One day, while I was living at the Grand Canyon, I grabbed a notebook and pen, walked out to Mather Point, and wrote down everything the tourists said as they approached the precipice and peered down into the BIG DITCH. It was a delightful and amusing exercise and it brought back some of the sense of wonder I had lost after working as a Grand Canyon park ranger for five years.

OVERHEARD AT MATHER POINT

ACTUAL COMMENTS MADE BY TOURISTS SEEING

THE GRAND CANYON FOR THE FIRST TIME


Now that’s something to see

Just think, it’s been like this for a million years.

That is so cool.

How deep is it?

It’s mind boggling. It’s dizzying. You can’t get perspective.

It’s like a movie set.

I think this is just a painting.

I’m getting dizzy.

Hang on, hang on, hang on...

Watch out, buddy.

It’s like shear. Shear!

That’s gotta hurt.

I’m going to get away from here for a few minutes. I scared myself..

I have this fear of heights.
Me too.
I know, but I’m absolutely horrified. I love the canyon, but...
Does it bother you?
I just have this thing.

See the trail?
Yeah.
It looks kinda steep.
They’ll all steep.

See the cabin? See the river?

I can’t imagine going that far.
Getting down was easy, but getting back up...laughter
Yeah.

He said it was one of the greatest accomplishments he had ever done.

People do it just to say they’ve done it.

It’s scary Dad. It’s scary!
I know.

Mom, would a person die down there?

Some people die down there.
Wouldn’t that be horrible?

See that chipmunk?
It’s a baby one.
Where?

Oh my God! Can you get a picture?

Take a panoramic.
Dad told me not to.
Just take a picture.

I can’t get it all in the view finder.

It’s not focused. Is that okay?
Yup.
Perfect.

We take these photos but them we never look at them.
They sit in a box for the next ten years.

I’m taking one more.

It won’t turn out.

Why do you think it won’t turn out?

You just can’t get the true depth.

I know.