Sure, Kevin Fedarko, author of “The Emerald Mile,” knocked it out of the park with his most recent tome, “A Walk in the Park,” detailing his and friend Pete McBride’s sufferfest hiking the entire Grand Canyon. But there’s another book out by a Grand Canyon thru-hiker as well, this one by Dr. Tom Myers who skillfully weaves the history of hiking the length of Grand Canyon with his own segmental journey through the canyon accompanied by his son.
Fewer than 100 people have hiked the Grand Canyon from end to end. The Grandest Trek; Unforgettable People, Stories, and Lessons for Life from Hiking the length of the Grand Canyon is a collection of remarkable stories of some who did. Most of them are inspiring. Some are tragic. All are true.
“It’s a journey in liberation from depression fueled by the perhaps the most beautiful wilderness in the world,” advocates Tom Martin of Grand Canyon Private Boaters Association and Vishnu Press. “It’s the best book I’ve seen on the realities of the normal man’s Grand Canyon through hike.”
After a decade of writing, researching, and rewriting, Myers book, “The Grandest Trek,” sheds light on the trials and tribulations of such an endeavor in an opus that will indelibly contribute to the annals of Grand Canyon history. It’s not a recounting of his exploits along the way. Instead, it explores the deepest parts of human emotion and connection while offering lessons about life, friendship, and passion for exploration.
At the heart of the book is the author’s own journey with his son, who was struggling through adolescence at the time. Together, the two made a series of linked hikes of more than 600 grueling miles through harsh and unforgiving terrain, completing the canyon’s length in 2016. And while it presents the fascinating history of lengthwise hiking in the Grand Canyon, it also delivers the powerful and timeless message that spending time in nature can heal emotional wounds, improve self-worth, and forge unbreakable bonds of human connection.
Myers also honors all the adventurous souls who came before him and pays homage to their journeys. For all the lovers of canyon country who seek catharsis in the outdoors, this book is up your alley. And If you enjoyed Fedarko’s “A Walk in the Park,” you love adding this to your bookshelf as well. Bonus: All proceeds from sales will be donated to the Grand Canyon Conservancy in memory of Robert Eschka Benson.
Info: https://www.grandcanyon.org/products/puma-press-llc-grandest-trek-the-1002552