Illustrator John Stortz and his rescued husky, Wolf, spent two years traveling across the southwestern United States, documenting their journeys together on Instagram and Tumblr. The dynamic duo explored diverse landscapes ranging from mountain vistas and mysterious caves to iconic landmarks like the Hollywood sign.
Exploring the American Southwest Together
Stortz adopted Wolf from a shelter before embarking on their open-road adventures. Throughout their travels, the pair visited numerous locations across California, Utah, and Colorado, capturing both the rugged terrain and their close companionship. Their stops included Sturtevant Falls, Switzer Falls in Altadena, and the Antelope Valley Poppy Fields in Lancaster, California.
Additional stops featured in their journey included Bronson Canyon in Los Angeles, the Goat Canyon Trestle in Borrego Springs, and Red Rock Canyon State Park in Cantil, California. Stortz noted of his childhood compared to his travels that he likely made a weird face in ninety percent of his early photos.
Iconic Landscapes and Desert Vistas
The duo’s itinerary extended into expansive desert and mountain regions, including the Mojave Desert and Death Valley, California—noting a stop near the location where the fictional character Forrest Gump stopped running. Further travels took them to Mammoth Lakes, Caples Lake in the Eldorado area, the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park in Aptos, the Sierra Nevadas, and the Morgan Territory Preserve in Livermore, California.
Beyond California, Stortz and Wolf reached locations such as the middle of Nevada, the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, Conejos County in Colorado, and Potato Chip Rock in Ramona, California. Reflecting on the experience through social media captions, Stortz described Wolf as a “half obedient mutt” and emphasized that good company and a scenic view made up the ideal travel combination.
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