“The Grandest Trek” Now Available Through Grand Canyon Conservancy
The Grandest Trek: Unforgettable People, Stories, and Lessons for Life from Hiking the Length of the Grand Canyon is the latest book from Dr. Tom Myers.
Fewer than 100 people have hiked the Grand Canyon from end to end. The Grandest Trek is a collection of remarkable stories of some who did. Most of them are inspiring. Some are tragic. All are true.
The book is born out of Dr. Tom Myers’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 Grand Canyon’s length in 2016.
The Grandest Trek, now available in GCC Park Stores and online, presents the fascinating history of lengthwise hiking in Grand Canyon while delivering a powerful message: spending time in nature can heal emotional wounds and forge unbreakable bonds of human connection.
“It’s almost impossible to go anywhere or read anything about Grand Canyon without following a trail cut by Tom Myers. Having such an extensive medical knowledge of the Grand Canyon is impressive on its own, but Tom also possesses a deep and historic understanding of the place. He’s the physician who’s spent decades practicing medicine on the South Rim while simultaneously cowriting not one but two seminal texts: Death in Grand Canyon, the most authoritative primer on fatalities at the crown jewel of America’s national park system, and Grand Obsession, the definitive biography of Harvey Butchart, godfather of below-rim hiking. Now comes The Grandest Trek, Myers’ crowning achievement as one of the Canyon’s finest voices and advocates.”
— Kevin Fedarko, Author of The Emerald Mile and A Walk in the Park
“The Grandest Trek is a gripping adventure story. By traversing one of the world’s most unforgiving landscapes together, Tom Myers and his teenage son Weston forged a bond as deep as the Grand Canyon itself. The Grandest Trek is as much about Grand Canyon history as it is a multifaceted journey through parenting. Ultimately, Myers proves that often the best way to overcome life’s challenges is to surround yourself with natural beauty and simply keep putting one foot in front of the other.”
— Annette McGivney, Author of Pure Land: A True Story of Three Lives, Three Cultures, and the Search for Heaven on Earth
All proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to Grand Canyon Conservancy in memory of Robert Eschka Benson, one of Grand Canyon’s greatest hikers. The book is available for purchase at www.grandcanyon.org/store.
On Thursday, July 17, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. MST, GCC will host a virtual Book Club event with The Grandest Trek author, Dr. Tom Myers. To register and learn more, visit www.grandcanyon.org/events.
About the Author: Dr. Tom Myers has worked at Grand Canyon as a physician since 1990 and serves as a local medical advisor for the National Park Service. A dedicated explorer of the Canyon backcountry since his late teens, he also has a special interest in Grand Canyon human history and wilderness medicine. An amateur writer, historian, and researcher in his free time, he has co-authored/authored multiple Grand Canyon-related publications, including four other books and numerous medical journal articles. He and his wife Becky live in Flagstaff, Arizona, and have three grown children and two grandchildren.
About Grand Canyon Conservancy: Grand Canyon Conservancy is the official nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park, raising private funds, operating retail shops within the park, and providing educational programs about the natural and cultural history of the region. Our members fund projects including trails and historic building preservation, educational programs for the public, and the protection of wildlife and their natural habitat. Grand Canyon Conservancy inspires generations of park champions to cherish and support the natural and cultural wonder of Grand Canyon. For more information, visit www.grandcanyon.org.
