The river that carved the ruggedly spectacular chasm preserved at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado, remains untamed for 26 miles. Sheer walls of primordial schist and gneiss soar 1,700 feet above river level at the 40-foot Narrows and 2,250 feet at Painted Wall. This book describes the process that helped create one of the most dramatic gorges in the United States and the efforts of local residents to preserve this breathtaking Colorado chasm as a national park.