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One of the great works of American exploration literature, this account of a scientific expedition forced to survive famine, attacks, mutiny, and some of the most dangerous rapids known to man remains as fresh and exciting today as it was in 1874.
The Exploration of the Colorado River and Its Canyons, recently ranked number four on Adventure magazine’s list of top 100 classics, is legendary pioneer John Wesley Powell’s first-person account of his crew’s unprecedented odyssey along the Green and Colorado Rivers and through the Grand Canyon. A bold foray into the heart of the American West’s final frontier, the expedition was achieved without benefit of modern river-running equipment, supplies, or a firm sense of the region’s perilous topography and the attitudes of the native inhabitants towards whites.
Anonymous
Posted Thu Jul 08 00:00:00 EDT 2004
A must for those rafting the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Share the adventure without the luxury of a guide's experience and modern comforts. Understand the magnitude of this 'Wonder of the World.'
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Powell engages the reader with details of the geology and area, the river voyage and exploration, ruins and encounters with native Americans. The account is nicely written and breathtaking in detail. He begins and ends this book with a kind of overview of the area. The first bit is thick in geologic and land detail -- you will want a map -- and the last chapter focuses on the details of the Grand Canyon relating its complexity through the inadequacy of words and the styles of various painters. Powell takes great care in describing interactions with and culture of the native Americans and these accounts can be well appreciated. There are many illustrations made from photographs. Despite the difficulties encountered, reading this book will inspire exploration. Highly recommended for the adventurous, those interested in geology, native Americans,and the early days of exploring the USA (once the nation was formed).
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Posted Sun Jan 30 00:00:00 EST 2011
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Posted Thu Jun 11 00:00:00 EDT 2009
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Overview
One of the great works of American exploration literature, this account of a scientific expedition forced to survive famine, attacks, mutiny, and some of the most dangerous rapids known to man remains as fresh and exciting today as it was in 1874.
The Exploration of the Colorado River and Its Canyons, recently ranked number four on Adventure magazine’s list of top 100 classics, is legendary pioneer John Wesley Powell’s first-person account of his crew’s unprecedented odyssey ...