Mapping and surveying GC through history

[chumley]

The ASU Library's Map and Geospatial Hub just published an online presentation with a wealth of interesting data from historical surveys of Grand Canyon.

If you like maps, history, or Grand Canyon, (or all three!!!) you'll probably enjoy this presentation.

Here's a news story introducing/describing the project:
https://news.asu.edu/20210211-creativit ... expedition

Here's a direct link to the project:
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/a8 ... 6b13326136

[Alston_Neal]

Pretty impressive presentation.

[Nighthiker]

I am going to be busy, thank you for the link.

[Canyonram]

@chumley

Thanks for the post. Wish I could have been with JW Powell---when the Canyon was still an uncharted mystery.

[big_load]

@chumley

Thanks for the post. Wish I could have been with JW Powell---when the Canyon was still an uncharted mystery.

I don't know. I would have been scared to death the whole time. I hope I wouldn't have gone with the guys who bailed out. Who would have thought that running the rapids was the safe option?

[sam_hikes]

a little off topic but I wonder what Powell and company would think of people swimming across the Colorado in pursuit of a new R2R2R FKT ALT record time?

Latest rage with the ultra crowd as I was asked for GC beta during a recent Mt Ord trek. The Mt Ord ultras struggled with their all day 28 mile double on Ord in prep for their upcoming 250 mile race in May from BC to Flag.

Just noticed a group of 4 recorded their GC FKT on youtube.

[chumley]

@sam_hikes
I would expect JWP would be very confused by the fact that human society had evolved to a point where people would eschew the wonder of exploration in exchange for vacuous accolades achieved from superficial ambitions.

[FOTG]

@sam_hikes
I am going to go out on a limb and assume Powell's response would be, "What is R2R2R and what is a FTK?"

[FOTG]

@chumley
Wait? So Powell was not pursing any accolades? ;)

[chumley]

@friendofThundergod
I believe he made it his life's mission to make sure that the entire internet was aware that his name was emblazoned on the second largest fake lake on the continent.

[SpiderLegs]

@chumley - There is no better feeling than snagging accolades on Strava. Not that I will ever know.

[Alston_Neal]

his name was emblazoned on the second largest fake lake on the continent

Yeah if he could he would have had "a" hand in it.

[Canyonram]

@big_load

That would be a tough call to make—to stick with Powell or attempt to hike out. The three men who decided to hike out, Oramel Howland, his brother Seneca Howland, and William Dunn were all experienced hunters, trappers, with Seneca a ‘mountain man.’ That sounds like a trio with some chance to find their way not only out of the Canyon but overland. On the other hand (apology to Powell), Powell knew the Virgin River was close and the chance for survival and extraction, if they got past Separation Rapids, was at least quicker in that direction. I probably would have stayed with Powell out of determination to finish the mission—even with the temptation to continue the adventure by hiking out.

I’m more terrified of driving on the freeways during rush hour in LA, Boston, New York than anything the Canyon has to offer.

Need to give the Native Peoples who lived in and near the Canyon for thousands of years credit for the first ‘expeditions.’ Powell should have checked with Tiyo and borrowed a hollow log to run the River.

https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-l ... ona-009125

[Canyonram]

Yeah if he could he would have had "a" hand in it.

I’d applaud the play on words in regards to Powell having a hand in it, but would you be able to hear the sound of one hand clapping?

[ShatteredArm]

Latest rage with the ultra crowd as I was asked for GC beta during a recent Mt Ord trek.

Trust me, I probably know a plurality of the ultrarunners in AZ, and I guarantee you the "Alt" R2R2R is not becoming the "latest rage", nor will it ever. A very small percentage of the people you encountered on Mt Ord will ever venture farther from the corridor than Hermit or Grandview, if they even get that far.

If I'm wrong, we're probably going to start hearing about a lot more rescues in the coming years.

[big_load]

That would be a tough call to make—to stick with Powell or attempt to hike out. The three men who decided to hike out, Oramel Howland, his brother Seneca Howland, and William Dunn were all experienced hunters, trappers, with Seneca a ‘mountain man.’ That sounds like a trio with some chance to find their way not only out of the Canyon but overland. On the other hand (apology to Powell), Powell knew the Virgin River was close and the chance for survival and extraction, if they got past Separation Rapids, was at least quicker in that direction.

I'd like to think I'd have stuck it out, having made it as far as they did despite some ominous mishaps.

[SpiderLegs]

Trust me, I probably know a plurality of the ultrarunners in AZ, and I guarantee you the "Alt" R2R2R is not becoming the "latest rage", nor will it ever. A very small percentage of the people you encountered on Mt Ord will ever venture farther from the corridor than Hermit or Grandview, if they even get that far.

I know a lot of the trail and ultra folks around Arizona as well. About the only runs I hear about not primarily on a corridor trail are Grandview-Tonto-SK or on rare occasions Hermit-Tonto-BA. Most of the runners stick with the tried and true corridor trails.

[KwaiChang]

@SpiderLegs
Wimps!!! Just WIMPS!!!

[Canyonram]

Dr. Earle Spamer has compiled an extensive list of resources on 'Grand Canyon Maps' and published in 2022 (after Chum's initial posting) via his website:

https://ravensperch.org/wp-content/uplo ... Canyon.pdf

I'll post his webpage under a separate heading since his research has taken him deep into the Canyon.