This is a beautiful book that not only explores the Canyon through words and watercolors but also our place in the world as human beings. Jordan introduces one to the rythyms of life on the river and shares with us her ability to interpret the daily wonders that make the Grand Canyon so majestic. She has created not just a journal but a moving piece of prose that carries the reader from the widerness of the Canyon to finding meaning in our daily lives. A wonderful journey.

This is a great book, written not from a journalistic point of view nor from an official point of view, but from that of somebody who was a fire boss for over a decade on the Grand Canyon's North Rim fire crew. Written as fiction, although it is based on actual events with only the names changed. Edward Abbey, who worked in a fire tower on the North Rim for a couple of seasons, makes a thinly-disguised cameo appearance here as "Abner". Effectively captures the work, the culture, and the humor of forest firefighters in a way that no other book I've read has. If you're at all interested in the subject I'd recommend picking this up.

This book by Michael Ghiglieri is an outstanading documentary of the first exploration of the Grand Canyon by John Wesley Powell and his crew. While almost every other account of this amazing journey is based on Powell's journal and notes, Michael very carefully pulls together all the accounts of this trip using not only Powell's notes but also the journals of the crew, letters and other doucments not previously published. His book is well researched and very effectively debunks a number of misconceptions about Powell, his leadership skills, how and why the 3 members of his trip were killed (hint: it was NOT the Indians)and the contributions and skills of his crew.

Michael not only publishes word for word all the journals that survived, but also did an impressive amount of original research into the events that made up this exploration. He then uses his background as a professional river guide to pull it together into a very compelling and hard-to-put down tale of this fateful journey. This is must read for anyone interested in the real facts of this incredible adventure.

Yosemite is one of my favorite places. I fall in love with this majestic park on my first trip there, and try to spend at least several days every year hiking Yosemite trails. I also like Sequoia and Kings Canyon, which are great parks for hikers and backpackers. Since I am not new to these parks, I was curious how the judgement and advice of this book would agree with my own impressions. I was pleasantly surprised. In this book, Frommer's made an outstanding example of how good a pocket-size guide can be. It has only 170 pages on three parks, and yet all essentials are covered - how to get there, what to see, where to stay, it has maps of the parks and of the hiking trails, it has lists of the best views accessible from the road and ratings of hikes, it has information for backpackers (based on the personal experience of the author). In my opinion and experience, the ratings of trails are very accurate, and descriptions of hotels and restaurants are unusually unbiased. In fact, I could not find a single one which I would not agree with. All ratings/descriptions maintain positive attitude, but it is very easy to read between the lines, e.g., if the book says that a certain restaurants has "a simple but adequate menu" and does not give it a single star, it means that it is a crappy and overpriced snack bar, but it will help you to survive until you get to a better place; when it says that the place is excellent and gives it three stars, then it is really good. One can surely find more detailed books on day hikes or backpacking in Yosemite. However, no other travel guide gives so much practical information and good advice in a condensed form. If you are planning to visit Yosemite for a day or two and do not know where to start, I cannot think about a better book to recommend.

This guide proved to be an excellent resource during our recent trip to the Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. Highlights of this book include how comprehensive it was despite its relative brevity, the easy-to-read writing style, and its off-the-beaten-path recommendations.

The authors discussed all the subjects I was looking for in a travel book. They covered the usual "where to stay" and "where to eat" topics very well, including reviews of the campgrounds in the parks. We were very satisfied staying and eating at the places recommended by the authors.

A particular strength of the book was its overview of the numerous hiking trails of the two parks. The trails were organized by length, and the authors gave good recommendations about which trails to do. One hike that they recommended as a "find" was a beautiful, short stroll to an icy cave, but because of its location off the main park road, we were completely by ourselves. The authors even discussed some of the backcountry hiking, if you are inclined to strap on your pack and head off into the wilderness.

The chapter on the natural history of the parks was also excellent. There was a description of the geological events that formed the parks, the flora and fauna, and the diverse ecosystems. The geological discussion in particular was especially helpful for understanding how the layers of rock were laid down over millions of years.

