The Very Hard Way: Bert Loper and the Colorado River

by Brad Dimock

Bert Loper, the Grand Old Man of the Colorado, was born the day Major Powell discovered the confluence of the San Juan and Colorado in 1869. He died just days after the first motorboat had passed through Grand Canyon. He knew every river runner in between, and by the time of his death at 80 years old, had run more of the Colorado than anyone. But it was never easy--orphaned an abused, Loper had to make his way along the bottom of society, often as a hard-rock miner, coal miner or lonely placer miner on a gravel bar. But in the Colorado River he found inspiration, and he died at the oars of his own wooden boat in a major Grand Canyon Rapid. Loper is truly mythic, and his is the story of the Colorado.

472 pages, Perfect Paperback

First published March 15, 2007

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bert Loper's West: "I belong to the wondrous west and all of the west is mine...".

Incredible journey through history and the life of Bert Loper. 1869-1949

"Thoughts that come in the night" of his reflections of the river and his feelings of being beside the river, listening to it it, are beautiful. Brought to my mind the times we have spent alongside the Green and the Colorado. We have been lucky, indeed!

[Zack Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bert Loper is a fascinating character and Dimock certainly does him justice. The book is more than 600 pages, covering a man who didn't necessarily do anything earthshaking but changed the world in his own small ways. A reminder that all of us have something to contribute to the world - if this random miner can have a 600 page biography, so could any of us.

[SJC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a book for everyone, but if you like boating, on the Colorado River system, and you like biographies- then this is a well written and well researched book that stays unbiased, and gives a window into a challenging, yet remarkable and long fully lived life boating the San Juan, glen canyon, the green river, the salmon, the Gunnison, and the Grand Canyon before he died at age 80 trying to repeat his Grand Canyon float he had done 10 years earlier.

He, not once but twice, went UP Glen Canyon, in the WINTER, usually dragging his boat up all the low water riffles while wading in the water, sometimes chest deep. People were far more hardy back then I suppose.

Some quotes:
From Bert Loper: there sure is a thrill in running rough water, and I hope that the sense of elation never leaves me, but there is so much more to a trip of this kind than the rapids, for the wonders of the majestic walls – the grandeur and stupendiousness of the mighty chasms through which the Colorado wends its way is sure an awe inspiring site and I would sure feel sorry for the one who fails to appreciate it.

The healer, a poem by Don Blanding:
When my mind feels soiled by cities, and my ears are deaf with din. When I’ve had too much of people and my nerves are drawn too thin.
I seek the desert silence where the mighty Mesas stand, like the ruins of old cathedrals in a vast impressive land.
I bathe my heart in stillness as cool as a mountain lake. I ease my mind‘s hot tension and and its fevered ache.
The desert is old in wisdom that the ancient gods have known, and a man may know it’s healing if he goes to its heart … alone.

[Jim Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read several biographies about real people, however, few have been written with the honesty and joy of a real human being. My heart goes out to people like Bert and Rachel Loper. People much like my grandparents, kind, thoughtful , and flawed humans. Brad Dimock brings these people to life. I would have been honored to claim Bert and Rachel Loper as my grandparents.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great read if you fancy yourself as an armchair adventurer. Bert Loper, an inveterate tale teller, boat (primitive) enthusiast and river runner had an amazing life filled with hard work and great river trips. I wish I could have been in a boat with him.

[Emma Beau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gotta love Burt. A little dry but still great.

[Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 8 in 2024: The Very Hard Way: Bert Loper and the Colorado River by Brad Dimock (2007, Fretwater Press, 457 p.)

Bert Loper was a whitewater man...

I didn't know much about Bert Loper, except for a wildly inaccurate song from the Songs from the River collection.

Loper was indeed a whitewater man, continuing boating the major Colorado Basin rivers until his 80th year. He seemed destined for a life on the River, having been born in 1869 during the first Powell expedition. He died early in his second run of Grand Canyon, likely of a heart attack and drowning. While his boat was found (and still can be seen in the Canyon and marked on river maps), his remains weren't discovered until the 1970s.

Dimock writes a captivating biography of man who lived life the very hard wsy, with little education, struggling with poverty, and doing hard manual labor throughout his life. Dimock brings out both loves of Loper's life...the river and his wife Rachel.

It was inspiring to me as a 62 year old how long ol' Bert kept boating. I can only hope.

This highly readable biography is recommended.

Thanks to my kayaking buddy Jim Hanson for loaning it to me.

[Ants · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brad Dimock has written an excellent book, but it will likely not be a fast reader. There are 457 numbered pages, plenty of references and an abundance of pictures.

Albert Loper, commonly referred to as Bert, lived a life that I could not imagine. For those who may be curious, I am a much bigger fan of history and story than a river rat. The history of activities in the Grand Canyon (other than native Americans) is surprisingly well documented. Loper's life leading up to his river adventures was a hard scrabble existence. It didn't change much, but his River enthusiasm never waned.

Dimock's unique approach in presenting the material was executed well. I would imagine the 'aha' moment when the approach revealed itself was well remembered. With the abundance of material, the opportunities must have been plenty to get lost in the writing the book.

To Bert, may your spirit continue to inspire others around the rivers. To Brad, congratulations - I appreciate your efforts and the results. To future readers, take the time to read the details of an amazing life, an era that was profoundly different than the current, and appreciate how plain folks survived in a more demanding life.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but, 400 pages is a lot to read about some old river rat who didn't really accomplish that much in his life. My enjoyment came from the fact that I was personally familiar with the rivers he ran and like learning about those who preceded todays river runners. It was interesting to see the connections between Mr. Loper and the young river guides that he trained who were the old timers and pioneers I learned about when I worked on the Colorado river in the 1970's. I was surprised that the names of the rapids in the Grand Canyon have remained constant over the years. It was also interesting to learn more of the history of the towns and communities in Southern Utah in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Many of the river access points today are at the same locations as in 1900 but the mining and ranching communities that once existed there have disappeared and I never understood who or why they had built roads to access these remote spots like Cisco, Sand Wash and Hite.

[Lynette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exhaustively researched history of Bert Loper ... who was quite a guy. Interesting two-track structure (odd# chapters = life, even# chapters = legend) - which in the beginning I thought would drive me crazy, but really ... we know how it ends, so he might as well just start there, right? I really enjoyed seeing the interplay between Loper and other characters from river history that I've read about over the years. And, this adds to the number of people I want to read about!

[River James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr. Dimock is a very good writer, excellent researcher, and can spin a damn good story sitting in his boat on the Colorado River. Unlike his other books, Sunk without a Sound or The Doing of the Thing, there is no captivating mystery or heroic story here, just the details of a life and the evolution of the art of running rivers. I think this book is more for the completist, whereas the other two mentioned will appeal to a broader audience.

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book I ever wrote.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good book about the first known explorations of the Colorado by boat/raft and the crazy-ass people that first ran the river!

[Corey Ames · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a former river guide, it was great to read about the pioneers of river running. I found I can track my guide training back to Burt via Ken Sleight and the first generation of SPLORE guides!