In his book, "Day Hikes from the River," Tom Martin describes 75 day-hikes that begin at the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park. All of the hikes described in Toms' book contain a narrative discussion of the hike followed by a topographic map. The narrative discussion covers where to begin the hike, the route to be followed, prominent landmarks, and points of difficulty. These discussions are quite detailed and provide a great deal of information that is often left out of other guide books. The topographic maps are sufficiently enlarged as to be readable and contain pretty much the same information as the narrative discussion but in a very helpful graphic format. The difficulty of the hikes detailed in Tom's book range from easy walks to demanding hikes that should only be attempted by experienced Canyon hikers.

The intended audience of Tom's book are river runners, and I'm sure they will find Tom's book to be a valuable resource. However, many of the hikes described in Tom's book are equally applicable to those who walk, rather than boat, into the Canyon. For example, three of the hikes described in Tom's book begin at Nankoweap Delta, a popular destination of backpackers. Similarly, Tom describes a number of hikes in the Thunder River/Deer Creek area, another popular destination of backpackers.

I've done a number of the hikes described in Tom's book, and it is my experience that his description of these hikes are very accurate. Also, many of the hikes described in Tom's book are not contained in any other book or publication. I recommend Tom's book to both Grand Canyon river runners and backpackers.

I purchased a copy of Tom Martin's book "Day Hikes From the River - a Guide to 75 Hikes from Camps on the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park," and have greatly enjoyed browsing through it. Great job, Tom! The maps and descriptions are excellent. I sure wish I'd had this book on previous trips down the Canyon. I keep thinking "dang, if only I'd known to hike a little further and then head up that nose," or "I can't believe I floated right by that spot every time without stopping," or whatever. It seems to me that a lot of river runners tend to congregate at a relatively few well known hikes and other points of interest, and I hope that this book will tend to spread people out over a larger number of sites. With the help of the book I'm already thinking up an itinerary of new hikes for my next trip.

This is a great book describing hikes & rest stops at the usual stops along the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. What's more, it describes in full a lot of hikes not usually done or known about, which means they'll be less crowded. But they're just as scenic. The author tells where they are, how far they can be, and what to look for along the way. This book is recommended for the first timer on the river, and the veteran who is looking for more than than the usual tourist stops for a hike.

On the Rim is a fascinating study of the power of the Grand Canyon in American Culture. The author's breadth of knowlege is impressive, pulling together elements of anthropology, history, philosophy, sociology and literary/artistic criticism. His scholarship is impeccable, but the strength of the book is his personal stories of the people he has met and his own encounters with the Canyon.

This book is as grand in scope as the canyon itself, taking in ethnography, history, biography, and criticism. The thoroughness of Neumann's research, the sensitivity of his observations and the insight and wit of his language are reminiscent of the work of new journalist masters such as Gay Talese and Jane Kramer. Neumann brilliantly documents how "spectator culture" goes far back into U.S. history, into the receding zone of nostalgia that we look to for our origins. Also fascinating are his accounts of how the canyon has been framed by science and religion, and how the canyon's developers staged it in the manner of a theater or museum. I especially appreciated Neumann's sensitive and thoughtful use of tourists' stories. It would have been easy to make fun of the canyon's tourists and to present them as the ultimate mass culture nightmare. Instead, Neumann prompts the reader to think about the popular logics and traditions that lie behind tourists' practices. Neumann concludes with a meditation on why people keep coming to the canyon through "the depths of time"--what they come looking for, what they think they can create or recover. It is a moving finale for this fine book.

Having traveled to the Grand Canyon many times during my life I am always taken in by its true greatness and wonder. This book goes beyond the countless picture books that have been published on the canyon by giving the reader some real insight. The author gives several different perspectives on the canyon that you are not likely to learn by just touring the canyon for a few hours. This book lets true Grand Canyon lovers experiance the canyon in depth and make the reader eager to return and see it from a deeper perspective.

