Kristin Baker's life is a testament to the profound connection between nature, mindfulness, and personal growth. With a Master's in Education and over 25 years of experience as a professional dog trainer and canine behaviorist, she has a unique perspective on learning and connection.

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Her childhood, spent in the secluded timberlands of the Tillamook Coastal Range, was steeped in the rhythms of the natural world. She was educated at a Montessori school her parents owned, where she later returned as a teacher for 9 to 12 year olds. Her early life was spent working the land and training animals, including teams of oxen used for logging. This upbringing instilled a deep respect for the Earth and a hands on understanding of its power.

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Her journey into mindfulness began at a young age, meditating with Tibetan monks and growing up as an initiated Buddhist. This lifelong practice has since been formalized through her certification with the International Yoga Alliance, earned at an ashram in Vietnam. These experiences shaped her into a world traveler, but it was the profound energy of the Alvord Desert that ultimately called her home.

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Today, she operates a permaculture homestead with her husband, Jesse, using mindfulness to guide their every decision in a harsh climate. She also shares the gift of mindfulness with dog handlers, showing them how to center themselves to better understand and communicate with their canine companions.

Originally from a small town in the Sierra Nevada foothills of northern California, Rachel Micander moved to the high desert to pursue a degree in Geology from the University of Nevada, Reno. During her time as un undergrad, she began exploring the far reaches of the Great Basin, falling in love with the landscape, flora, and fauna. She began her professional geologic career working towards identifying and mitigating abandoned mine hazards and educating the public about geology, rocks, and minerals.

Rachel then switched gears and began working as a geologist at the University of Nevada Reno. Here, she works on geologic maps, various publications and reports, and archiving geologic data. Rachel recently earned a Master of Science in Geology and continues to educate the public about the geology underfoot in Nevada, leading field trips, workshops, and classroom presentations. She is also co-authoring a book about Nevada Geology to be published soon.

Rachel is also an accomplished artist and has been painting for as long as she can remember. Originally taught by her mother, she never took any painting classes. Painting with watercolors fell by the wayside during high school and college, but she continued to draw, sketch, and paint with acrylics and began experimenting with gouache. After spending several summers in the field as a geologist, sketching outcrops and geologic formations, she started to dabble in watercolor again.

The arid deserts and playas, rugged mountains featuring wildflowers and sub-alpine forests, diverse wildlife, and expansive skies, all provide a sense of wonder and wildness that inspire her paintings. The Great Basin is so much more than initially meets the eye, where most see dull shades of brown and tan, Rachel sees a rainbow of colors. From the reds, oranges, purples, and greens of the different rocks to the seemingly endless shades of green, blues, pinks, and yellows that make up the sky and the land, the Great Basin in full of color.

Rachel’s goal as an artist and geologist is to share her love, appreciation, and knowledge of the Great Basin. It is her hope that her passions inspire others to see the beauty and wonder in this often-overlooked part of the world, and to foster a deeper understanding and respect for the magic of the natural world around us.