About 25 years ago, my friend and I hiked down to Phantom Ranch, spent the night there, and then hiked back up. It was marvelous (and exhausting!) We were struck by the ranger who did an evening lecture at Phantom Ranch about the condors. She spoke with passion, and we were really enthralled. About midway in the lecture, we noticed that flies were biting her exposed shins (and even drawing blood). She kept on, flicking them off, never skipping a beat. It was really something. We came away so impressed with the ranger’s dedication, as well as her passion for the condors. Another time I was in this park with my family, and my son had an assignment from his school to interview a ranger. He was quite anxious about it, so we planted ourselves near the ranger station. He waylaid a distracted and tired ranger, and she instantly squatted down and answered his questions so patiently. It took awhile as he carefully recorded in pencil in his notebook each answer. Rangers are some of the best people on this earth.
Sincerely,
Grand Canyon National Park
America’s Southwest is full of breathtaking canyons, but none as famous or as widely visited as the Grand Canyon. This world-famous landmark offers wondrous views, spectacular hiking, exhilarating whitewater rafting and countless adventures. One look across the enormous chasm confirms just why this inspirational place is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and a must-see destination for so many travelers. The park also protects a wealth of biological diversity, including numerous endemic and threatened species and several rare ecosystems.
State(s): Arizona
Established: 1919
“The National Parks are our greatest treasure.... anyone can see them and marvel at them. They are not just for the few, but the many. As Americans, it is our job to care for them and keep them available for the coming generations.”
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Greetings from Grand Canyon National Park
Our family had a very short stint living in Arizona (364 days!) but we did our best to explore that part of the country. The highlight for me was the Grand Canyon. If you look closely, you can maybe peek an 8 week old baby strapped to my chest. I…
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