Exploring the Colorado River

When I read a biography, it often feels like I am spending time with that person. This last month my husband would ask me what I was doing and I would say, "I am hanging out with John Wesley Powell."

I've been reading A River Running West: The Life of John Wesley Powell, and learning the amazing story of this one-armed Civil War veteran who was the first American to navigate and explore the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon and beyond.

Photo: J.K. Hillers, Powell expedition starting out in southwest Wyoming on the Green River.

In southern Utah and northern Arizona, the U.S. map still said "UNKNOWN" until Powell's journey in 1869.

The author writes a comparison with Lewis and Clark:

"Powell's journey down the legendary river of the West was one of the greatest events in the history of American exploration. Only the travels of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark compare in significance or drama." Lewis and Clark wrote extraordinary journals with vivid descriptions, but they each had two good hands to write with. They had as an audience a highly literate President Jefferson who imagined their journey and gave them everything they needed.

"Powell, in contrast, raised his own funds and recruited his own party, with no one else to depend on."
Photo: J.K. Hillers. Powell's boat moored on a bank of the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, 1871 or 1872. Powell rowed from a wooden chair tied on top of the boat.

Powell was from the Midwest, became a western explorer and then lived in D.C. for the last 20+ years of his life. I cannot compare myself too much to him, since I did not raft the Colorado River with one arm and/or start the U.S. Geological Service, but it was interesting to read the biography of a man who journeyed from the Midwest to the West to D.C., like me. And in terms of policy wonkness - I enjoyed reading about all of his endeavors to lobby Congress on western issues, which is my line of work.

As a side note, the book also covers how Powell's parents helped start Wheaton College in Illinois and a lot of history about the Mormon pioneers in Utah, two other aspects which were fascinating to learn about.

Photo: The Colorado River from the book Chasing Water, by Pete McBride

As I was reading about Powell, I attended the Banff Mountain Film Festival's tour in D.C., which included a fascinating film about the Colorado River in the lineup called Chasing Water. The film flies over a lot of the Colorado River, and it was a good way to watch and think about Powell's journey.

I learned that the Colorado River no longer reaches the ocean. The water is diverted for other uses such as southern California farming and runs out before the end. Very sad.

Photo: Colorado River delta, now dry. Photo by Peter McBride.

The Chasing Water movie trailer is a good overview, see below, and a 12 minute version is on Patagonia's website.