A Canyon Voyage
- ISBN-10
- 1985101912
- ISBN-13
- 9781985101913
- Series
- A Canyon Voyage
- Pages
- 282
- Language
- English
- Published
- 2018-02-21
- Author
- Frederick Dellenbaugh
Description
"A record of brave personal daring, brilliant and lively." - Literary Digest "A valuable addition to our literature of geographical exploration and discovery." - Records of the Past "Vivid descriptions, of value to seekers after adventure." -Science, a Weekly Journal In 1871 an extended expedition was planned under the leadership of Major Powell, and it is the story of this second trip which Frederick S. Dellenbaugh, a member of the expedition, has presented in A Canyon Voyage. Outside of prosaic government reports, no detailed account of this wonderful expedition through the most marvelous canyon of the world had been published. The account is popular and gives the daily life and experiences of the party which is interwoven with their scientific discoveries. The book is a valuable addition to our literature of geographical exploration and discovery and is moreover interesting as a record of brave personal daring. Thrown together as these men were in the closest companionship, dependent upon each other for comfort and even for safety, their experience was somewhat like that of arctic explorers; but in this case all stood the test of the closest fellowship, and no one showed the white feather or became an obstruction. With three small boats solidly packed with supplies, but made buoyant by water-proof compartments, and with water-tight hatches, they successfully made their way from one end of the canyon to the other, excepting at the end a short section in which no boat could live. They were tossed on the flood; they were drenched with spray; they were overturned in the boiling rapids; they were cast upon a desolate shore; they ran all risks and nearly suffered every possible disaster; and yet, without the loss of a life, they made their adventurous journey and came through at last, having achieved what had been rated as an impossibility. Some of them were worn out and never recovered from the exposure and hardship, while some passed through successfully all the better for the discipline and exposure. This is one of the records of heroism which show that science and peaceful adventure may challenge every virile attribute in men, and make even the pomp and circumstance of war seem ridiculous. Dellenbaugh's book is in the form of a minute narrative of the second boat trip down the river, when he was artist and assistant topographer of the party. There is no attempt at scientific discussion, but a faithful effort is made to record every item of the journey. In these later years, when amateur travel in the west is frequent, a detailed record of this kind will be of value to seekers after adventure; even if certain parts of the river are unduly dangerous, there are other long stretches in which a boat trip might well be undertaken in a summer vacation without too great disregard of a safe return home. Whether made by scientist, hunter or artist, the journey would surely be repaying in high degree. The solitude must be impressive as one floats down the smooth reaches beneath a mighty architecture of bare cliffs. The excitement of running rapids would seem to be sufficient for the most ardent seeker of new impressions. Dellenbaugh has not only based his narrative upon his own carefully kept journal, but has compared that with the records made by other members of the expedition, and makes it evident that this is a truthful record of events.
