John Harvey Butchart

From the 1950s to the 1980s, John Harvey Butchart hiked the Grand Canyon and Colorado Plateau. When not working in the Mathematics Department at Arizona State College, Butchart found 108 approaches to the Colorado River, climbed 83 summits, and scaled canyon walls at 164 different places. Experience the joys and dangers of his adventures through his searchable hiking logs. Wayne Tomasi, Anthony Williams, and Tony Voth edited and compiled a digital version of Butchart's typed logs to foster greater access to the wonders of the Grand Canyon.

"Siegfried would rank high among the most satisfying summits I have reached."

� Siegfried Pyre, October 9, 1971.


Inscription in passage through Tapeats, February 15, 1958.


Perhaps Butchart's satisfaction derived from the potential dangers and interesting history encountered during his frequent hikes. He not only witnessed amazing vistas, but also stumbled upon dynamite, wildlife, and even his own initials carved in rock. In the below excerpt, he describes the injuries he suffered from a fall during a hike in 1966.

My original timetable called for three and one half hours spent along the Redwall from Fossil to Specter. I was already about an hour behind schedule, and I seemed to be making poorer progress than I had hoped along here too. I decided to keep going forward until 2:00 p.m. If by then I saw that the rest of the trip down into Specter was sure, I would advance, but if not I would spend the rest of the afternoon heading back, a discouraging thought. It now seemed that this frustrating safety measure would have to be used. Perhaps I was trying to hurry, or it may be that I am getting careless. Anyway, while I was looking for the route two steps ahead, I stumbled. I tried to check the fall by advancing a foot, but that foot caught on something. I fell headlong and my canteen flopped up and caught my full weight on its shallow cylindrical surface. The 25 pound pack added to the impact. The blow came right over the heart. I got my canteen and pack off and rolled back into the shade of a large rock to get over the shock and assess the damage if any. I had cracked a rib in Kanab Creek with a lighter blow, and I had done the same with a heavier impact while skiing. I could move into various positions without too severe pain, and I decided that what I felt was probably just a severe bruise. I went on very carefully and slowly around the angle and down parallel to the river to the next point before the wall developed a hollow. It was probably about a sixth of the way to the ravine in Specter, and it had taken nearly an hour. The pain in my chest was increasing, and by now a sort of secondary shock was making my knees tremble. I took a couple of pictures and decided that I had had enough for one trip.

� John Harvey Butchart, Fossil Bay and Redwall Rim to Specter, July 25, 1966 to July 27, 1966.


(Photo on left) Red Colorado water, Forester Canyon, July 25, 1966, (photo on right) up from Fossil to Forester, July 26, 1966.


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