  In the Marble and Grand Canyons the fall is as follows.[1] The vertical dotted lines of diagram on page 57 give these divisions, beginning at the left with 2. DISTANCE FALL FALL IN IN IN MILES FEET FEET PER MILE I. Marble Canyon...........................65.2——-510——-7.82 2. Little Colorado to the Granite..........18.2——-110——-6.04 3. Granite Falls...........................10———-210——21. 4. To Powell’s Plateau in the Granite......26.4——-320——12.13 5. Around western base of Powell’s Plateau.10.8——-100——-9.26 6. Head of Kanab Division..................4.0———-50——10.42 7. Main Kanab and Uinkaret Division........65.2——-310——-4.75 8. Shewits Division to Granite.............12————70——-5.83 9. Granite to Diamond Creek................ 8———-210——11.66 10. Granite below Diamond Creek............ 7.2———25——-3.47 ll. Granite below Diamond Creek............10.8——-100——-9.26 12. Shewits Granite to End of Canyon.......35———-175——-5. From Little Colorado to Kaibab Division.....9.6———60——-6.25 Kaibab Division............................58———-700——12.07 Kanab Division.............................47.6——-240——-5.01 Uinkaret Division..........................19.2——-100——-5.21 Shewits Division...........................84———-540——-6.43 The exact number of rapids cannot be given, as in some portions of Lodore, Cataract, Marble, and the Grand Canyon it is difficult to divide the almost continuous fall into parts. The number also varies with the stage of water, a high stage covering up some of the smaller rapids. I count 62 rapids in Cataract Canyon. but Stanton makes it 75. The discrepancy arises in the way of dividing some of the descent in the worst portions. Lodore for a large part of its length is so nearly one continuous rapid that it is difficult to count the special drops. In Marble Canyon I counted 63, and in the distance from the Little Colorado to the mouth of the Kanab, 131. We counted about 600 from Green River Valley to the Kanab Canyon, and Stanton’s party counted 520 large rapids from FrÉmont River to the Grand Wash, or about 600 from the Junction. From Green River Valley to the foot of Black Canyon something over 1000 would be a near estimate of the total number of rapids. The velocity is always tremendous. The width of the river varies according to the locality. Green River is from 250 to 400 feet in the canyons, and 800 to 1000 in the valleys. The Colorado is from 75 to 400 or 500 in the canyons and from 1200 to 1500 in the valleys. In the Granite Gorges there are points where the distance between the buttresses at the water is no more than 50 feet. In Marble Canyon there are a dozen places where the width is not over 60 to 75 feet. The depth varies from several feet to an unknown quantity in the narrow parts. There is also a variation of depth with the year and the season. Years when the high mountains receive an abnormal snow-fall the river rises to abnormal heights and at such times the depth of water in the Grand Canyon is enormous and the velocity appalling. Ordinarily the current varies from three miles per hour to twenty or more. Our method of navigating was to go with caution. A landing was made above every rapid where possible, and the rapid inspected. Sticks were thrown in when practicable and watched to find the set of the main current which was the one we tried to follow. If it dashed against a cliff, our plans were laid accordingly. We went into a rapid with as little headway as possible, and often executed “back-water” to retard the boat. The steering oar was used to throw the boat one way or another in rapids, but it was mainly on the side oars that we relied for steering. In our boat Powell looked ahead, and gave orders “left” or “right,” referring not to the direction in which he wished to go but to the oar which we were to pull with reference to our left or right not his. “Steady” meant to let the boat take her course. N. Galloway, who has since made several descents, goes through rapids stern foremost. He can thus see how to guide with the oars. |
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