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.

42 of 43 found the following review helpful:


Good Reading for Grand Canyon Visitors  Jun 28, 2004 By C. Baker "cbaker"
When I visited the Grand Canyon in 2001 I picked up a copy of this book - Over the Edge. It languished on my to read list until now. Overall it's a fascinating book, if a bit tedious at times. I suspect someone who has never been to the Grand Canyon will not appreciate the grandeur and dangers the book describes as much as this reader. Having been there myself and being at least a little familiar with it made the book come to life that much more.

This book details the actual events around numerous deaths in the Grand Canyon, and offers detailed summary tables. Whether it's falling off the edge, crashing in a plane or helicopter, getting lost and dying of dehydration, drowning in the Colorado River, getting caught in a flash flood, getting smushed by big rock falling in the canyon, being struck by lightning, getting murdered, or deciding you're life is not worth living and taking a plunge over the edge to end it all - this book covers it all.

The key theme of the book is that most deaths in the Grand Canyon can be avoided if you use common sense and don't take unnecessary risks. Most of the deaths detailed in the book are a direct result of people doing stupid things, liking jumping around or goofing off on the edge of the canyon, hiking very difficult trails (or areas with no well maintained trails) without the experience required and without enough water and food, or trying to run rapids that are too dangerous without life jackets or other safety precautions. There are other numerous examples of unnecessary deaths as a result of carelessness or bad decisions. Most of the deaths in the book could have been prevented by just plain ol' common sense. Not surprisingly, most of these types of death are disproportionately young males who are over confident in their abilities.

I would highly recommend this book to those who have visited or plan to visit the Grand Canyon. Its lessons may save you from going over the edge.

31 of 31 found the following review helpful:


Over the Edge  Aug 04, 2001 By Joe Hudson
This book is a must read for anyone planning to venture into the Grand Canyon. It chronicles every known death in the canyon and on its rims. Morbid? Perhaps, but the book's real aim is to keep you the reader from making the sorts of decisions that have led to hundreds of people's deaths.

The fatal incidents are grouped into categories: falls from the rim, falls within the canyon, heat/dehydration, drowning, etc. Some cases are covered in just a sentence or two; others are described in riveting detail. It's a hard book to put down.

Having made 15 backpacking trips into the canyon, most of them a week long, I figured I knew everything there was to know about safe and sensible behavior in the canyon. But even for me this book was a real eye-opener. For someone going to the canyon for the first time or the hundredth time, "Over the Edge" just might be a life-saver.

22 of 23 found the following review helpful:


Deadly Natural Beauty  Oct 24, 2001 By Charles Slovenski
I was at the Grand Canyon North Rim a few weeks ago. Looking for information at the visitor's office, I was cautioned that a hike into the canyon is extremely dangerous and difficult. This was made clear both in the literature and by the person behind the desk. I was skeptical - I mean how tough can hiking be - and wondered if these cautions were dramatic. The night before I was to hike down, I wandered into the gift shop and flipped through this book. Before I could say "help!" I was laying down bucks to take it back to my cabin for a nightly reading experience which ran from incredulity to horror to fear for my own safety. Because of this book, I cautioned my hiking buddy not to wander off the trail, not to pretend to be falling and to avoid the temptation to urinate over the edge of a cliff (sorry ladies, it's a guy thing, and it's gotten a number of us killed). He later admitted that he was, in fact, tempted to do all these things which proves how naturally we invite accidents. Needlesstosay, after hearing about the intense heat and cases of dehydration we packed lots more water. Despite the heat headaches and blisters at the end of the day, it was a fantastic hike that ended with an awesome respect for nature.

This book breaks through the assumption that a national park can be visited with the same indifference to safety as an amusement or theme park. It is written in a surprising straight-forward manner with direct comments on safety. There are discussions about how some deaths could have been avoided, as well as intelligent and professional assessments regarding events surrounding obscure or unwitnessed accidents. Accidents of all manner are organized and discussed: on the rim of the Grand Canyon (picture-taking on the rim can become a nearly fatal activity!), by environmental conditions, by flash floods, on the Colorado river, by aviation, suicide and freak accidents. Each chapter is followed by a list of victims and brief circumstances surrounding their deaths.

There's a lot of history here and several tales of prospectors and frontier adventurers. Some of the stories of more recent accidents are deeply disturbing and demonstrate how much people have suffered. This book serves not only as chronicle of deaths in the Grand Canyon but also as a guide to those who visit and appreciate the enormous power of the place.

18 of 19 found the following review helpful:


Read this book before you hike down!!  Jan 15, 2002 By Paul LeRoux
I recently finished reading Death in the Grand Canyon. What an interesting and informative book!

For some thirty years, I've made a yearly pilgrimage to the Grand Canyon. I've hiked most of the better-known North and South rim trails with a old Navy buddy who needs a Grand Canyon fix two to three times a year.

We are not novices, but certainly not canyoneers. Still, I learned much from your book and certainly advice that someday may save our lives.

We've always had a deep respect for the Canyon -- we hike in March, not the summer; carry enough food, water, clothing; take no stupid shortcuts or climbs, etc. So I've always been comfortable in the Canyon and I am still in awe every year of the spectacular views and majesty of the place.

You said that if more folks who ventured into the Canyon better understood the place, deaths or accidents might be reduced. Well, your premise certainly worked for me. As I said, I'm no pro, but not an amateur hiker either. I've always known about the dangers of the Colorado river, the heat, loose rocks, rim drop offs, etc, but I've never
really thought about sudden flash floods while in the Canyon. Yes, I've seen the results of Havasu floods, but I've never connected that to other parts of the Grand Canyon. Because of your book, I'll now pay much more attention to our camp sites and the higher ground.

I should also mention how much I enjoyed your epilogue. This piece really tied the whole book together; and yes, your conclusion runs so true. We've become a nation that is no longer comfortable shouldering individual responsibility. Now, almost always, it's someone else's fault! "The buck" no longer "stops here."

Thanks for a great read, and information that will make our next hike much safer.

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