This guide provides all the information that you will need for an initial visit to the grand canyon. Both the North and South Rims are covered in some detail and although someone seeking a back-county guide may be disappointed, the average visitor should find more than enough material to plan and enjoy their visit.

The evocative, stunning illustrations and text certainly accomplish their purpose. Young readers will glimpse the majesty of the Grand Canyon and learn something about its past and present inhabitants. But I must confess, my children don't particularly favor books that describe natural scenery in straightforward detail as in "A ringtail cat drinks from a slower side stream", etc, etc.

The 86 black and white images in this book reflect dozens of visits by Ansel Adams to the Southwest over more than 50 years. Adams liked what he saw, and felt that "this land is offering me a tremendous opportunity; no one has really photographed it."

This volume has two weakneses. The images are often too small to accurately reproduce the detail that Adams intended us to see in the foregrounds and backgrounds, and many are over inked. Second, the introduction by William A. Turnage is not up to his usual standards. He makes a number of strange assertions such as that Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico, 1941 (poorly reproduced in this volume) is "beyond doubt, his most famous photograph." Hmmm. What do you think? In other places though, Turnage adds interesting details about Adams' introduction to the Southwest and the influence on his photography of Paul Strand.

The book contains many letters from Adams about his experiences in taking the photographs, including many near disasters with his station wagon breaking down. One of the really interesting ones is to Patsy England in 1936 in which he says that in many ways the "Carlsbad Caverns are symbolic of my life; beautiful and exquisite things that exist only in the light of the moment." That may be the finest characterization of Adams' work that I have read.

Here are my favorite images (as reproduced here) in this book:

Saint Francis Church, Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico, c. 1929

Monument Valley, Arizona, 1937

Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona, 1942

Georgia O'Keeffe and Orville Cox, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona, 1937

White House Ruin, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona, 1941

Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico, 1942

Burro Mesa and the Chisos Mountains, Big Bend National Park, Texas, 1942

Farm, Autumn, near Glendale, Utah, c. 1940

Tree Against Cliff, Zion National Park, Utah, 1947

In Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah, 1947

Manly Beacon, Death Valley National Park, California, c. 1952

Grand Canyon from Yavapai Point, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, 1942

Grand Canyon from Yavapai Point (Bright Angel Canyon), Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, 1942

After you have finished reading about Ansel Adams' adventures and learning in the Southwest, I urge you to take your own driving trip through this beautiful country. Be sure to visit the spots that Adams did. I also suggest that you be sure to add Sedona in Arizona, Mesa Verde, the Meteorite Crater in Arizona, Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesen West in Scottsdale, and the Navajo reservation to the areas depicted here.

See the most beautiful places you can as often as possible! The beauty will seep into your soul.

This thick volume, with a host of diagrams and pictures, appears to be the newest and most thorough discussion of the geology of the Grand Canyon. In a series of chapters, each representing an era in the geologic history of the Canyon, the authors begin with the big picture and then get into such detail that only a professional geologist can really stay with them. The book represents the life work of some of the most prominent scientists associated with the Canyon, and yet is very much up to date with the latest theories unlocking the mystery of how the Canyon was formed. Neither professional nor "rock hound," I was drawn to geology through my hiking adventures in the Grand Canyon and the Colorado Plateau. This book, though certainly not written for the amateur, has provided an opportunity to learn more. I feel fortunate to have a copy, and hopeful that a second edition will be available soon.