Alex Keegan was never going to marry. Why would she after seeing the way her father hurt and humiliated her mother day after day by his philandering? Nope, men could not be trusted.

Four years ago, she left her home in Williams, Arizona, to be on her own as a Harvey girl at the El Tovar Resort on the Grand Canyon. The El Tovar hosted parties for the rich, famous and powerful - the perfect place for her to make enough money to take her mother somewhere far away from her father.

Luke Toland is the cowboy in love with Alex Keegan and it cuts him clear through to his soul when she can't see past her father's infidelities to open her heart to another. When presidential candidate Senator Winthrop of SC comes to town with his beautiful, young, flirtatious daughter who has her eyes set on Luke, Luke has a difficult time convincing Alex he has no desire to take Valerie Winthrop up on her offers.

To make matters worse, Rufus Keegan, Alex's father, joins the Winthrop party and she must witness his thirst for power and position no matter what the cost. For Rufus, the cost may be his youngest daughter, Alex.

Winthrop's top aide, Joel Harper, who happens to be his daughter's fiancée, has his eye set on Alex because she presents a challenge to him. He usually has girls falling at his feet.

Alex sees him as a man like her father and wants no part of it. He also has a very unsavory past that threatens to rear its head every now and then.

With Valerie chasing Luke and her fiancée chasing Alex, Alex's perceptions of men and marriage are confirmed until Luke convinces her to look in the mirror. Just as she is doing nothing to encourage Joel he is doing nothing to encourage Valerie.

When Valerie approaches him after Joel has been especially cruel, he senses that something has changed. She isn't the calculating flirt she once was. She is confused and lost. Luke decides she needs God in her life and he's willing to share what he knows with her and trusts that Alex will understand why he's spending time with Valerie.

Throughout Alex's day to day struggle with father, her confusing jealousy where Luke and Valerie are concerned and the aggravation of Joel's attentions, Alex's mother is invited by the Winthrop's to attend one of their lavish parties. Rufus Keegan is furious - not only because she is there, but also because of the reason she decided to accept the invitation and join her husband in El Tovar. When she arrives, the story takes a turn from the battles raging in Alex's head - her feelings for Luke and trying to honor God by respecting her father - to the drama playing on the rim of the Grand Canyon.

Though set in the 1920's during the Prohibition era, Alex Keegan is a modern woman. She set out on her own to make money and to take care of her mother.

Though there is a trace of romance and love, the story centers on Alex moving from friendship to trust. There is even a hint of mystery and a plot twist towards the end.

I have read many of Tracie Peterson's other books, so I eagerly picked this one up. This is an interesting story about trust. If you don't your family, can you bring yourself to trust your feelings? Alex's father is a rat, basically--always throwing his infidelities in her mother's face. Seeing this has soured her on all men. Luke is her friend, and he loves her but cannot bring himself to tell her.

THere is betrayal, murder, mystery and romance all wrapped up in 370 pages. A fast read that will have you perched on the edge of your seat. Enjoy!

Luke has fallen in love with his best friend of four years. If he tells her will she run away? Alex is has been burnt by her father's open infidelities. She trusts no man in the area of sex, romance or love. Of course, she has yet to figure out what the difference is between sex and love. She knows Luke is important as her best friend, but she ignores the tugging on her heart. In the meantime, a wicked political game is being played out at the resort where she works as a Harvey girl. Her mother becomes involved and there is a tragic incident. This is a wondrous tale of seeking transformation and new life, but in the search, one must first face the darkness of those who would do evil. Great Read! Tracie P., we want more!

