Jumping Horses into the Colorado

My great grandfather, Jeff Stowell and his brother Alf, had left their father at gun point back in Indian Wells, AZ.  Its 1890, they started with two horses and two wagons.  After 180 miles, they arrive at Lee's Ferry, AZ, the only place where the Grand Canyon comes down to the water so travelers could cross it.

They had left with two wagons, but they crossed the ferry with only one.  I believe the trail down to the river, crossing Lee's Backbone was so precarious that they ditched the second wagon.  The result would have been that their wagon was likely twice as heavy and even harder to maneuver.

Getting down Lee's Backbone would have been incredibly difficult...  Not to mention the extra 500 miles to get back to Mom up in Northern Utah.