Louis Boucher

Louis Boucher was a Canadian-born prospector, miner, explorer, and guide in the Grand Canyon, Arizona in the late 19th to early 20th century.

Life

Many believe Boucher was born in Sherbrooke, Quebec a province of Canada during the 1840s. However, supporting information regarding his birth place have been lost. A prospector by trade, Louis Boucher sought fortunes in the West that many during the mid-1800's were also looking for themselves. Miners at the time were hoping that gold mining operations Westward could fuel a better life for themselves and their families causing many to leave their birthplaces in the hopes of striking rich. Like many others, Louise Boucher left Canada for the gold rush. During his journey West to Cariboo and Fraser in Canada, Boucher became familiar with the use of mules for transportation and gear-hauling. After failed gold prospecting in Cariboo, Boucher turned his attention Southwest, seeking yet another precious metal - Silver. Boucher eventually worked his way to present-day Arizona around 1889 and was employed as a Grand Canyon guide for Hance Ranch where he would provide mule rides to Canyon visitors.

In 1891, Boucher decided to stake his own claim on the Grand Canyon settling by Dripping Springs basin which provided a natural spring of fresh water to those living near or passing through the vast Canyon. Boucher built a camp for himself and corral for his mules and sheep. Living in such an isolated area earned Louis Boucher his nickname "the Hermit". Once during his occupation near Dripping Springs, Boucher assisted in the search and rescue of two lost men in the Canyon utilizing tools he knew best as a miner- explosives. Boucher reasoned that setting off explosive dynamite would attract the men toward the search party and provide some form of bearings, however, the two men were found later to have drowned in the Colorado River.

Beside Boucher's camp, now known as Hermit's Rest, was a small yet sustainable copper mine which allowed Boucher to meet his financial needs. Louis Boucher later hand carved the Silver Bell Trail, an homage to Calamity Jane's signature silver bell, which stretched from Dripping Springs, Columbus Point, to Boucher Canyon. Within his camp, Boucher planted an orchard home to 75 pomegranate, fig, and orange trees fueled by a simple irrigation system he made and built cabins along his property for tourists to stay in.

Louis Boucher was the only white man to have established a permanent home in the Grand Canyon, he left his home of 20 years in 1912 to seek work in a coal mine in Moreland, Utah. After the town was abandoned due to unprofitable coal production in 1938, Boucher is rarely heard from again as per written accounts. Sadly, Boucher did not return to his camp by Dripping Springs afterward. Many speculate he either returned home to Quebec or died in Moreland's coal mine.

Legacy

Along the southern rim of the Grand Canyon, there is a popular location known as Hermit's Rest, at the end of Hermit Road. Hermit's Rest, Boucher (Hermit Trail) and a canyon are named after him.

Louis Boucher and his mule Calamity Jane

He built the Boucher Trail to the river, ran a tourist business, and worked mining claims in his part of the Canyon.

In 1912, when the Hermit Trail was completed, he left the Canyon and relocated to Moreland, Utah.

    A prospector in search of ore, Louis Boucher came to the Grand Canyon between 1889 and 1891 (although the dates of his birth and his death are unknown).  His quest brought him to Dripping Springs, a perennial water source in Hermit Canyon of about nine miles west of Grand Canyon Village.  Within short order, he built the Silver Bell Trail (today known as the Dripping Springs Trail) from the rim to his outpost, erected some tents and a small corral for horses, mules, and sheep. He also planted a garden and an orchard, built another trail, this one to the river (today's Boucher Trail); and constructed a second home near a copper vein about a mile from the Colorado River.

    Boucher never made a lot of money mining, but the reclusive eccentric tended to his claims in the Canyon for many years, perhaps believing the mother lode was just around the next butte, perhaps feeling more comfortable in his side canyon than on the bustling rim.  But it is also known that the "Hermit of Grand Canyon" was a gracious host when tourists stopped by his canyon homes.  Although the name of "Hermit Canyon" was likely in use before he arrived at the Grand Canyon, Hermits Rest, Hermit Road, Hermit Trail, and Hermit Camp are all named for Boucher.

Scenes from Louis Boucher's Camp at Dripping Spring (Circa 1908)