The authors gave good sample itineraries for experiencing the park in a day or two. Recommendations on seeing the sunrise across the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon and on visiting some of the less traveled sections of Zion were very worthwhile.

Nice bonuses in the book included information for kids, RVers, and people with disabilities. The book also had information on practical things like where to get gas, buy supplies, do your laundry, etc. There is even a section on places to visit near the national parks such as some of the Utah state parks and nearby national monuments.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone heading to Zion and Bryce Canyon. It definitely enriched our experience and made planning a whole lot easier.

If you love maps, Grand Canyon, and geology, you will want to have this marvelous map on your wall. It's a big, dramatically colorful geologic map, covering the entire eastern region of the Canyon, where most of the hiking trails are located. Grand Canyon geology is simple and bold, and therefore eminently accessible to the amateur. This map, which makes it even more accessible, is a wonderful companion piece to the handful of geology books about the Canyon, and will inspire you to purchase one if you have not already done so. With a little effort, using the legend in the margin, you will soon learn to pick out every layer of rock that you can observe from the rim or encounter on your hike or float. Needless to say, the map is even more of a treasure-trove to the professional. More than a map, the beautifully printed sheet also includes several cross-sections of the Canyon, revealing what is going on beneath the surface. If you have visited the South Rim you may have seen this map. Two copies are on display in the entrance hall / cocktail lounge of the Arizona Steak House, adjacent to Bright Angel Lodge. Because of its size, it is not a map you would want to carry in your pack, but, tacked up on your wall or unrolled on a table, it will provide plenty of rock-solid lore as you plan your next Canyon adventure or remember the magic of your last visit.

Georgia O'Keeffe always said that she was impatient with visual clutter; that she wanted to get rid of details that got in the way of real meanings; and that abstract painting could deal with concepts, emotions, and ideas. The GEORGIA O'KEEFFE: CANYON SUITE watercolors are in fact among the earliest U.S. abstract art painted directly from nature. They include abstract images of natural phenomena, such as "Abstraction, Black and Blue," with lightning bolts and rain sheets through darkened sky and ground, "First Light on the Plains," with light haloing through the fuchsia and indigo night, "Gray Abstraction (Train/Desert)," with former motion stilled in trails against the sky, and "Light Coming on the Plains," with Japanese brushed color tones dragged spectacularly down by gravity and water; recognizable subject matter, such as "Red House/Fence & Door" and her rare "Standing Nude," with the body invaded by the background colors and therefore like one of Auguste Rodin's blurred watercolor nudes; and traditional landscapes, such as "Blue Hills," "Dark Mesa," and "Purple Mountain." Editor Barbara J. Bloemink's text gives helpful background to understanding the artist and the color plates, and to reading Benita Eisler's O'KEEFFE AND STIEGLITZ and Roxana Robinson's GEORGIA O'KEEFFE. The same interest in colors and shapes, but differently treated, shows through FRIDA KAHLO's art, particularly in the books by Hayden Herrera, Raquel Tibol, and Martha Zamora.

all titles on eco of Lake Powell should be noted there are activists seeking to REMOVE the dam! See E Magazine, Sierra Club on Dave Foreman, earth first

It might be clumsy and big, but so were my numerous expeditions into the mighty Grand Canyon. For all who have seen the G.C. firsthand, the "coined" phrase is: "Pictures don't do it Justice." Which is absolutely true. However, this is the only book I have found that comes fractionally close to relating the G.C.'s awesome scale & vistas! It makes a perfect book for the cocktail table. This is the "creme de la creme" of G.C. Pictorial books. Get it! You won't be disappointed.

The Free Wheeling Travel Guides (which also cover Yellowstone-Grand Teton and Glacier-Waterton national parks) are the best designed and "user friendly" driving guides to any national park areas. The handy mileage charts, landmark spotter illustrations, and interesting bits of natural and human history can keep visitors from missing the "must-sees" and greatly add to a visit. At [money] special order from Amazon, the 1997 revised edition is a great deal!
M. Hughes