This is the most thorough traditional field guide to the Canyon, complete with pictures of flora and fauna for identification in the field. It's perfect for day hikes along the rim or packed on raft trips, but if you're going on a long canyon trek on foot you may find it a bit heavy to pack. The great number of pages devoted to an overview of history, basic geology, trails, etc. are not really necessary on the trail and I have even considered cutting all that extraneous material out, as the field guide portions are excellent, but I shrink from slicing up a good book! Steve, how about a two-volume set next time, one for the armchair and one for the trail? Though there is information about Canyon hiking routes, this is not a trail guide; you'll want to get Scott Thybony's or Sharon Spangler's book for that, or one of several others that are available. But it is valuable reading for anyone planning to spend time in one of our most magnificent parks, and certainly worth tossing into your suitcase, if not into your backpack.

I agree with everything the previous reviewer said, except that I really like the overviews of Canyon geology and so on, and don't feel that those make to book too heavy to be useful as a field guide. This is probably the best and most informative guide for a hiker or visitor to the Grand Canyon to take along.

Anyone who has ever gazed down into the immensity of the Grand Canyon has surely asked himself, "HOW in the world did this ever happen!"

If the standard "millions and millions of years" explanation leaves you with questions, read this book.

If you want a thorough, intellectually satisfying survey of the Grand Canyon, and the theories of it's origin, this book is for you. If you liked Whitcomb and Morris's "The Genesis Flood", you will like this book.

A man who believes the Bible, knows geology, and has carefully studied the Grand Canyon presents his findings in a very readable, interesting, and well illustrated book aimed at the general reader.

Standard geology textbooks teach us that, while individual events may be rapid, geologic change (such as erosion) is very slow overall. Austin deftly dispenses with the straitjacket of uniformitarianism, and shows how the Grand Canyon could have been eroded rapidly. Instead of a little river acting over a lot of time, we had a large body of water (Floodwater and its remnants) acting over a short period of time.

This guide provides an interesting overview to the Grand Canyon. Parents will find this guide useful in sharing this awesome wonder with their children. However, this guide falls short as a vacation planner.

The way the books of this series work is that they took a guide for new rangers in Yosemite with the 100 or so most frequently asked questions, and wrote their own answers for each park. So in each book the questions are very similar but the answers might be very different.

It's a great format because it makes for easy reading beforehand, but it's also quick as a reference when you're there because they're arranged in an intelligent order. There's also a huge reference section at the end with lists, copies of permit forms, and so forth. So the thing to do is read the FAQ before you leave but bring the book and refer to it once you're there.

Before I went I really wasn't sure how long we'd want to stay or even if there was really anything to do other than look at the canyon. As it turns out there's a ton of things to do - ruins, great hiking, sunsets, stargazing, and we spent a lot more time there than I would have thought. Without this book either I wouldn't have realized this stuff existed (the park service doesn't exactly promote the nearby native ruins, but they're cool) or I would have scheduled way too little time.

We searched far & wide for info. about the G.C. while planning our trip. There's a lot of info. online, to be sure. But if you want the insider's perspective - skip Fodor's, Frommer's, Let's Go, and the rest of the "mainstream" travel guides. Those "other guides" will only give you the most basic information (which is also readily available on the web).

The Grand Canyon Handbook: an Insider's Guide to the Park will give you just about everything you need to know to make the most of your trip to the G.C.! From, directions, camping, lodging & dining info., tours, a history of the canyon and the park to the best times (& places) to view surise & sunsets, the best time of year to go, and plenty of info. on the flora & fauna, too! As well as many different ways you can see the Grand Canyon: shuttlebus, hiking along the rim, your car/RV, hiking into the canyon, rafting through the canyon, by helicopter or plane, etc. It's written by some REAL insiders - people who know the Park inside & out. We'd definitely reccomend this book to anyone who wants to learn about one of our Nation's greatest natural treasures!

The only things it left out were: how amazing the drive around the canyon from the South to North Rims is, and other area attractions (like The Grand Canyon: West with the Hualapai Indians and Grand Canyon Caverns). But, maybe those will make it into the 2nd edition.

If you're planning a trip to the Grand Canyon (even if you're only stopping by for one day) YOU NEED THIS BOOK!

