The couple first met in 1927 on a passenger ship traveling to Los Angeles and married April 10, 1928, the day after Bessie's divorce from her first husband was finalized.

Some Colorado River historians, such as Otis R. Marston, note that Adolph G. Sutro rode from Phantom Ranch to Hermit Rapid with them in the scow.

[4][5] The Sutro reference regarding riding with the Hydes for one day and possibly being the last to see them is mentioned specifically in the Ken Burns PBS documentary series National Parks: America's Best Idea, and in Marston's book.

Historian Otis R. Marston made a compelling case that the couple were most likely swept out of the boat when their scow hit submerged rocks in the heavy rapids near river mile 232.

In describing the rapid, Marston noted "...pieces of granite wall lie submerged where they have damaged, snared, or capsized more boats than any other location in the canyon.

However, a later forensic investigation conducted by the University of Arizona concluded that the skeleton belonged to a man no older than 22 and who had died no earlier than 1972, ruling out the possibility that it was the remains of Glen Hyde.