Why Brighty??

Question

why is Brighty (the fuzzy burro of the Grand Canyon), named Brighty, or Bright Angel?

i'd call him mud angel based on looks...

Answer 1

The book and movie were based on an actual burro that lived at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon around the turn of the last century.   Locals named him 'Bright Angel' (or 'Brighty' for short) because he liked to roam around the area of Bright Angel Canyon which is the major side-canyon running from the North Rim lodge down to the Colorado River at Phantom Ranch.

Bright Angel Canyon was named by the Powell Expedition during their historic first trip through the canyon by boat in 1869.  Earlier in the expedition, they had encountered a particularly muddy creek which they named 'Dirty Devil'.  When they later reached the cool clear waters of Bright Angel Creek, they decided to name the creek and canyon 'Bright Angel' as a counter-point to 'Dirty Devil'.

Thus, Brighty was named after Bright Angel Creek and Bright Angel Creek was named by the Powell expedition because its clear waters were so much nicer than Dirty Devil Creek.

Answer 2

it's paradox i suppose