Into the Canyon

In 2016, friends and journalists Pete McBride and Kevin Fedarko embarked on a 750-mile thru-hike of the Grand Canyon, a feat that falls somewhere between ambitious and foolhardy. Along with capturing the green ribbon of the Colorado River that flows thousands of feet below stunning ochre cliffs, the pair also witness how the quest of developers to monetize this natural beauty threatens its very existence, as well as the way of life of resident Native American tribes. Uranium mining, a proposed tramway and the near-constant overhead thrum of sightseeing helicopters intrude on this national treasure. During the months-long trek, the adventurers often find themselves marooned on slivers of rock above the river but below the rim, pondering the question: If we can’t protect the Grand Canyon, what can we protect?