Por Joshua “Lobo” Fabela, Arizonan ultra marathoner and outdoor enthusiast.

I fell in love with the mountains from a very young age. I was born and raised in the state of Chihuahua in northern Mexico, which borders Texas and New Mexico. My home place hides a natural treasure many people are unaware of: the Copper Canyon.

Although we lived in the city, my family escaped whenever possible to the depths of these impressive and beautiful canyons, where wildlife and natural resources abound. It is also a vibrant place rich in history and legends.

The Rarámuri (the Tarahumara Indians), known worldwide for their extraordinary ability to run long distances on rugged terrain, live deep in these vast canyons.

The experiences I had as a child in the Copper Canyon connected me profoundly with nature and with these ancestral people of the Sierra Madre Occidental.

The reality is that I never imagined, as a child, when I saw the Rarámuri run in the canyons of northern Mexico, that one day I would become an ultra-marathon runner who would often be running in the depths of another famous canyon. The Grand Canyon.

When I attended high school, I remember looking at pictures of Arizonan sunsets and proudly wearing a Grand Canyon T-shirt, saying, "I'll go there one day."

On January 1, 1990, I arrived in Arizona to join my family, who lived in Phoenix, and that is when the Valley of the Sun became my new home.

I also finally made my dream come true: to visit the Grand Canyon. Its beauty and grandeur struck me. It left me speechless. It brought back memories of my childhood when I dreamed of that precise moment.

I was mesmerized by its vastness and was surprised to watch hikers climb steep paths. I didn't know where they came from or what they had done inside the Grand Canyon, but it was clear to me then that one day I would do a hike like that too.

A few years later, I ventured deep into the Grand Canyon, following the famous route of going down the South Kaibab Trail, reaching the Colorado River, and then going up the Bright Angel Trail.

If I was impressed to see the Grand Canyon from one of the South Rim viewpoints, this experience of seeing it from the "inside" changed me forever. I wanted to stay longer and explore it more.

And the rest is history…

I've already lost count of how many times I've done the "Rim-to-Rim" trail, which means crossing the Grand Canyon from one end to another (usually from the north side to the south side), a total of approximately 24 miles. Now I do it about five or six times a year.

Sometimes I go alone, but I also go with groups. I like encouraging and inspiring people, especially other Hispanics, to get outdoors and reconnect with nature for their physical, mental, and emotional health. Nature heals.

I feel very moved and fulfilled when I see people's faces full of joy and amazement while standing in front of these unique landscapes. It is an authentic spectacle you cannot see on television, at home, or in the city. When you are in contact with nature, it is another world.

Many of these trips to the Grand Canyon and other national parks have already become a pilgrimage.

I've been asked if I would ever get tired of the Grand Canyon, and my answer is no. Maybe I will slow down when I am 70, but I will never stop exploring it and sharing this magical and memorable place with anyone who wants to see its beauty and grandeur firsthand.

Not only because it is one of the world's seven wonders but also because of what it personally means to so many people, including many Hispanics, I want the Grand Canyon to be protected forever. Look for uranium elsewhere! Don't touch my beautiful Grand Canyon. Leave it alone and intact as it has been for millions of years.

I Will Never Stop Exploring the Grand Canyon