I was disappointed in The Arizona Handbook. If you're planning on driving in the state, you won't be able to use the book to plan your trip. The book lacks details such as mileages between cities, and orientations on how to get to cities or sites, are not given (e.g. there is no indication of the route to take between the North and South Rims, am important detail). In other respects,it provides too much information and not enough commentary. For example, it lists restaurants and accomodations in various areas, but does not rate them or give you an idea on which of the many places is recommended, or even which would be a good place to stay. I'm not saying not to buy the book, but if you do, you'll need to buy another one to supplement it. It's definitely not a complete handbook.

Recently my wife and I planned a trip to Eastern Arizona. We got copies of all the available guidebooks to Arizona and began going through them for information. It soon became clear that Bill Weir's book had by far the most information. He has been everywhere. The book is well-written, authoritative without being pedantic, and is nicely laid out so that it is easy to use. We especially appreciate his coverage of hiking trails.

When we use an Arizona guidebook the first thing we do is crack it open to its section on Flagstaff, where we live. When we did this, we found that the book passed the acid test. This is the best book of its kind, and the one that we will use from now on.

With its 600 pages of text and 32-page index, you immediately sense that this seventh edition was written by a person who knows Arizona extremely well. Flagstaff resident Bill Weir really packs in the practical details of travel, making it unnecessary to spend time wading through the myriad brochures available at roadside tourist information centers. Bill has done that job for us, and he intersperses just the right mix of historical photos, maps, sidebars, and charts to make our trip a real learning experience. Visitors, local residents, and libraries alike will find this in-depth handbook a veritable cornucopia of all things Arizonan.

The River is Mine: A refreshing splash of foolhardy pioneer derring-do. Based on the diary of one member of the party, we join the band of suicical explorers plunging blindly down uncharted waters with high hopes of succeeding either in making the headlines of history or the obits.

Ardian Gill's The River Is Mine is a superbly crafted novel of John Wesley Powell's 1869 exploration of the Green and Colorado rivers and the Grand Canyon. Vibrantly and vividly told, embracing both the expedition's hardships and the majesty of the Grand Canyon itself, The River Is Mine is a highly recommended, powerful presented, and emotionally involving fictionalization which is accurately based on a genuine historical episode of 19th Century American exploration.

I marvel at the language I find in this narrative. It seems to move with the river and follow its powerful flow through a land that is both marvelous and frightening. Perhaps this clear, fluent language is the result of Mr. Gill's years of examining things through a camera lense and bringing images to light in darkrooms. Mr. Gill is obviously armed with the perfect vocabulary to write this book of men's actions on the big brown god full of dragons and sacred places where light and word converge to produce a beautiful narrative.

Will Hobbs has created an exquisitely plotted, nail-biting experience that has great morals and teaches about the values of friendship and family. The characters learn that nature brings people together and can change a person's outlook on life. The main character, Jessie, and her friends are at a summer camp for troubled kids that they call "Hoods in the Woods." At the beginning of the book, all of their lives are going down river. As they are plunged into the great adventure of rafting down the rough Colorado River, the characters' personalities and the conflicts between them come out. Troy is stunning but turns out to be selfish and narcissistic. Star is weak and fragile but transforms into a self-confident person. There are other characters too, each one very different. This really brings the story to life. You know that with every catastrophe they face and overcome, they are only closer to the ultimate win that comes at the end when everything falls into place. It is a phenomenal book. The book twists into a novel about the love and friendships people can make when you get past your differences.

