Over the Edge: Death in Grand Canyon Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a very well researched book that lists all of the people who have perished in the Grand Canyon.
The book is morbidly fascinating. It starts with tumbles from the top (what many visitors want to know about) and death on the trails. The book also covers air crashes into the canyon, drive-offs (think Thelma & Louise), river drowning, suicides, murder and a few other odd ways people have perished in the natural attraction Teddy Roosevelt said was the one site every American should visit in their lifetime. There are even one or two snakebite victims and two or so people who made tea from a deadly canyon flower with enough toxicity to kill a mule. Speaking of mules, the mule rides down the canyon trails are very safe when compared to other modes of enjoying the canyon. If you don't go in winter (when snow can bury the trail), I believe the record will show that mules never go over the edge.
The book is most interesting in the beginning. The topic of death and tragedy are new, and the deaths are the most shocking (including people who backed up right over the edge posing for pictures and men who went over trying to create their own waterfalls when nature called). One does get used to the constant morbidity and toward the end the air crash vignettes, suicides and murders lack the grip of the earlier free-fall victims. The authors also sometimes throw in annoying "got-cha" lines that seem out of place (but not too often to ruin the book).
Where this book is instructive is in its analysis of death in the canyon. Stupid behavior, ignoring warnings, not taking enough water on canyon hikes and swimming in the off-limits Colorado River account for about 90% of the deaths recorded. It is clear that the Grand Canyon could be remarkably safe if people exercised commonsense and obeyed park rules. It is also interesting to note that males perish way out of proportion to their numbers, indicating that risky and show-off behavior is still unfortunately our birthright.
This book would be an excellent read for anyone contemplating a hike into the canyon or river trip through it. I'm sure both the edges of the canyon and the river looked placid and safe for too many would be adventures that wound up as statistics in this book. Just obeying the rules (stay behind the railings, take recommended amount of water, don't swim in the Colorado) would have saved a lot of lives. Those visiting soon would be well warned by the mishaps listed from typical "vacation" and adventurous behavior that the Grand Canyon can be a killer if not respected.
Even with the 500 plus deaths recorded in the book (not counting air crashes) it is important to note that the Grand Canyon remains a safe place to enjoy one of nature's great monuments. With the millions of visitors who have taken in its charms, statistically it is not much more dangerous to the average visitor than a walk in the park. But for those who exercise extremely bad judgement it can be a killer.
This is a recommended read -- fascinating, enjoyable and with worthwhile lessons.

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