Canyon

Canyon
By Michael P. Ghiglieri
311 pp. / 5.50 in x 8.50 in / 1992
Paper (978-0-8165-1286-7)

Related Interest
- Western Americana / Regional Interest
- Nature and Environment

Fasten your life jackets for a ride you'll never forget. Now the excitement of a raft trip through the Grand Canyon has been re-created by a seasoned whitewater guide with a passion to share one

A seasoned whitewater guide shares one of the world's most fantastic journeys, a raft trip through the Grand Canyon.

—National Parks

If 'the book' [on the Canyon] is defined as one which plunges the reader headfirst into the thrills, beauty and even occasional boredom of a run through the Canyon; as one which elucidates all the important natural and human history along the way; and as one which conveys some of the majesty and mystery of this extraordinary place, then Ghiglieri has come as close as anyone I know. . . . It makes one want to turn off the computer and head for Lee's Ferry.

—Environmental History Review

A grand tale . . . His storytelling abilities and affection for the region are evident throughout this well-written book. . . . This is the single best introduction to a myriad of aspects of this most impressive place this reviewer has seen.

—Library Journal

A mile-by-mile tour of the wonders of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River—a grab-bag of the sort of historical, geological, political, and anecdotal tidbits he apparently offers his white-watering guests, and a definitive source book for those who decide to take the challenge.

—Kirkus Reviews

Excitement with a message.

—Books of the Southwest

of the world's most fantastic journeys. Michael Ghiglieri, a professional river guide for more than 17 years, has written the first book to describe that trip from the modern boatman's point of view. From Lee's Ferry to Diamond Creek, Ghiglieri leads you down 226 miles of wild river and through some of the most breathtaking scenery on earth. Along the way, he navigates the Colorado River's dozens of notorious rapids--many of which drop fifteen feet or more—and shares the excitement of waves and boulders, thunder and foam. Recounting a real journey through this geological wonder, Canyon interweaves heart-pounding adventure with factual insights into the world of Grand Canyon. Between the rapids, Ghiglieri relates tales of river runners past and present, lessons in geology and wildlife, observations on the impact of Glen Canyon Dam, and stories of Native inhabitants, from Anasazi ancestors to Havasupai Rastafarians. This trip also offers more than its share of human drama for the passengers aboard, leaving them with tales of their own to tell. "Running the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon is to me the most impressive journey on our planet," writes Ghiglieri, "an adventure that leaves no traveler unchanged." For anyone who has ever shared or contemplated that adventure, Canyon recreates an unforgettable ride.

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