The New York Tribune, after the collapse of this Brown expedition, quotes Powell in an interview as saying that he would not have ventured in the boats Brown selected and that he thought Brown "failed to comprehend the significant fact that nothing can get through the Colorado Canyon that cannot float.

Boats are repeatedly upset and inferior boats are mashed like egg-shells." Brown, undoubtedly, was rather inclined to look upon the descent somewhat lightly.

Being a brave, energetic man it was hard for him to believe that this river demanded so much extra prudence and caution, when Powell had successfully descended it twice without, so far as the water was concerned, losing a man.

However, the ill-fated expedition went on its way.
The boats were named the Ward, the Mason, after Brown's sons, the Mary after his wife, and the Denver and the Colorado.

On arriving they were recalked.