It is difficult to explain what gets under a persons skin and sets him or her off on the road to solve a puzzle or riddle that any reasonable person might - quickly conclude was unsolvable. The 1934 disappearance of poet and adventurer Everett Ruess in Utah's red rock country is the mystery that is under author Mark A. Taylor's skin, but his attempts to solve this mystery led him in an unexpected direction-within. In his southern Utah treks, Taylor encounters hikers, Native Americans, artists, Vietnam vets, and other colorful characters. Still, his most significant encounter is himself, and, though he may never discover the remains of Ruess, his self-discovery is the unexpected bonus. Shortly before vanishing, Everett Ruess wrote of his affinity with nature and his love of the desert, "This trip will be longer than I expected, for I will Le in many beautiful places, and do not wish to taste, hut to drink deep." These words become a metaphor lor the journey of sell-discovery experienced through Sandstone Sunsets.