ROPING LIONS IN THE GRAND CANYON

Chapters 3 & 4

by Zane Grey

The adventure moves into high gear in Chapters 3 and 4 of Roping Lions in the Grand Canyon, Zane Grey's account of his actual experiences in the Grand Canyon country with famed frontiersman Buffalo Jones and his companions. Grey made a point of telling his young readers that this was not fiction. This was the true story behind adventures he later incorporated into his novels. [gutenberg.net.au]

In these chapters, Grey's party has a rather unusual problem on its hands: how do you transport live mountain lions through some of the roughest country imaginable?

The captured lions are secured in large panniers for the journey back to camp, but the horses want nothing to do with them. The task falls to the stallion Marc, resulting in one of the more memorable episodes of the expedition as the Navajo rider contends with Marc's wild reaction to carrying such extraordinary cargo. [bestof1001...tories.com]

It's a remarkable glimpse into another era of outdoor adventure, populated by tough horses, experienced outdoorsmen, hunting dogs, ropes, difficult trails and the spectacular landscape of the Grand Canyon.

But there is another side to this story that is worth remembering.

Grey specifically dedicated this adventure to the Boy Scouts of America, hoping that stories such as this would inspire young people to develop a deeper love and appreciation for the American outdoors. He encouraged young people to hike, camp, ride horses, spend time with dogs, learn practical outdoor skills and seek wild creatures with more desire to study them than to kill them. [gutenberg.net.au]

More than a century later, that's a message worth passing along.

Put down the controller once in a while. Take a hike. Go fishing. Pitch a tent. Watch wildlife. Explore a trail. Look up at the stars.

There is a whole world waiting beyond the front door.

1001 OUTDOOR ADVENTURE STORIES

Adventure is still out there. Get outside and find it.