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Exploration of the Colorado River and Its Canyons
What started as a scientific expedition through the last uncharted territory of the continental United States turned out to be a harrowing adventure for John Wesley Powell and nine other men who set out to explore the Colorado River in 1869. Their story, recounted from Powell's journals, is as exciting today as it was when first published in 1874. Photos & line drawing...more
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
June 1st 2002
by National Geographic
(first published June 1st 1961)
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Pretty great. The whole thing is good... as an adventure story, as history, as a look at the geography and people of the Grand Canyon and environs circa 1870. The last chapter, ostensibly on the geology of the Grand Canyon, but also a poetic reminiscence by a one-armed Civil War veteran about the place he loved more than any other, is worth it on its own. I doubt there's another geological treatise quite like it.
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I should add that the illustrations (photographs, drawings, and woodcuts dating f...more
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I should add that the illustrations (photographs, drawings, and woodcuts dating f...more
Jul 22, 2010
Benjamin
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
nonfiction,
exploration,
grand,
canyon,
united-states,
boating,
history,
natural,
us,
native,
anthropology,
mythology,
geology,
geography,
memoir,
2010-read
Quite an interesting book, seeing that its more of a collection of writings that were originally written for a magazine. The first 100 pages focused on geography and seems more like nature writing. This part was a little slow and seemed that it was designed to inform casual readers on the east coast, who may not be as familiar with the western territories. It was 1870 after all. [return]The second and more quickly paced section of the book is the diary of J.W. Powell, but there are some points w...more
Jul 16, 2008
Lynn
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
visitors to the Grand Canyon, white water enthusiasts
I read this because I was planning a trip down the Colorado, and it was worth reading to learn about Wesley's expedition - his was the first group of "white" people to explore this territory and it was such a dangerous trip. So for those planning to do the Grand Canyon, I recommend it.
But his writing style is so ponderous (everything is in the passive voice) that I can't really recommend it just for reading if you are not planning to go there, unless you are into the exploration genre.
But his writing style is so ponderous (everything is in the passive voice) that I can't really recommend it just for reading if you are not planning to go there, unless you are into the exploration genre.
The book gives ample descriptions of the land of the Colorado river before beginning the tale of the exploration itself. At the time it was published (1875) people had no access to photographs let alone documentaries to get an idea of the canyons of the Colorado. I admit I skimmed these first sections of the book and only read the actual description of the expedition itself. That part alone makes the book worth reading and is very interesting. The men just started canoeing downstream not knowing...more
If you are interested in the geology, ethnology, and exploration of the American West you'll enjoy this book by the one-armed civil war veteran John Wesley Powell. What I found particularly amazing was JWP's detailed geologic explanations in the first few sections. It shows what a memory the guy had as well as his ability to take great field notes despite the growling stomach and constant threat of death. If you don't care at all about rock formations, then skip the section on geology and enjoy...more
A chronicle of the first "whitewater" rafting trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. John Wesley Powell...one of the first geographers, and after whom Lake Powell is named. I give it 3 stars because it can become tedious at times - the book is mostly excerpts from his daily journal. He and his associates took 4 wooden boats down the river to explore it and map it for the first time. I happen to love the Grand Canyon, and am a map maker by trade, so I liked the book, but I can see...more
This is a very difficult book to review because in effect it is a number of different books and is better at accomplishing some things than others. First of all it is an adventure. It is the story of a Civl War veteran [John Wesley Powell] who was a major serving under Grant at Vicksburg and Shiloh that led this undertaking. If you read the book it would be difficult to determine that he had one arm, because he makes so little of it. This is in spite of his handling of the boats, climbing the ca...more
This is a great book for it's time. It doesn't make compelling reading in this day and time. I'm afraid if I didn't know much about Powell it would be a complete slog, but understanding his heroism and the novelty of his expeditions provides much needed context. Powell did have quite a sunny disposition, given his circumstances, and clearly had a good time on his trips.
