An Arizonan adventurer outlines his experiences in hiking the length of the Grand Canyon and the multiple hazards that inevitably entails. The title subtitle is misleading in that the “spectacular misadventure” should be pluralized.
The history of the small long-persecuted Havasupai and larger Hualapai native tribes is interesting, but somewhat peripheral to the story, although the latter’s air-tourism of the canyon is difficult to justify.
In only one way can I relate to these multiple stories of misadventures. I have visited the Grand Canyon and can appreciate why people become addicted to the views- its beauty can never be adequately described in either words or pictures. About 14 years ago in late winter or early spring my daughter and I hiked down the Bright Angel Trail about half way to the canyon floor. When she slipped on hidden ice under red dust, and fell, she fortunately fell uninjured to the right as to the left would have been a 2000 foot drop. At that point we turned around – I found the climb up easier than the descent. She is much fitter and athletic than I am and has done several hikes there, including the Rim-to -Rim hike in one day.
The writing is chronologically straightforward mostly first person singular, but also wordy. It could easily have been trimmed to 300 pages if an editor or publisher had insisted. The Epilogue adds nothing to the story.
4/5
Thanks, Lois.
The Passionate Reader 
Correction: I did the rim-to-rim hike over three days, spent two nights at the bottom.
LikeLike