Grand Canyon Viewfinder

The Grand Canyon is a 277- by 8-mile massive chasm; in other dimensions, nearly 1.5 million Pyramids of Giza could fit inside it, or the entire state of Rhode Island, with plenty of room to spare. This must-see abyss on humanity’s bucket list likely took 3 to 6 million years to form, courtesy of the Colorado River. Erosion continues to alter its nuanced shading and contours, so you’ll never get bored gawking at it.

There is also much more to admire through these lenses than this curious geology. On the South Rim of the canyon, a viewer might catch sight of a large pack of mules on their daily delivery route to Supai village. Located at the base of the Grand Canyon, with a population of just over two hundred, Supai is part of the Havasupai Reservation, and is entirely inaccessible by road. In addition to being the most remote community in the lower forty-eight states to use the US Postal Service, it’s the only place where mail is delivered by mule train, year-round.

Mules live up to the postal creed about reaching their destination no matter the weather, as opposed to helicopters, which prove useless if the wind is too strong. And for the rare Priority Express Mail, the package or letter is tied to a trusty mule, who is set loose to gallop down alone—giving FedEx and UPS a literal run for their money.

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