For some reason I am drawn obsessively to early accounts of American/European ventures into the Western United States. This one has all of the action but none of the literary style of Merriweather Lewis. Powell lists off place names and Indian tribes on nearly every page and keeping up with it all becomes virtually impossible. I found myself distilling this book to what I take ultimately from all of these travelogues of the period: the raw fascination with the scale and beauty of the surrounding...more
The one-armed explorer and Civil War veteran goes down the Colorado and documents what he finds. My favorite quote: " It is curious how a little obstacle becomes a great obstruction when a misstep would land a man in the bottom of a deep chasm." No kidding.
Fairly dry description of one of the last pioneer exploration expeditions in the US. Powell and his men ran the Colorado from its junction with the Green to the end of the Grand Canyon, describing the topography and native cultures as they went.
I have just visited the upper Colorado River area and his difficulty describing what he was looking at is exactly as I felt. these men very brave or just crazy. a real life adventure story. Surprised it has nit been made into a movie yet.
Amazing! What a great find! If you are going to see the Grand Canyon, I suggest you read this book first. I found this at the gift shop there after searching for something to read about the Grand Canyon that wasn't National Park propaganda. I so glad I picked this up.
While a bit dry, the book is an interesting read. I enjoyed how arbitrarily the explorers named landmarks. (Dirty Devil, really?)
I would have liked a map to refer to so that I knew where they were on any given day and close settlements or the whatnot.
I would have liked a map to refer to so that I knew where they were on any given day and close settlements or the whatnot.
Interesting. Starts out slow, but the account of his trip through the Canyons and following were extremely interesting considering I was in the area he was describing while I was reading the book.
@Weber.
Self-serving and overly poetic, this is Powell's own account of the epic journey through the unknown of the Green nd Colorado rivers. Not the most gripping read, but it hints at what Powell did not publish in his notes, and leads the reader to other books, revealing the terrible and ghastly things that transpire between men when they are starving and scared, and many miles from civilization. The book "Canyon" by Micheal P. Ghiglieri, reveals more, and I recommend it, if you can find it.
I only read the first part of this, and though I'm very interested, now isn't the right time. I'll return another day.
This book did not keep my attention as well as I hoped it would, but it was interesting when I wasn't procrastinating about reading it.
Everything you ever wanted to know about the Colorado River and its many canyons. The narrative while exciting at moments more often is rather dry reading. It was definately an adventure that few would undertake.
This was a real adventure. Powell was a real explorer. This adventure has stayed with me. I can't imagine the strength that Powell must have had to do what he did. True American hero.
not a particularly amazing account of the region, but the colorado plateau holds a special place in my heart, and just hearing about it's exploration by a one armed general... quite a trip.
Imagine how it would have been to travel down the river with Powell, no damns, bridges, oil rigs.... Powell would be ashamed of the stagnant cesspool named after him.
Aug 24, 2008
jonathan hover
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
natural-history
he only had one arm! every place they stopped he would climb up the cliffs,and he never once mentioned the lack of limb. loads of fun.
This book is a classic read. I highly recommend it.
a book by a one armed guy who rafted from wyoming to mexico in 1870
view all 6 comments
I read this at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
Ties into under the banner of heaven surprisingly
For anyone who enjoys a good adventure novel. The tale of the river trip itself sucks you right in and dashes you against the rocks at the bottom of the rapids. There is a lot of scientific and anthropological information at the beginning and end that is interesting but not as exciting.
Timeless
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John Wesley Powell was a U.S. soldier, geologist, explorer of the American West, and director of major scientific and cultural institutions. He is famous for the 1869 Powell Geographic Expedition, a three-month river trip down the Green and Colorado rivers that included the first passage of European Americans through the Grand Canyon.
Powell served as second director of the US Geological Survey (18...more
More about John Wesley Powell...
Powell served as second director of the US Geological Survey (18...more
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