John Wesley Powell, American Badass
February 25, 2023 John Wesley Powell began exploring the Colorado River and canyons on the staircase in 1869. Prior to his expedition, most white explorers who came to this area regarded the canyons as unimpressive geological formations that stood in the way of easy travel through the area. When he completed surveying the area he stated, ‘“I tell you gentlemen, you are piling up a heritage of conflict and litigation over water rights, for there is not sufficient water to supply these lands!”’ (Sadler, The Colorado, 2018). In this same book Sadler also shares a famous quote from Mark Twain, ‘“whisky’s for drinking, water’s…
