(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The two buttes that make up the namesake for the Bears Ears National Monument can be seen in the distant horizon line as EcoFlight takes journalists, tribal people and activists over the Bears Ears Monday, May 8, 2017. The Utah Legislature has approved a deal to swap state trust lands in and around the monument for 165,000 federal acres in 21 counties.
Brian Maffly has worked for The Tribune off and on since 1994. Maffly roams Utah, covering public land and environment.