The Atlas Obscura Podcast Who Put a Crack in The Glen Canyon Dam?
Sep 10, 2025
Meet Ken Sanders, a passionate bookseller and environmental activist, whose life mission has been to challenge the Glen Canyon Dam. Inspired by a thrilling Western novel, he blends humor and daring acts to fight for the Colorado River's freedom. The discussion dives into the evolution of radical environmentalism, the dangers of a historic flood, and the personal journey of navigating identity in a religious landscape. Find out how activism and literature intertwine against the backdrop of climate change and hope for a revitalized landscape.
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Near-Disaster River Trip
- Ken Sanders recounts a terrifying 1983 Colorado River trip during a giant flood with six-times normal flows.
- He and his friends feared the Glen Canyon Dam might fail and watched plywood hold the dam back.
Novel Sparks Real Activism
- Edward Abbey's novel The Monkey Wrench Gang inspired Ken and others to target Glen Canyon Dam.
- Abbey fictionalized eco-saboteurs and turned real activism into literary fuel for direct action.
Joining Earth First
- Ken met Edward Abbey and joined a secret desert meeting that led to Earth First actions at the dam.
- Activists dropped a 300-foot black plastic
