Elizabeth Austin

Intrigued and inspired by Harriet Hunt Burgess, a relentless risk-taking advocate for saving the only Earth we will ever have, Elizabeth Austin did extensive research into her life and conservation achievements. When she discovered that Harriet’s first of many journeys through the Grand Canyon—running dangerous rapids on the Colorado River and camping on riverside beaches—was the catalyst for her conservation mission, Austin overcame her inexperience and anxieties about running rapids and camping to take a ten-day dory trip on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. That exhilarating adventure combined with Austin’s personal connections to Harriet and unrestricted access to the files of Harriet’s organization enabled her to tell Harriet’s story.

Elizabeth Austin is a historian and former librarian with master’s degrees in both fields. Grand Canyon to Hearst Ranch is her second book. She lives in Sacramento, California. Visit her website at elizabethaustinauthor.com.