Between River and Rim: Hiking the Grand Canyon - National Geographic Live |Auditorium Theatre
Feature
(originally published on Chicago Stage Standard)
There are few places in the world that light does not touch. From the glow of our screens at the tips of our fingers to our cities, our society is connected like never before at lightning speed. Yet, it is the super-fast connection that distances us so far from the profound reality in the complexity and magic of nature.
In an effort to learn more about the uncharted glory of the Grand Canyon, which was officially declared a national park 100 years ago, writer Kevin Fedarko and photographer/filmmaker Pete McBride set off on an audacious and demanding adventure to travel the length of the canyon on foot. These National Geographic explorers share stories from their trek and shed light on the environmental challenges that the national park currently faces, accompanied by McBride’s stunning photos and videos that showcase the beauty of the landmark canyon.
The 750-mile thru-hike of the canyon took 71 days to complete. While their first attempt at the hike didn’t pan out, their second attempt proved to be more fruitful and enlightening. Upon reaching the confluence Grand Canyon where the Colorado River and Havasu Creek meet, Fedarko and McBride highlight the threat of commercialism zoning in on the sacred space to many native tribes. Outside developers have been after this spot for years – thankfully the Navajo Nation Council killed the bill with the help of a group of strong women who petitioned against the build that would add a tramway down to a viewing bridge and damaging the landscape. With the help of The Grand Canyon Trust, a small nonprofit conservation organization, these plans have halted, but that does not mean that the area is safe from future tourism plans.
Teddy Roosevelt loved the Grand Canyon. He declared it a national monument in 1908 to help protect the canyon from development, stating “Let this great wonder of nature remain as it now is.” This expedition begs the question, what is important to our nation? The Grand Canyon has been the crowning jewel of the national parks for many years. Yet, Uranium mining along the rim is also a present issue to the ecosystem of the canyon making water contaminated and scarce drinking sources, while helicopter alley near one section of the park estimates 363 flights per day in a photo merge McBride shared with the audience.
With pollution and tourism as its main adversaries, Fedarko and McBride illuminate the audience with their personal experience with the canyon. Fedarko is truly so well versed and a beautiful speaker as he describes the complex matrix of the terrain, as well as the pointing out of the river of stars that they were witness to in one of the darkest places on earth. The fragility of our relationship to the heavens is disrupted by light pollution and the constant whirring of the world around us.
Fedarko points out a poignant question “How do we think about space and attach value to it”? We are a visual community that identify with lines, color, light. More so now with our technology based visuals than ever. When you take all those things away, this is what Fedarko describes. The truly auditory experience he had in the middle of the darkness. The initially deafening silence breaks way into the internal space within you before revealing the earth’s noise. You become connected deeply with your surroundings and that is what is most inspiring to take away from this journey. What does the land have to say to us?
The pressures from development projects make this particular National Geographic Live! Extremely educational with its unique perspectives and what truly is at stake to be lost. The ancient relationship we have to our landscape begs us to reconsider our values to be “more than a moment” snapped for a photo to share on our social media. Far beyond the rims, it comes down to each generation to decide what to do next in protecting these natural landscapes while they still exist.
