The Wild Colorado: The true adventures of Fred Dellenbaugh, age 17, on the second Powell Expedition into the Grand Canyon

by Richard Maurer

From School Library Grade 5-9--"A fascinating account of Major John Wesley Powell's 16-month journey down the Colorado River, as seen through the eyes of a teenaged crew member. The author traces Dellenbaugh's trip from his hometown of Buffalo, NY, when he first read about Powell in 1869, until 1873, when he created the first map of the Grand Canyon and the territory around it. The young man joined the team as a crewman, but he was asked by Powell to document the voyage with pictures and maps. This artwork is used to illustrate the book, along with remarkable black-and-white photographs taken on the expedition. The trip is truly an exciting one, full of mishaps and near disasters. Dellenbaugh continued traveling and writing throughout his lifetime, even producing a book about his time on the Colorado. As he did in Rocket! How a Toy Launched the Space Age (Crown, 1995), Maurer offers a well-crafted, exciting book about exploration and adventure."--Carol Fazioli, The Brearley School, New York City. Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Genres: History

Paperback

First published April 27, 1999

About the author

Richard Maurer is the author of The Wild Colorado and Airborne: The Search for the Secret of Flight, winner of the American Institute of Physics Science Writing Award. A native of West Texas, he lives in central Massachusetts with his wife, a famous book designer.