Rating: 
Summary: THIS BOOK CURES INSOMNIA!!!
Review: I found this book to be extremely dull and dry. I read this book expecting an exciting trip through the grand canyon that was filled with memorable moments. As it turns out, the book really does not have any real memorable moment to be read, and although a bit interesting at times, is most of the time extremely mind numbing. It had no exciting moments, and the climax was when Colin Fletcher learned how to think like a mosquito (He probably thought he could do this because he had been away from civilization too long and had started to go crazy).* This book looks interesting, but is really a waste of time. In reading this book, as Fletcher sad, "I felt something of the joy there must be in making every movement with the delicacy of thistledown." Imagine 240 pages of that and you will get "The Man Who Walks Through Time".*Fletcher makes a point of using annoying little footnotes everywhere he can that are either unnecessary, or can just be added into the actual content of the book.
Rating: 
Summary: Eric Chomko
Review: I love this story! I have been to the Grand Canyon 6 times. I have done 3 rim-to-rim hikes. I have been to Phantom Ranch 4 times. Needless to say, I love the Grand Canyon! This account of an extended trek covers sacred ground. Fletcher
has spent a long time in the canyon on one occasion. I dream of spending that sort of time. As I get the pilgramage aspect of his trek he doesn't have the continuity of time in the canyon over years. He gets the aspect of what time means in the canyon, but his lack of having returned over years has him a one time visitor. My experience is over many years. One must always plan the next trip to really get the canyon. You really can't do it all even once if you are there for a long time on single occasion. The canyon is a lifetime experience. His approach of having done it once lacks many key trails and views. Not to belittle Mr. Flecther's historic hike, but one can't help but to think about the multiple treks of Harvey Butchart. In fact, Fletcher uses Bucthart as his main reference but lacks to mention Butchart's treks (from 60s to mids 70s) in his 1987 update of the book. (See John Annerio's book, "Hiking in the Grand Canyon" for an excellent account of Butchart's feats.) In all though, I do recommend hiking in the Grand Canyon, and Mr. Fletcher's book is an excellent way to re-experience the canyon after a trek. This is escpecially true if your treks are few and far in between like an east-coaster such as myself. The canyon is a spirtual experience as Colin Fletcher has described. But one must really get their own spiritualism with one's own experience to really feel the rhythm. In short, his book is great but you must actually walk the canyon to really get the aspect of walking through time as Mr. Fletcher eludes to very nicely. Eric Chomko, Nov. 2002
Rating: 
Summary: Trekking to Understand Man's Place in the World
Review: I plan to hike from one rim of the Grand Canyon down into the Canyon and ascend to the other rim. Having recently seen Colin Fletcher's book on a list of the "100 Greatest Adveture Stories" compiled on behalf of National Geographic Explorer Magazine, I thought it would be a worthwhile read. Captivated by his initial view of the Grand Canyon in 1962, Fletcher developed a well conceived plan and completed his two month trek the following summer. Not a "how to book," there are useful insights about hiking and backpacking in the Grand Canyon to be gleaned from the book. Though Fletcher clearly faced danger and hardship, he could have escaped the canyon if necessary, he had regular supply drops along the way, and people knew roughly where he would be on his journey. Fletcher's story is not a tale of desparate survival such as Shackleton's "South" or Krakauer's "Into Thin Air." Those looking for a story of that genre will be disappointed. Fletcher's journey would be better viewed as a spiritual pilgrimage as he contemplates the age of the earth, the web of life and man's place in all of it. At times, Fletcher's ruminations seem a bit contrived and grasping, but the overall message that man is a bit player is thought provoking. Though man may be a bit player in the spectacle of earth's natural history, yet we have quickly developed capabilities to wreak havoc. Fletcher's closing ideas about the importance of protecting special places like the Grand Canyon are compelling.
Rating:
Summary: Gorgeous writing
Review: I've been to the Grand Canyon once, and it blew my mind. :-) Colin Fletcher's book is beautifully written. Admittedly, I found myself getting slightly lost in the geological descriptions, but his ability to turn such wonderful phrases makes for good reading. Overall, this book has stood the test of time. :-) If you're interested in backpacking and transformation, I would highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Gorgeous writing
Review: I've been to the Grand Canyon once, and it blew my mind. :-) Colin Fletcher's book is beautifully written. Admittedly, I found myself getting slightly lost in the geological descriptions, but his ability to turn such wonderful phrases makes for good reading. Overall, this book has stood the test of time. :-) If you're interested in backpacking and transformation, I would highly recommend this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful Tale of Mind and Spirit
Review: I've never seen the Grand Canyon, but after reading Fletcher's book I feel that I've already been there. Colin's trek through the canyon in the early 1960's is a wonderful example of descriptive writing and attention to detail. One can almost visualize the immense passages of time as they unfolded before his eyes during his solitary walk through the heart of the canyon. Those of you looking for adventure and action need to look elsewhere, though. This book is about reflection and introspection, one man's thoughts about his (and mankind's) place and role on this planet. As Colin himself says the book and hike is meant to be more like a pilgrimage to a strange and wonderful place than a mere journal of collected thoughts. This inspiring book has me adding 'hike the Grand Canyon' on my life's 'to do' list, and it will be on yours, too!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Tale of Mind and Spirit
Review: I've never seen the Grand Canyon, but after reading Fletcher's book I feel that I've already been there. Colin's trek through the canyon in the early 1960's is a wonderful example of descriptive writing and attention to detail. One can almost visualize the immense passages of time as they unfolded before his eyes during his solitary walk through the heart of the canyon. Those of you looking for adventure and action need to look elsewhere, though. This book is about reflection and introspection, one man's thoughts about his (and mankind's) place and role on this planet. As Colin himself says the book and hike is meant to be more like a pilgrimage to a strange and wonderful place than a mere journal of collected thoughts. This inspiring book has me adding 'hike the Grand Canyon' on my life's 'to do' list, and it will be on yours, too!
