homage to my grandfather Rex and his donkey, Utah. My grandfather spent every moment that he could escaping to the mountains of Northern California. He raised his three sons and then well into his 80’s raised us grandchildren up on those mountains. Grandpa started going to the Yolla Bollas in the 40’s bringing his trusted companion, Utah “The best donk ever” with him. Grandpa bow hunted for deer, fished the high elevation lakes for trout and simply laid in the crisp mountain air in a patch of wild lupine while Utah gently grazed the mountain side. Utah was a friend, a companion, not a pet, the two shared so many adventures together that on the day of Utahs death my grandfather literally crumbled to the ground. My grandfather carved out a little spot in the Yolla bollas which he named after his donkey, naming it Utah’s Pasture so that Utah could live on forever in his and our hearts. When my grandfather passed, my father and I hiked to the top of North Yolla Bolla and in the crisp mountain air we released my grandfathers ashes, scattering them over the mountain side that Utah grazed and finally watched them rest in the wild lupine patches below.