This book is a short visual study of a variety of different canyon moods professional photographers have experienced and recorded. It includes the usual viewpoints from the rim in different seasons and lighting as well as the surprising world of the canyon floor. It is arranged in four sections covering the South Rim, Below the Rim, The River, and North Rim. Each section is introduced by a short piece of poetric prose which hints at both the reflections and intent of the authors as they organized the collection as well as the themes which follow. The book is introduced by a brief collection of quotes which attempt to grasp various aspects of a Grand Canyon experience and put into words some of the emotion the sheer beauty of the canyon creates. The emphasis of the pictures is predominanty one of raw form and texture in the canyon rock, complemented by more subtle beauty in the plant life and water. To me, the most obvious theme is one of stark contrast, either between the rock and fine detail or the rim and interesting weather or lighting in the sky. Several pictures include sheer canyon walls broken by a much more delicate subject, leaving a satisfying mixture of conflicting emotion and impression. Others emphasize vast spaces in wide angle views attempting to convey the awesome physical dimensions of the canyon. The book concludes with a few pages of general notes on the Grand Canyon and Colorado Plateau.

I am not sure that the notes are relevent to the subject of the book, but then again the book is marketed towards gift shops and vistor centers. The ideas conveyed by the authors are pretty standard (I assume) for books published by the Sierra Press. The general theme is nature worship, but if that is not your style it does not detract from the overal impact of the visual presentation.

I do not have anything specific to compare this book with as it is my only photographic book on the Grand Canyon. That is why I gave it four stars. I enjoy the book for its beauty, but find the outdoor photography composition and technique just as stimulating. I would recommend the book to any outdoor enthusiast who also enjoys fine photography.

The book is about 8X8 inches and is ideally suited as a unique coffee table book for any fan of natural beauty. The average picture size is about 5X7 inches. I own the softcover edition but would rather own the hardcover as mine has not handled standard wear very well.

Walker Tompkins may be better known in literary circles for his coverage of the California hills, the flora and fauna of the region, and a biography of Roy Rogers... but to Amateur Radio enthusiasts, he is known for this Tommy Rockford stories.

Grand Canyon QSO is one of six stories, and was my favorite of the series.

Tommy is a teenager involved in Ham Radio, and each story uses his involvement in the hobby and the knowledge he's gained from it to get him through various dangers. In "Grand Canyon QSO" Tommy is on a rafting trip down the Colorado River, and their trip is plagued by criminals on the run.

For today's world he comes across as extremely "squeaky clean". Just a little too perfect, but the characterization by Tompkins is sincere, what might for the time be considered the "ideal teenager".

The villians are a little predictable, but I'll admit that is from the perspective of an adult reading a juvenile story.

I would recommend this to any kid ages 12-15 and to anyone of any age who has an interest in Amateur Radio.

Written in easy to understand language, this book is both interesting and informative. It provides generalized maps of geologic highlights along the trail, black & white pictures, and drawings which all tie into the informative text sections. Spiral bound with vinyl cover for rough handling during the hike. Highly recommended!

This slender book is very deceiving and I was a bit disapppointed when it first arrived. But after I got into the details, I was very pleased. This book has a wealth of information to help you plan your trip to the Grand Canyon area, with information on everything from climate to lodging to side trips to canyon excursions. This book helped us choose a wonderful-looking cabin right on the rim of the canyon and I am looking very much forward to our trip this fall.

Designed as an "outline for most of the major canyons in the Grand," this volume is a treasure trove of scarce (and otherwise impossible to locate) information on not only the seldom explored western reaches of Grand Canyon, but also on the more frequently traveled heart of the Canyon. Its author, J.D. Green, and editor, Jim Ohlman, have together and separately logged many thousands of miles in the Canyon, describing new routes and accomplishing technical climbs. Ohlman is credited with over a dozen first ascents in John Annerino's 1986 guide (see references). Green's expertise is clear from the pages of this book.

While non-climbers may find its sometimes-terse descriptions lacking in comforting detail ("From the Tonto you can climb down Serpentine Canon to the River and routes go to the river in Copper Canyon and across from Hakatai Canyon." "Ruby has a cairned bypass to the right of the fall."), I found these tantalizing comments more useful than the replies from the BRO on the question of Tonto-to-River routes in Serpentine and Ruby-"Wouldn't even try it."-"Maybe if you used ropes."

