Book excerpt: The canyon country of southeastern Utah is a land of dramatic contrast, with high mountains, tortuous canyons, towering monuments, hot deserts, and freezing alpine temperatures. Raising and herding cattle in this environment is more than challenging. At times, it is death-defying. Fin Bayles, a fourth-generation cattleman, learned well what it took to raise livestock in this forbidding terrain. Much was required of people who would prosper in a stingy land. In Cowboying in Canyon Country, with captivating wit and humor shared through prose, oral history, and poetry, Fin provides a window into the daily challenges facing such people. His life in the rural Four Corners region was filled with trials and adventure—a kaleidoscope of colorful personalities plying their trades; raising horses, mules, and hinnies; and caring for cattle and cowboys on the range. Saddle up with Fin for an unforgettable ride through yesteryear!