(Text and photography by John Miranda)

If you visit the Grand Canyon around mid-may or mid-October you might see us. We are usually dressed lightly, even in the cold morning, and can be spotted in the South Rim, the North Rim, or somewhere in between. Many wear small radios, waist packs or light backpacks with water bottles. Frequently we travel in small groups. If it's early and dark enough, you'll know where we are by the telltale string of flashlights descending down the trail. I'm talking, of course, about a special group of Grand Canyon visitors, the hikers that traverse non-stop from Rim to Rim.