In the wake of the devastating Dragon Bravo Fire, which destroyed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, many of the surrounding cabins and thousands of acres of old-growth forest on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Arizona Highways has released a three-part podcast series focused on the human element of the story.

“I think this podcast series is important because it goes beyond the headline news,” says Robert Stieve, the editor of Arizona Highways and co-host of the podcast. “The three people we interview have tremendously deep roots in the Grand Canyon in general, and the North Rim in particular. Their stories are powerful and their insights into what made the North Rim so special are informative.”

 

Bruce Aiken sits upon rocks at the Grand Cayon with a view of the Colorado River below. Courtesy Bruce Aiken
Courtesy Bruce Aiken

Episode 1: Host Steve Goldstein and Arizona Highways editor Robert Stieve talk with artist Bruce Aiken, who lived at Roaring Springs in the Grand Canyon for more than 30 years. No one has lived in the North Rim community for longer than Bruce Aiken.

Listen to Episode 1




Tom Meyers leans against a fallen dead tree at the edge of the Grand Canyon. By John Burcham
By John Burcham

Episode 2: Steve and Robert talk with Dr. Tom Myers, who has been the doctor at Grand Canyon National Park for several decades. He honeymooned at the North Rim and worked at the satellite clinic there since the 1990s. In addition, he’s one of the few people to have hiked the entire length of the Grand Canyon, which runs for 270 miles.

Listen to Episode 2




Portrait of Amy S. Martin with Grand Canyon rock formation in the background. Courtesy Amy S. Martin 
Courtesy Amy S. Martin

Episode 3: Steve and Robert talk with photographer Amy S. Martin. In addition to her work for Arizona Highways, Amy S. Martin worked for many years as a backcountry ranger at Grand Canyon National Park. She also lived and worked on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Her memories of how special it was to live in the North Rim community are especially poignant.

Listen to Episode 3
 



The Arizona Highways Podcast is sponsored by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. To listen more episodes, visit our podcast page. To subscribe, go to Apple, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts.