Grand Canyon's Phantom Ranch

Images of America: Arizona

by Robert W. Audretsch

Phantom Ranch is nestled in the Grand Canyon basin on the Colorado River--a location hardly visible from the rim and only accessible after a journey through scores of geologic layers. The only way there is by river rafting, hiking, or mule, and with each foot of the journey, the traveler descends 30,000 years in geologic time. While at Phantom Ranch, the view looking above is of 1.7 billion years of geology, all swirling together in an alphabet of colors. Grand Canyon's Phantom Ranch is the story of the rustic buildings designed by architect Mary Jane Colter in 1921, of the park's first peoples, river rafters, the early trail and bridge builders, and dramatic flash floods. When travelers leave Phantom Ranch, they are never the same. For some of them, departing is as if they have just said good-bye to an old friend.

Genres: Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published February 13, 2012

About the author

Robert W. “Bob” Audretsch, B.A., M.S.L.S., held professional library positions in Michigan, Ohio, and Colorado from 1970 to 1987. He was editor, The Salem, Ohio, 1850 Women’s Rights Convention Proceedings book reprint, 1976. From 1987 to 2009 Bob was: a volunteer ranger at Chaco Culture National Historical Park; park ranger at Independence National Historical Park and Grand Canyon National Park (1990-2009). He has lifelong interests in nature, history, and writing. In 1995 he, along with Gary Ladd, was awarded “Best Story of the Year” by Arizona Highways, for the article “Bushwacking to Cheyava Falls.”

While working at the park Bob contributed frequent writing assignments for the National Park Service such as site bulletins and brochures. He was team leader, researcher and writer for the 2008 multi-media exhibit “It Saved My Life; The Civilian Conservation Corps at Grand Canyon, 1933-1942.” In 2008 he received the park service “Interpreter of the Year” Peer Nominated Award. He authored the Foreword to With Picks, Shovels, & Hope: The CCC and Its Legacy on the Colorado Plateau by Wayne K. Hinton and Elizabeth Green in 2008. Bob published the monograph Shaping the Park and Saving the Boys: The Civilian Conservation Corps at Grand Canyon, 1933-1942 (Dog Ear Publishing, 2011). He is the author of the popular Grand Canyon’s Phantom Ranch (Images of America) and published his most two most recent books, The Civilian Conservation Corps in Arizona (Images of America) and Selected Grand Canyon Area Hiking Routes, Including the Little Colorado River and Great Thumb in 2014. His research has taken him frequently to archives in California, Arizona, Colorado, Maryland and the District of Columbia.

https://www.hitthetrail.com/contribut...

Reviews

[Bethan Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Preparing to hike to Phantom Ranch, I was gifted this book. The history is interesting to be sure. I say 3 stars because all photos, including those from more recent years are in black and white. I’m sure that was a budgetary decision but negatively impacted the reading/viewing experience.

[Terri Brewster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. It is mainly pictured with stories beneath, but at the beginning of each chapter, there is a page or two of the history of Phantom Ranch. Fascinating history of a small portion of the Grand Canyon.

[Lesley Looper · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hope to visit the Grand Canyon one day, so I enjoy reading books like this (especially with photos) that help me learn more. Phantom Ranch sounds like an interesting spot.

[Susan Yoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short on text; lots of pictures. Can read it in an hour.