Soap Creek Sunset River Mile 11 by Betsy Menand

Betsy Menand

Betsy Menand and family settled into Northern Arizona in 1979 after living in Maryland and California. As a nature lover and curious explorer, Betsy found Grand Canyon hiking to her liking. Horseshoe Mesa on the Grandview Trail in 1980 was her 1st. In 1984, she was invited to hike down the Nankoweap Trail to join a Research River Trip on the Colorado River...a first of many to follow. Betsy earned a BFA - Drawing and Painting from the University Denver 1985 and returned to live in Flagstaff. Sedona Red Rock country was in her back yard and it became a go to place for hiking and inspiration. Living in Flagstaff for 30 years, allowed incredible access to exploring the Colorado Plateau thru hiking, boating & art. Her new family of 4 moved to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado in 2009. This new environment inspired Betsy to photograph and sketch the alpine wildflowers. Betsy’s ‘House Builder’ spouse and ‘Carpenter’ children hand built a Wooden River Dory in 2015 and launched it on the Infamous Yampa River! Many rivers trips have followed including the Green River thru Desolation/Gray Canyons, San Juan River, Colorado River thru CNM and their local float on the Gunnison River. After raising her two children, Betsy joined the Plein Air movement in 2020. In recent years, she has been a juried/ invited artist Grand Canyon Conservancy – Celebration of Art, Colorado National Monument Plein Air Event, Sedona Plein Air Festival. Betsy’s art work reflects her love of rivers and canyon country of the Colorado Plateau. She lives with her family near Gunnison, Colorado at 9000’ on Gold Creek, headwaters of the Colorado River.