Not a Walk in the Park

by Fran Withrow 04.2025

When Kevin Fedarko’s best friend Pete McBride, a National Geographic photographer, approached him with the idea of hiking all the way through the Grand Canyon, Fedarko warily acquiesced. Though he had spent several summers as a Colorado whitewater guide, hiking this demanding terrain would be a completely different challenge. McBride assured him it would be “a walk in the park,” and that the two of them could hike “off the couch.” In other words, they could get fit merely by trekking through the Canyon. What could go wrong?

The answer is: plenty, and they run into just about every misery possible during their first attempt. They are shocked at how unfit and unprepared they are for this daunting 700 mile hike which they thought would take around two months. 

It ended up taking a year.

In “A Walk in the Park,” Fedarko chronicles this incredible hike through the Grand Canyon, none of it easy. During their first ill-fated venture, Fedarko describes crawling through spiky bushes, clambering up cliffs, dealing with extreme heat, and discovering how easy it is to become dehydrated. His descriptions of sleeping on an anthill, falling on a cactus, and accidentally setting his shoes on fire are slapstick comedy. But the reality is that without adequate preparation (which can take years), losing one’s life in the Grand Canyon is a very distinct possibility. 

Despite their initial rocky start (which only lasted six days), Fedarko and McBride return to the Canyon, wending their way up and down cliffs and in and out of tributaries, often far above the Colorado River. To their surprise, the farther they travel, the more they learn about themselves, about the Canyon, and about the treasures that lie within. 

And therein lies the heart of the book. While I picked it up to read about Fedarko’s comic misadventures, I stayed for what turned out to be a love letter to this incredible national treasure. I learned that despite its vast size and formidable terrain, the Canyon is becoming increasingly vulnerable to climate change as well as economic factors. 

Fedarko expertly weaves the history of the Grand Canyon into his trek, from earlier through-hikers who mapped the Canyon to how the Canyon was finally declared a national park.

He also describes the heartrending plight of the eleven Native American tribes whose land was stolen to create the park. The map of each tribe’s original boundaries juxtaposed with that of their current ones is nothing short of shameful. Equally disturbing is a proposed resort project as well as talk about building a trail running all the way through the Grand Canyon. (Right now there is no full-length trail, making hiking even more challenging). Fedarko says the very fact that few people can access the entire Canyon helps keep it pristine and “holy,” and this needs to be preserved for generations to come.

It is heartwarming to see how Fedarko’s view of this majestic landmark changes as he hikes, morphing into one of humility, esteem, and awe. If you love nature, and know the importance of treating the land with respect, this is a book for you.