This edition was created for readers and photographers who wanted a version of the book that featured higher quality reproductions of the images than were found in an earlier trade book version. This new version features a larger page size and a better paper stock.

Thirteen time national parks artist-in-residence David Halpern writes, "For years, people have asked me to tell them which of our national parks is my favorite, and I've always explained that naming one would be like showing favoritism among my children. Each is different, unique and special. My feelings about each national park are as diverse as the parks themselves. Nonetheless, the time has come for me to admit that I do have a favorite and to explain why and how I came to appreciate it in a singular way."
A Timeless Challenge contains text drawn from the photographer's experience and journal entries, along with an introduction by Paul Zaenger, Supervisory Park Ranger, and seventy-four black and white and color photographs of Black Canyon of the Gunnison made between 1989 and 2018.

Halpern hiked the canyon extensively, climbing from its rims to the river and made large format images that even the pioneer photographers never attempted.