AlthoughthreemillionpeoplecometoseetheGRANDCANYONOFTHECOLORADOeveryyear，itremainsbeyondthegraspofthehumanimagination.Nophotograph，nosetofstatistics，canprepareyouforsuchvastness.Atmorethanonemiledeep，it’saninconceivableabyss;atbetweenfourandeighteenmileswideit’sanendlessexpanseofbewilderingshapesandcolors，glaringdesertbrightnessandimpenetrableshadow，starkpromontoriesandsoaring，never-to-be-climbedsandstonepinnacles.Somehowit’ssoimpassive，soremoteyoucouldnevercallitadisappointment，butatthesametimemanyvisitorsareleftfeelingpeculiarlyflat.Inasense，noneoftheavailableactivitiescanquiteliveuptothatfirststunningsightofthechasm.Theoverlooksalongtherimallofferviewsthatshiftandchangeunceasinglyfromdawntosunset;youcanhikedownintothedepthsonfootorbymule，hoveraboveinahelicopterorraftthroughthewhitewaterrapidsoftheriveritself;youcanspendanightatPhantomRanchonthecanyonfloor，orswiminthewaterfallsoftheidyllicHavasupaiReservation.AndyetthatdistancealwaysremainstheGrandCanyonstandsapart.
