Hidden Life in Grand Canyon
Bill Barrick - September 15, 2026 Cryptobiotic soil forms dry desert areas like the Colorado Plateau, the Sonoran Desert, the Great Basin, and the inner Columbia Basin. Cryptobiotic means “hidden-life.” This top soil layer is composed of cyanobacteria, lichens, mosses, green algae, and microfungi. These living organisms jointly form a hard black crust enabling the soil to resist erosion, absorb rainfall, and provide nutrients and ground stability for neighboring plants. Over 70% of ground in the Southwestern United States is covered by this crust. Its depth can be 1–15
From Rim to River: Grand Canyon’s Vertical Habitats
Nate Loper - July 21, 2026 From rim to river, the canyon is a living reminder that God is not only powerful enough to create. He is faithful enough to provide. Stand at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon on a cool morning and the landscape below can look almost lifeless. The cliffs are dry, the slopes are steep, and the river is barely visible as a narrow thread winding through rock nearly a mile below. From that distance, the canyon seems like a monument made almost entirely of
The Wild Kingdom of the Grand Canyon
Most often when people think of the Grand Canyon, the first things to come to their mind are the rocks or maybe the river. But there is another fascinating aspect to the Grand Canyon – its wild kingdom of God-created wildlife. I’ve always had an interest in animals of all kinds. Growing up, my pets ranged from the normal dog to snakes, lizards, a monkey, and a chipmunk. They all fascinated me. My thirty-plus years of rafting the canyon have given me the opportunity to encounter much of what
According to Their Kinds
The big horn sheep is an impressive animal to see. Without fear, they skip and jump around the rocks and ledges of the Grand Canyon. They seem completely unaffected by the large blue raft full of scampering passengers, diving for their cameras. Amidst our oohs and ahhs, they simply go about their business of eating and lazing in the sun or shade. It's great fun for the rafters and I am convinced there are times a slight grin creases the mouth of the sheep as well. Genesis 1:24-25 says,