Will Hobbs has created an exquisitely plotted, nail-biting experience that has great morals and teaches about the values of friendship and family. The characters learn that nature brings people together and can change a person's outlook on life. The main character, Jessie, and her friends are at a summer camp for troubled kids that they call "Hoods in the Woods." At the beginning of the book, all of their lives are going down river. As they are plunged into the great adventure of rafting down the rough Colorado River, the characters' personalities and the conflicts between them come out. Troy is stunning but turns out to be selfish and narcissistic. Star is weak and fragile but transforms into a self-confident person. There are other characters too, each one very different. This really brings the story to life. You get this overwhelming feeling when you read this book, a feeling of how good life is if you can look at it in a certain way. You can feel the everlasting friendships that the characters form. You feel the tension as they fight for their lives against nature's forces. You know that with every catastrophe they face and overcome, they are only closer to the ultimate win that comes at the end when everything falls into place. It is a phenomenal book. I can say that I have found a respect not as much for nature, but for people. It has increased my awareness of how wonderfully different we are. The book twists into a novel about the love and friendships people can make when you get past your differences. I do have an attitude towards Mother Nature that she can be rough and beautiful. If you want to get all you can out of her, you have to experience them both.

Downriver by Will Hobbs reviewed by Maia Hazelwood

Will Hobbs has created an exquisitely plotted, nail-biting experience that has great morals and teaches about the values of friendship and family. The characters learn that nature brings people together and can change a person's outlook on life. The main character, Jessie, and her friends are at a summer camp for troubled kids that they call "Hoods in the Woods." At the beginning of the book, all of their lives are going down river. As they are plunged into the great adventure of rafting down the rough Colorado River, the characters' personalities and the conflicts between them come out. Troy is stunning but turns out to be selfish and narcissistic. Star is weak and fragile but transforms into a self-confident person. There are other characters too, each one very different. This really brings the story to life. You get this overwhelming feeling when you read this book, a feeling of how good life is if you can look at it in a certain way. You can feel the everlasting friendships that the characters form. You feel the tension as they fight for their lives against nature's forces. You know that with every catastrophe they face and overcome, they are only closer to the ultimate win that comes at the end. It is a phenomenal book. I can say that I have found a respect not as much for nature, but for people. It has increased my awareness of how wonderfully different we are. The book twists into a novel about the love and friendships people can make when you get past your differences. I do have an attitude towards Mother Nature that she can be rough and beautiful. If you want to get all you can out of her, you have to experience them both.

The overview and locator maps proved very useful. Posting the elevation gain and loss (as well as a plot showing where these occured) was very helpful in negotiating the trails. Precautions and general hiking information in the front sections of the book were very thorough.

To me, this is the Grand Canyon book to get if you are planning on hiking the trails. It has great illustrations of the trails and elevations. You can easily follow the trail illustrations from one trail to another because they tell you the page number of the connecting trail. The textual descriptions are excellent and very easy to follow. The trails are broken up logically and are easy to piece together for extended trips into the canyon. If you are looking for a book with telephone numbers of who to call for reservations and all that, this is not the book. Fine with me because that information is always changing and isn't that what they made the internet for? The size is a bit large to be considered a pocket book but is easily packable. The size actually helps with the illustrated maps as it makes them what I consider to be perfect for trail use. I prefer to make copies (which I did not do if it is a violation of some copyright) of the trails I am going to hike and leave the book behind. The copies are handy for the inevitable rain that always comes. Put them in a zip lock bag with the one you need on top...this book does not stress much about people being physically prepared to hike the canyon. If they don't physically prepare, what makes you think they bother to read before they hit the trail? I have yet to see a sick person on the trail with a book about the canyon in their hand. The book does rate each of the trails with regard to difficulty. I have several books on the Grand Canyon and for planning and hiking the trails, this is the one I would recommend over all the others.

For those folks that want to stay on the main Grand Canyon trails and not onto the seldom visited routes this is an excellent guide. For each of the 28 South and North rim trails the author gives detailed, thorough descriptions, useful maps, trail mileage, level of difficulty, a profile of the elevation changes on the trail, detailed directions to the trailhead and more. Adkison's clear writing style is to be commended. I found the guide has only a few drawbacks: readers should use his suggested hiking times with caution; in at least one case (Tanner trail) his mileage figure is very likely too short; and the whole rather than part of the Tonto trail ought to have been covered in the book. These minor shortcomings aside I highly recommend this trail guide.