The Hidden Canyon: A River Journey [Paperback]

John Blaustein (Author), Edward Abbey (Author), Martin Litton (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1999

The Grand Canyon continues to be the most popular of our national parks. While millions gaze at its cliffs each year, only 15,000 float through the canyon on the Colorado River. A landmark portrait of the Grand Canyon, this is the only photography book to document this amazing journey from river level. Now this classic is back in print, with an updated preface and introduction and a dozen new photographs. A journal in photos and words, The Hidden Canyon captures the desert landscape and the thrill of the rapids. Edward Abbey's journalfilled with wry humor and respect for the canyondescribes the journey as the dories (small wooden boats) alternately float and charge through the breathtaking landscapes and some of the roughest white water in North America.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The dory plunges into the watery hole, then up the slope of the standing wave. Water topples upon us, filling the boat in an instant. The force of the river carries us through the first wave and into a second, deeper hole....The dory drops into the deepest hole yet. I think I can almost see bedrock bottom. The third wave towers above us. Far above. The Great Wave. Heavily our waterloaded boat, askew, climbs up its face. Never makes it. As the wave hits us from the portside our dory turns over with the grave, solemn, inevitable certainty of disaster. No one says a word as we go under. from Edward Abbey's journal

Reviews from: SPORTS AFIELD MAGAZINE

PADDLER

Although millions of people visit Arizona's Grand Canyon each year, few experience the fear and thrill of rafting a dory for the 277 miles of the Colorado river that both meanders and roars beneath. Blaustein documents such a journey with his stunning photographs of rocks, whitewater and wildlife; an 18-day journal from Edward Abbey; and an introduction from Martin Litton.

This book grabbed the attention of everyone who saw it on my coffee table during the review process. If you have paddled the Grand Canyon you will probably want this book for your own coffee table, because John Blaustein is one of the most celebrated photographers to ever travel the length of the Grand. And de did so with the likes of Martin Litton and Edward Abbey in wooden dories. Blaustein tells the story of the Colorado River from the depths of the Grand Canyon with more than 100 images, their stunning quality justifying the reprinting of this book from its original form in 1977. This time it's even better, including 12 new photographs, an introduction by river and environmental pioneer Martin Litton, and A Journal by literary and environmental pioneer Edward Abbey. This book will take you back to the days when only a handful of brave people rowed the Grand, and it will keep the memories fresh with the only collection of published photographs that documents the Canyon from river level.

From the Inside Flap

While millions of people visit the Grand Canyon each year, relatively few of them are lucky enough to float through it on the Colorado River. This amazing journey is the subject of The Hidden Canyon, a landmark portrait of the Grand Canyon experienced at river level, and now revised, updated, and including more than two dozen new photographs. In over one hundred remarkable images, photographer and former river guide John Blaustein captures the awe-inspiring beauty of the canyon and the excitement of running some of the wildest rapids in North America. The accompanying journal kept throughout the trip by wilderness hero Edward Abbey offers a lyrical and humorous description of the action as a group of dories (small wooden rowboats) alternately floats and charges through spectacular canyon landscapes, sculpted rock formations, and tons of rushing white water. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (April 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811822613
• ISBN-13: 978-0811822619
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 8.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,046,431 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breathtaking, July 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Hidden Canyon: A River Journey (Paperback)

I have traveled through the Grand Canyon many times, both on the river and on the trails. John Blaustein has not only been able to capture the beauty of the canyon but also the soul of the river it contains. Abbey's journal is a fine compliment to the pulchritude of the pictures.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AWE INSPIRING!!, July 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Hidden Canyon: A River Journey (Hardcover)

Having rafted the Colorado myself 2 years ago, this was a perfect souvenir-reminder of my trip. The photos in particular are exquisite - some I have no idea how he managed to capture without ending up in the river himself. I lost my Pentax to the very first rapid! This book definitely gives a sense of what the Canyon, the river, and the rapids are like. Makes me want to go back!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent, April 22, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hidden Canyon: A River Journey (Paperback)

Any fan of unique photography and wonderful words should buy this reissue. Mr. Blaustein is a gifted photographer and abbey is equally adept in capturing the magic of this river trip. The book is a reminder of what could be lost, if we fail to preserve the glorious heritage of our national parks.