To a climber, a "ropeless" route offers encouragement. A non-climbing backpacker, however, will balk at the mere presence of the word "rope" in a trail description. Green frequently offers more hiker-friendly information, such as, "...Travertine Canyon provides a not-too-difficult access for hikers wanting to reach the Colorado River." Green's limited descriptions of little-traveled routes must be contrasted to Butchart (who ignores Travertine, and says of Ruby and Serpentine, "...there are routes...almost surely in Ruby, and certainly in Serpentine..." though Butchart's marked map of the area shows none) and Annerino (regarding emergency hiking to the river from the Tonto between Hermit and Bass, "hike to the river...using either Boucher Creek, Ruby Canyon, Serpentine Canyon or South Bass Trail."). Green's guide gives us Tonto-to-River routes at Travertine, Boucher, Sapphire, Turquoise, Ruby, Serpentine and of course Bass.

The narrative makes enjoyable reading, laced with the mythology of some of the Canyon's unusual place names, historical vignettes and personal experience. Green recounts numerous confrontations with the reclusive Grand Canyon Rattlesnake as well as several near-fatal mishaps and unfortunate turns in the weather.

"Making the summit late in the day, darkness fell during the return series of rappels through the Supai cliffs north of the peak. The storm made me hypothermic and when clouds cleared the temperature dropped sharply. In the darkness my flashlight dropped, going out some forty feet below me. Not having made it past the cliffs I was unable to get back to my sleeping bag that night. It was a very cold December night as the South Rim recorded a temperature of 0 degrees. Unable to continue in darkness for fear of running out of rope the option for a very cold night seemed logical. Without a stove or a sleeping bag and only wearing a wool sweater, the situation was serious. To stay alive that night I burned some of my climbing sling along with every dead bush within reach. NPS frowns on open fires, especially those using native vegetation as fuel, but as the saying goes, "desperate times call for desperate measures!" It was one of the most miserable nights I have ever spent and I learned a great deal from it."

His comments on water sources are a welcome addition to descriptions of less-traveled areas. "This rough trail makes a rapid descent to the saddle below Shiva Temple, where water-filled pot holes remain for a week or more after rainstorms."

Numerous hiker and climber routes are described for Marble Canyon, below the East Rim Drive, below the Walhalla Plateau, Main Corridor, Clear Creek, the threshold trails from Indian Garden west to Hermit, west from Hermit to Havasupai, west of Bright Angel to Kanab, Tuweep to Kelly Point, National to Diamond, and both the south and north sides of the Canyon at Lake Mead. Most of the trail descriptions for the heart of the Canyon include little-known alternate routes, such as hiking up the Redwall and Supai at the head of Hermit to reach Dripping Springs Trail. Some are clearly described as hiker trails, some as climber's routes, and still others as "rugged route."

The volume is well illustrated with topo maps and historical photos. A real treat was the inclusion of sections of Harvey Butchart's hiking map, marked with his wanderings. (This reviewer was stunned by the sheer mileage represented on them. In comparison to Butchart's three tiny volumes, the map is an awesome testament of the 20,000 Canyon miles covered by the legendary hiker.) A ten-page index references all place names, numbered peaks and canyons. An annotated bibliography lists 77 references, as well as Green's comments on their value and where they may be obtained.

This book is not for the novice planning a first hike. But after the second or third Canyon hike, an ambitious hiker or climber will discover in its pages answers to the questions that usually elicit a shrug from many backcountry rangers. [E.g. busy trying to bite J.D. Green and Jim Ohlman.]

This solidly bound paperback is difficult to find in bookstores, and difficult for booksellers to special order, since it is "self-published." to the inner canyon routes, La Siesta Press, Glendale, CA (1970). 72pp. Also G.C. Treks II and III.

Rich, beautiful photographs are a trademark of Arizona Highways travel guides and Stocker's book is no exception. It will not disappoint. The photographic tours give you a real feel for the land and will help you focus (or perhaps expand) your trip. And if you can't find the time or money to actually get down to Arizona for a while this is almost as good as being there.