Clyde’s review of River Runners of the Grand Canyon

This past weekend I watched the DVD, River Runners of the Grand Canyon. If you’ve ever floated the Grand Canyon or thought about floating it... heck, if you’ve ever dipped an oar or a paddle in whitewater, you should enjoy this video immensely. In over two hours of photos and film you see the evolution of river running from Powell and Stanton’s early trips to the present day. What a delightful assortment of characters, mavericks and knuckleheads who unfold over the years! Like Norm Nevills, who took his bride on a honeymoon float in his mother’s wooden horse trough and went on to pioneer early commercial trips. Or Bus Hatch, whose provision list for an early trip consisted of whiskey and a gun. There’s amazing footage from the earliest boaters who filmed the river and lots of big whitewater action from the pre-dam era.

When you get together with your boating compadres to plan next year’s adventures, watch this DVD together and raise a toast to these Elders of the Tribe who cast off into unknown water without the luxury of today’s detailed, GPS coordinated guidebooks and high-tech equipment; and often just for the pure hell of it.

And hey, where else are you going to learn how Upset Rapid got its name, Barry Goldwater’s place in river running history and Sheena, Queen of the Jungle’s contribution to popularizing river running!

Boat Often & Boat Safe!
Clyde