Thomas Lehrich, Author of The Adventures of Backpacker Billy and Shave, talks about
the Petroglyphs of Zion National Park
Among the wild corners that Backpacker Billy and Shave has journeyed, few places captivate with ancient mystery like the petroglyphs of Zion National Park. Zion National Park is the first National Park in Utah and is a global treasure. These sandstone walls—burnished by time, wind, and desert sun—hold markings that long predate modern maps and trail signs. The petroglyphs are nature’s storytellers, of the past and bring wonder.
When I first created Backpacker Billy’s character, I imagined him as a young traveler whose curiosity and independence took him to wildlife and nature across the globe. Zion’s petroglyphs exemplify that spirit. They are remnants of communication from the ancestral people who lived, traveled, and thrived in the desert and canyons. Their symbols—figures, and animals—invite wonder without offering complete answers. That uncertainty is where storytelling begins.
As a writer, I’m drawn to the red and sand colors that blend both clarity and enigma. Each image is deliberate, yet each meaning contains room for imagination—an invitation for our characters to ask not just what is there, but why it endured. Zion’s petroglyphs remind us that adventure isn’t only about climbing up switchbacks or crossing rivers; sometimes it’s about absorbing the stories that came before.
Can you spot the characters in our version of the petroglyphs? Backpacker Billy, Shave and Ranger Richard are captivated by petroglyphs.