Kathleen Jo Ryan is an accomplished photographer and producer of books and videos, including Irish Traditions and Ranching Traditions: The Living Legacy of the American West and its companion video, Ranching, with Charlie Daniels.
Ryan, who now lives on an island northwest of Seattle, Washington, grew up raising livestock in the foothills of northern California. Her love of the land and people has inspired her to travel over 300,000 road miles throughout twelve western states and Ireland, photographing ranch life, river life and the people of Ireland. In addition to being included in her books, her photographs have been exhibited by the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American cowboy, the American Quarter Horse Museum, the Rochester Museum and Science Center, the Russell Senate Building Rotunda, the Coconino Center for the Arts and various galleries.

Read Ryan's diary from the journey

Reprinted with permission from the book Writing Down the River: Into the Heart of the Grand Canyon