This moment outdoors is brought to you by L.L. Bean, official partner of the National Park Foundation for

the Find Your Park Movement. I'm going to see. The deep canyons of the west enchant us today as much as they did those who dared to explore them for the first time.

They're all unique in their own ways as nature seems to brag about the

incredible might of its gem-cutting rivers, but one Colorado Canyon in

particular is like none of the rest.

It exposes you to some of the steepest cliffs,

oldest rock and craggy as spires in North America.

Over 2 million years, a river has sculpted this vertical wilderness of rock, water, and sky that imparts only receives 33 minutes of sunlight a day due to its deep narrow split, giving it an ominous name, the Black Canyon.

I'm Jason Epperson, and on today's episode of the America's National Parks

podcast the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

The Black Canyon is only 40 feet wide at its narrowest point at the base.

Its cliffs are nearly flat vertical and their dark stone is set off with extensive light-colored

rock veins like a marble edifice.

Its foreboding walls strike the imagination of all who stand in its presence,

including its earliest explorers.

Here's Abigail Travue. John Williams Gunnison was born on November 11th, 1812 in Goshen, New Hampshire.

At the age of 18 he traveled to Massachusetts to college and after one term

moved on to become a teacher at a local grade school. During his years as a

teacher he prepared himself to enter West Point Military Academy,

where he would go on to graduate in June of 1837 second in his class.

Gunnison began military service later that year when he was ordered into active duty under General Zachary Taylor.

Violent battles had been brewing in Florida between the seminal

...