The Mystery of Everett Ruess

by W.L. Rusho (Editor)

The story of Everett Ruess, who disappeared in the wilderness of Southern Utah in 1934, has for decades been one of the most intriguing mysteries of western lore. A Californian off on an adventure at age 20, he loved poetry, nature, art, and beauty. His family tracked his wanderings for four years, and then Everett disappeared without a trace.

In 2008 an old Navajo Indian came forward with information that he had witnessed a murder in 1934, probably that of young Ruess. The bones were recovered, DNA testing was done, National Geographic Adventurer picked up the story, and the family reacted.

In a new epilogue, author Rusho confronts the truth.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, History

272 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2010

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The world has seemed more beautiful to me than ever before. I have loved red rocks, twisted trees, the red sand blowing in the wind, the slow sunny clouds crossing the sky, the shafts of moonlight on my bed at night. I have had many sublime experiences which the presence of another person might well have prevented, but there are others which the presence of a perceptive and appreciative friend might have been made doubly worthwhile. I have shirked contact with humanity, preferring to live more perfectly in isolation. Yet, after all, people are interdependent, and I have felt the need of a real friend.
-Everett Ruess

I imagine myself to be Everett Ruess, somewhere in Davis Gulch, moments before I "disappear". Romantic, lonely and at once completely as one with the desert. I want to speak with him at this moment, to know his fears and desires.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everett adds to the Edward Abbey adventures. There has to be something compelling around four corners and the Grand Canyon. Everett Ruess was far too young to go missing. He had been hiking and camping in the area from 16-20, 1931-1934. His parents had supported his travels all those years while older brother Waldo managed to travel in essence the world. The boy was very outgoing and met many of the Abbey crowd out there. It was like a group of people escaping the work a day profession to write, collect and discover unexplored spaces at an early part of the 20th Century. The parents kept alive the possibility of their son's return or just finding his body. Today the search teams would be able to recover any lost soul.

There was mental illness with his highs and lows that indicate at times, a death wish. When he was passionate, his words conveyed beauty beyond human understanding. The letters and notes collected helped to carry the reader into the wilderness with him. His mother was artistic and understood her son and his pilgrimage. There is no answer to the mystery even today.

[Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Probably would have enjoyed this more if I had read it immediately after reading Into the Wild and other free wielding adventure related works. Instead it sat on my shelf for quite some time.. There are some very poignant and wild remarks as detailed in the letters written to loved ones that I connected with and read a few times over. I would have loved to see more sketches or block prints throughout

[Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the landscapes and the imagery but kinda wished the starry-eyed youth would grow up a little. Yes he's flirting with the ideal but he lost himself in it and missed it.

Still, I'll wonder about him now and then in the redrock country

[Wayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

For an adventurer and independent spirit Everett's favorite subject in writing to his parents seemed to be asking for them to mail him some more money. I did enjoy the photos and woodcuts.

[Russ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is mostly Everett in his own words. From p 204, As to when I shall visit civilization, it will not be soon, I think. I have not tired of the wilderness; rather I enjoy its beauty and the vagrant life I lead, more keenly all the time. I prefer the saddle to the streetcar and star-sprinkled sky to a roof, the obscure and difficult trail, leading into the unknown, to any paved highway, and the deep peace of the wild to the discontent bred by cities. Do you blame me then for staying here, where I feel that I belong and am one with the world around me?

After reading Everett's own words, Rusho takes the reader through several theories about Everett's disappearance. Did Everett plan his own disappearance, was he murdered? The efforts to answer that question even complicated the existence of National Geographic Adventure Magazine (although that aspect is not addressed in this book).

Do you want to learn more about the life of Everett Ruess, are you intrigued by the mystery of his disappearance? If yes, then this book is highly recommended reading.

[Nomad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is made up mostly of Everett Ruess's letters to Family and Friends. Everett's letters are very well written and insightful. Everett was an Artist and travelled by himself
, mostly in northern Arizona and southern Utah. Everett was 20 years old when he disappeared near the beautiful lonely "Hole-in-the-Rock"road in southern Utah in 1935. There are many theories from murder to Everett running away with a Navajo wife. This mystery is interesting to me because I live in Southern Utah and Everett was such an intelligent, talented young Man. nomad

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this but there were some editing problems, information repeated, etc. The is the second book about Everett that I've read and my timing was perfect, as just after finishing this, I went hiking through the Peek-a-Boo and Spooky slot canyons in the Escalante desert. Everett and his disappearance continue to intrigue me, though in this book, reading it 20+ years after first reading about him, I could see how very self-centered and young he was. He had this amazing sensitivity to beauty around him but I can't help but wonder how years and maturity would have tempered and refined that…

[Steven Bartelt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be very intriquing and absorbing ! It was hard to stop once I started reading it. Although there were letters and diary entries to read he remains a mysterious figure. Your thoughts on him varied from him being selfish to just a young man searching for a place in the world. He someone managed to met interesting people from famous artists to Native Americans in the 1930's.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

aaagggh if I could give it 3.5 I would, good but not great, interesting but repetitive, did make me want to be in the wilderness every day though, but I already wanted that anyway

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writing was passable. The story is compelling until the book rehashes facts too many times and draws out the last couple of chapters. Still a good read if you enjoy real mysteries.