Grand Obsession: Harvey Butchart and the Exploration of Grand Canyon

by Elias Butler, Tom Myers

Legendary Grand Canyoneer Harvey Butchart climbed, hiked, floated and bushwhacked 12,000 pioneering miles below the rim during a 42-year obsession with the world-famous gorge. Here for the first time is Harvey's life his years as a fatherless child in the mountains of China, his struggles in America during the Great Depression, and finally, his all-consuming drive for greatness by exploring one of the West's last unknown wildernesses. Lace up your boots and follow along as the authors retrace Harvey's footsteps on dangerous cliff edges while chronicling his thrilling exploits, heart-breaking tragedies, and lasting triumphs. Part biography, part modern-day adventure, Grand Obsession will take you deeper into the soul of this fascinating man - and Grand Canyon - than you have ever been before. Contains over 170 photographs, many never-before-published, and Harvey Butchart's hand-stenciled maps showing his treks in Grand Canyon. The paperback edition contains black-and-white maps, the hardback edition contains color maps.

Genres: Biography, Adventure, Nonfiction, Outdoors

457 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2007

Reviews

[Todd Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grand Obsession is a biography of Harvey Butchart, arguably the most prolific Grand Canyon hiker of all time. The book follows his life from birth in China in 1907 to missionary parents to death at age 95 in 2002.

Though it starts out slow, once Harvey finally discovers the Grand Canyon at age 38 (on page 95) the pace picks up and the book becomes quite engaging for the bulk of its remaining chapters. After reading the book I can't say I have much of a feel for Harvey as a person. But my suspicion is that this is a fairly accurate characterization. He was a bit of an enigma, driven and competitive, but not exactly someone you'd describe as brimming with personality.

While I enjoyed this book quite a bit, I think the authors should have ended it sooner and simply summarized his later years in a few sentences. Instead they followed him into his old age, physical decline and dotage. This process is bound to happen to everyone lucky to live long enough, but I'm not sure it contributes anything to the story or adds to one's legacy. He lived a long life that was full of adventure. One should be so lucky.

[Susan Kruger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating look at a man obsessed. Plus it was a great look at the grand canyon from the perspective of a man who knew it better than anyone else up to that point ever had. I loved learning more about the canyon that has enthralled me as well.

[Melinda Brasher · Rating 4 out of 5]

More accurate rating: 4.5 stars.

As a person currently quite obsessed with the Grand Canyon (though not as obsessed as Harvey Buchart), I thought this was really interesting. The authors certainly did their research, and though I think it could have been trimmed a bit, it didn’t feel overburdened by the weight of that research.

The style was very readable, and I liked knowing more about Harvey’s early life and later life, as well as the lives of some of his contemporary hiker/explorers. I also enjoyed the authors’ attempts to recreate some of the routes/climbs Harvey did.

I enjoyed the pictures. I wish there had been a few more maps (the famous one on the inside cover was too tiny to be terribly useful)

Overall, a slightly long but very interesting read for someone already interested in the topic. It might be a bit much for those who aren’t already a little obsessed.

And Harvey…though this book did keep him a bit at arms’ length, it worked for me, because it kept him larger than life.

[Maineguide · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleasantly surprised about this well-researched, thick tome of a book about Harvey Butchart, an otherwise mild-mannered math professor who becomes obsessed with finding dozens of new or long-abandoned indigenous routes throughout the Grand Canyon. While some of his trips seemed downright fool-hardy, where a small slip will send you plummeting 500 feet, over time, he builds such a repertoire and reputation about the Canyon’s backcountry, that Park officials come to him for rescues and other help. This book belongs right along Colin Fletcher’s “A Walk Through Time,” a great book on the first through hike of the Grand Canyon.

[Diane Winger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating history of canyoneering wonder, Harvey Butchart, for people who love the Grand Canyon and stories of adventure. Some of the personal histories weren't as interesting to me as the actual hikes and climbs, but this was very well-written and researched.

[Timmy Fearn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly well researched and highly recommended for anyone interested in Grand Canyon lore and exploring under the rim.

[Randi Strauss · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. That is all.

[River James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Harvey was absolutely obsessed. And not in that good way.... It seems a good editor would have got this down to half the ink. For the completist.

[Norm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book, worthy of its 2 principal subjects, Harvey Butchart and the Grand Canyon.
A slight, mild-mannered math professor, Harvey Butchart was also a tireless explorer of and "route-finder" for the Grand Canyon, blazing new trails within the Canyon and recording his findings in personal logs and published guide-books.

But, we also get a first-hand look at the "dark" side of Harvey's obession, especially the chasm it cleaved between Harvey and his wife, Roma. Harvey's story clearly shows there is indeed a price to pay for the single-minded pursuit of one's passion. His success comes at a price, not only to himself but to those closest to him; including once with tragic results.