Rating:
Summary: solitude from humanity, intergrating with the natural world
Review: Only by being down in the canyon can one truly appreciate the natural wonder of what it is. Fletcher takes us there, through descriptions of surroundings and his thought processes while en route. An awe-inspiring and humbling experience. It would be hard for any reader who has not been below the rim to fully appreciate the contents of this book. Fletcher does an admirable job of attempting to relay the impact the canyon can have upon a person.
Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece from the "Elder of the tribe"
Review: Preparing to hike the canyon myself I wanted to read up on what it would be like.I found "The Man Who Walked Through Time" in the bookstore on the Canyon's rim and read it right there,under a tree. This book will transport you to another world,deep below the rim and the mystery's and dangers therein. Colin Fletcher's courage and precise planning made for a successful journey and anyone planning a trip within the Grand Canyon would do well to read this book. I still have that worn copy I bought in 1972 and I re-read it once a year-just before I pull on my pack and head down the Canyon. Cheers Mr. Fletcher,Cheers.
Rating:
Summary: The Man Who Walked Through Time
Review: The Man Who Walked Through Time, Colin Fletcher, United States: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., January 15, 1968. 247pg. The book, "The Man Who Walked Through time" by Colin Fletcher is an amazing book about how Colin Fletcher himself attempts to be the first person to walk the length of the canyon. Colin Fletcher really goes into detail about what he was thinking and feeling along the way. Not to say that he never talks about what he actually does, he just includes more about what his mindset was. You would think that a book about a man and his journey's would start out as the boring day 1, day 2, day 3 and day 4, then day 5, but Colin Fletcher throws away this idea and beautify pieces together a flowing natural story. He never bores you with every single detail, but instead talks about the most exiting things. The book "The Man Who Walked Though Time" is meant for any reader interested in the canyon or anyone that would want to follow in Colin's footsteps. I myself live at the canyon, and when reading about how Colin Fletcher walked the length of the canyons National Park I was awe struck. Later I was relieved to find out that the Grand Canyon National Park boundary was a lot shorter. It was also nerve racking to thinks of how he is going to lug his food around for 3 months, but I was soon to read that he was going to have airplanes drop his food off at certain locations. "That's crazy" I though, "you would have to spend millions of dollars to be able to do that". That is when I learned that Colin Fletcher had walked that canyon in the 60's and back then it must have been inexpensive to have an airplane drop off your food or you had connections. While I was reading the book, Colin Fletcher was talking about the Rhythm of the rocks and how he needed to connect with the beaver, and "be the beaver" and be one with all of the animals. I literally thought that he was going crazy, that he has been in the canyon way to long and has gone nuts, but then I started to realize what type of mindset he is in. He has been alone for so long in such a beautiful and amazing place. When I start to think about what Colin Fletcher was saying about the rhythm of the rocks and how our time and the canyons time is way different I really admired the way Colin put his thoughts together. It was just beautiful writing, that is all there is to it. I personally thought that the book was amazingly well written, and like I had said before, the way Colin doesn't use the writing format of what he did every single day. He just points out the main facts about his journey. The book really inspired me to just go out and walk the Grand Canyons length myself. Since Colin explained that he wasn't the fittest guy in the world it really showed that if you worked hard enough you yourself could walk the Grand Canyon. I can't think of anything that Colin Fletcher left out in his book. I mean sure he left out all the little details, which is good otherwise it would have been horribly slow and dreadful. I have never really read any other books about the canyon so I don't have anything to compare this book to. Don't worry though; I still thought that the book was great. I have walked in and around the canyon a lot but not for very long periods of time. Colin Fletcher, in the book was talking about how Beaver Sandbar (a place in the canyon) really affected him and moved him. I thought that to be a little odd, but since I wasn't walking in his shoes I pass to much judgment. Other that that little oddity the book "The Man Who Walked Through Time" was brilliant. Go read it!
| 
