Читать книгу One Best Hike: Grand Canyon. Everything You Need to Know to Successfully Hike from the Rim to the River—and Back онлайн

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Explorers and settlers were first drawn to the area in larger numbers after Major John Wesley Powell explored the length of the Grand Canyon by boat in 1869 and 1871. He too discovered that the country was rough and dangerous, but viewed the difficulties as an adventure and the Grand Canyon as a place of scientific interest, rather than somewhere to avoid. Indeed, just two years after his first, rather disastrous trip, he returned to descend the river a second time and continue his scientific explorations. Following the 1871 excursion he began to promote the Grand Canyon as a tourist venue. However, it was initially the possibility of mineral riches that drew people, with hundreds arriving at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in 1872 for a short-lived gold rush. No mineral riches were found in the vicinity of Bright Angel and South Kaibab trails, but many prospects and a few larger mines exist within the park, including the prominent Orphan Mine, a copper and then uranium mine that can be viewed at Powell Point, as well as a large copper vein along the Grandview Trail. A few small mine shafts exist along the Bright Angel Trail, both near the top of Devils Corkscrew and partway down Pipe Creek.