Along the way, the authors also guide the reader through many side paths, to include fascinating bits of Grand Canyon lore and profiles of the people whose exploits are legend among Canyon devotees. They are all here... hikers, climbers, river runners and swimmers, the seekers and the hangers-on and just plain adventurers. A colorful array of characters, many who seemed happiest and most fulfilled when they were living "below the Rim" and on the edge.

I first heard of Harvey Butchart in Colin Fletcher's excellent "The Man Who Walked Through Time".
Fletcher rates his own chapter in "Grand Obession" and rightly so. I recommend both books.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Wesley Powell, Everett Ruess, Edward Abbey, Colin Fletcher, and now I've met Harvey Butchart--all of whom have expanded my fascination with the red rocks and canyon country of the Colorado Plateau. Harvey didn't write his own literary work, but kept meticulous logs, corresponded with many, and took photos of his many miles hiking the most inaccessible cliffs and canyons of the Grand Canyon. Co-authors Butler and Myers do a good job of condensing all that experience into one readable volume, even adding a few chapters about their own Harvey-inspired attempt to climb one of the peaks within the Canyon, Wotan's Throne. More than just one adventure after another, the authors also devote a chapter to how such a time and energy-consuming obsession affected Harvey and Roma's marriage, other notable and equally obsessed characters, and Harvey's final old age and declining years. Harvey was a competitive athlete, but he could also make some very self-deprecating, modest comments that are in some moments downright hilarious. Although his published guidebooks only hint at routes, he was generous with his knowledge and encouragement in person, even when that sometimes led to disasters. All in all, a rewarding armchair adventure.

[shan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grand Obsession was an interesting look into the life of a man who was consumed with the very same Canyon that holds my own fascination. In the introduction, the authors warn that they deviate from a golden rule of writing a biography and include themselves in the story and they did so splendidly. Their own adventures in Harvey's footsteps provided valuable insight, and their experiences highlighted how tough Harvey truly was even though he himself recorded only the barest details with terse accounts of these same routes. I have my own sights set on repeating some of Harvey's adventures, but while I thought that he was a man that I admired with growing esteem, the biography was candid and also exposed another side of the hiking king, one that let down his family and had a cavalier attitude towards the delicate environment that is the Canyon and also the authorities that have jurisdiction over it. Harvey will remain an inspiration to me, and I hope to learn from the lessons that the book helped to teach on behalf of him. Throughout the story Elias Butler and Tom Myers had me loving Harvey, idolizing Harvey, hating Harvey and finally mourning Harvey. It was a fantastic read.

[Judy]

I recently reserved a spot on a Grand Canyon float trip in 2018 and thought I'd see what my local, Arizona library (Sierra Vista) had on its shelves. This biography of Harvey Butchart seemed like a long shot for someone who has barely visited the canyon and has never hiked in it. But, in my opinion, Butler and Elias wrote both a compelling biography and a superb armchair travel guide. In the process they illustrated how a wild and rugged place can form the centerpiece of a life and how that life can inspire others. They also left me with a strong desire to see the Canyon for myself, albeit in a very small sense, in 2018.

[Jfsbaker01 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is well written. The black and white photos of the Grand Canyon are breath taking. Harvey's life was interesting; born in China the son of missionaries, moved to America after the death of his father. One inspirational fact about Harvey was how a brilliant man, only failed one course (Algebra), mastered the course over the summer, then earned a PhD in mathematics. Obviously, failure was not in his vocabulary. His photgraphic memory and detailed notes of the Grand Canyon helped many an adventurer. Sadly, he was st times reckless and did not follow "eave no trace".

[Andrew Ludke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Before launching on a 17 day 300 mile kayaking trip on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon I read several books about the canyon and river thinking they would inform my trip and make it more enjoyable...This is a great story that would be appreciated by an avid hiker or nature traveler, but it's more than that. It's the story of an obsessed mathematics professor and his single handed pursuit of every footpath and goat trail in the Grand Canyon.

[Kev]

Hey everybody!!! I spent 8 days with this guy & a group of 30 on the Colorado River thru Grand Canyon in late July/early August 1989. I heard these stories first hand. I have his hiking journals on my harddrive but knew nothing of this book!!! Can't wait to read it. This resource is amazing. Thanks, JEFF!

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a Grand Canyon hiker I found this book it be very interesting. Harvey has done some incredible hikes in the canyon. I needed a map to really get the descriptions of the hikes. I've been a few of the places mentioned. I'm not sure what to think of him as a person.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my best books of 2007.
Great history of people for whom hiking the Grand Canyon was an obsession. Mixture of personalities, hiking memories, great inside stores, ...

[Chris Seals · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! Wish I could have hiked with Harvey, but he would have left me in the dust.

[Guy McArthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredibly fascinating biography.