Photographer/filmmaker Pete McBride and writer Kevin Fedarko spent months on a grueling 750-mile trek of the entire length of the Grand Canyon for the “Are We Losing the Grand Canyon” story I photo edited for National Geographic. The purpose was to draw attention to the development threats facing one of our nation's most beloved parks, and it was timed to the 100th Anniversary of our National Parks.

There are no trails, so the trek involved rock scrambling, bush whacking, climbing and descending through unforgiving terrain through heat, snow, droughts, and more, all while carrying their own camping gear, cameras, water, and some food. (Most food was cached ahead of time). 

Never having been to the Canyon, I couldn't get my head around the vastness of the Park. You can stack 5 Empire State Buildings top to bottom inside the deepest section.  It takes 10 hours to drive from the North Rim to Marble Canyon South. And yet until you see it....

So I joined the team for a brief glimpse into their world as they captured images and video and pondered this insanely magical, vast, silent cavern of rock that is worth preserving in its natural state. 

Pete subsequently made an award winning Nat Geo feature documentary Into the Canyon, and he and Kevin also wrote a book: Grand Canyon: Between River and Rim.