Down the Great Unknown: John Wesley Powell's 1869 Journey of Discovery and Tragedy Through the Grand Canyon Book

I read the book in preparation for an upcoming trip to the Grand Canyon. I read it in my methodical style as I do such books constantly referring to maps and googling other references to increase my understanding. It has me super-excited about the trip!

It is a great book about an epic 1000 mile journey down the Green and Colorado Rivers through the Grand Canyon in 1869, led by a man-John Wesley Powell, who had one arm amputated during the Civil War. It is a gripping story with lessons on geology, geography, scholarly history, theology, and human psychology. The area was unexplored by Europeans at the time and yet the 10 men bravely headed down the river to explore and map the area. They rowed backwards facing upstream, always worried that the next rapid might be a sheer drop-off that would destroy their boats and drown them, and yet they went on with 6 men in the end finishing the trip. The story is based upon 3 men’s diaries with perspectives on each day’s event that are drastically different. I especially enjoyed the excerpts from John Wesley Powell’s diary and book as he is the consummate romantic marveling about all he sees along the way while the others are consumed by their fears. His writing reminds me of John Muir’s. It is one amazing story!!!