Reviews (1)

Excellent reference for the whitewater enthusiast.
Mssrs. Walbridge and Sundmacher cover the subject of whitewater rescuewell.It is geared toward the recreational boater, but is also a valuabletool for the public safety officer (police, sheriff, fire/rescue,SAR,ranger, etc.). It does not cover reading whitewater, since assumes thereader is already a boater of some sort.It does present the most commonproblems and solutions.In addition it covers use of the tools needed tosafely execute timely rescues.Easy reading, excellent photographs anddrawings illustrate the points well. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Canoeing    2. Handbooks, manuals, etc    3. Kayaking    4. Rafting (Sports)    5. Safety measures    6. Sports    7. Sports & Recreation    8. Water Sports    9. White Water Canoeing And Kayaking    10. White-water canoeing    11. Canoeing & kayaking    12. First aid for the home    13. Sports & Recreation / Kayaking   

Editorial Review

What were these guys thinking? In September, 1999, three young men set out to float the length of the Amazon River in a rubber raft for the sheer thrill of it. No Read more

Reviews (3)

Simply Wasn't...
This book simply wasn't all that good. The adventure was amazing, the book it's self not so much. While I love Angus' wander-lust, his writing is bit repetitive and makes the book somewhat forgetable. I have a hard time really seeing what he sees and trully understanding what his adventure meant to him. I think I was looking for something a bit different. I was hoping to read another person's account of a pilgramige. I want to hear a traveler's soul speak through the book. While the book is gushing with action and suspense, (Of course, they nearly died), it didn't fill me in the way I had hoped. A Dissapointment over all but if you're just looking for action in plain language, this is your book.

amazon extreme
Several years ago, I read Joe Kane's "Running the Amazon" and I was interested to hear how Angus' journey compared.Not surprisingly "Amazon Extreme" proved to be every bit as exciting.The part that intrigued me the most was their budget.These three young men had just over ten thousand dollars for the entire five month journey - and that included their transportation and equipment.It is easy to see that the sheer determination of these men is what carried them across the South American Continent in one piece.For those of you who read this book, prepare to be inspired.Perhaps the writing isn't the best in the world, butthe non-stop adventure more than makes up for it.Definitely worth reading!

This book is the definition of adventure
I had no idea that the Amazon was anything other than a flat meandering river flowing through the South American jungle.When my wife first gave me this book, I thought, 'so what? some guys went down a river.'I had no idea that only a select few have ever achieved this feat and that it was so incredibly difficult.Angus paints a magical picture of beauty and fear as they navigate the Amazon's treacherous headwaters. Snow-capped mountains, raging whitewater and excellent team-dynamics weave together to create a story like no other.I would definitely recomend this book to adventurers or adventurers at heart. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amazon River    2. Amazon River Region    3. Angus, Colin    4. Description and travel    5. Essays & Travelogues    6. Rafting (Sports)    7. South America    8. Special Interest - Adventure    9. Travel    10. Travel - General    11. Travel / Adventure   

Subjects:  1. Guidebooks    2. Mexico    3. Rafting (Sports)   

Reviews (11)

5 Rolls!
Without a doubt, one of the funniest books I've ever read.I bought this book while on vacation for some light reading and I've never laughed so hard in my life.I'll agree that it's not dinner material, but it's riotous reading.
Horrifyingly, howlingly funny
I first bought this book as a gag for some of the guys I work with as a river guide.I made the mistake of reading it first, and laughed so hard I cried on several of the stories.My daughters were awakened by my laughter and came to see what mom thought was so funny.We (myself and 2 daughters) shared the laughter for a little over an hour, and many times since.It is the most often asked for book at my house, and, it has gone, and will continue to go on river trips and camping trips with me.Some people gross out when the stories are read aloud, but nearly all will pick it up, read it, and laugh about it in private.

Amusing in a childish way
Scatological humour is fine in the right place and in small doses. Up Sh*t Creek meets neither criteria. The right place is in the men's room, or round a camp fire, where this type of story can be related first hand by the participants or witnesses. Small doses simply means that one or two stories are enough. Up Sh*t Creek attempts to bring together dozens of toilet jokes and, by doing so, is guilty of overkill - the stories lose their impact.Read more

Subjects:  1. Boating - General    2. Feces    3. General    4. Humor    5. Rafting (Sports)    6. Toilets    7. Humour    8. True Stories   

Editorial Review

As its title suggests, this useful guide offers about as exhaustive a course in river running as you can expect to get on dry land.Author Jeff Bennett outlines a simple approach that will take you from the showroom of your local paddling outfitter to the rapids of your favorite river. You'll learn about rafting history, equipment, safety, and rescue, and explore the dynamic forces at play in the rivers themselves.From underwater currents, surface hydraulics, and rapids classifications to water and wave patterns known as haystacks and pillows, Read more

Reviews (2)

exceptional information
Bennet's book is detailed, readable and contains all the information that is needed to start rafting, though the information on the types of boats available is a bit dated.His chapters on the river bed morphology and the effects on the moving water are understandable and excellent and far makes up for the older information on this years raft models. if you're thinking of rafting it's a must!
Jeff Bennett has been doing rivers in North and Central America as aguide, whitewater instructor, international racer and professionalphotographer since the early 1970's.He has co-authored several otherbooks, including Class Five Chronicles.The Complete Whitewater Rafter isthe culmination of his river experiences and the progeny of his previousbook Rafting!.Although sole author, he envisions The Complete WhitewaterRafteras the culmination of a river-running evolution that has beenongoing for the last half century.He has borrowed tips and techniquesfrom contemporary instructors and classic technique textbooks.Read more

Subjects:  1. Canoeing    2. Handbooks, manuals, etc    3. Rafting (Sports)    4. Sailing - General    5. Sports    6. Sports & Recreation    7. Water Sports    8. White Water Canoeing And Kayaking    9. Active outdoor pursuits    10. Canoeing & kayaking    11. Sports & Recreation / Canoeing   

Reviews (16)

The Great River
I read the book River Thunder by Will Hobbs. It's about a girl named Jessie, her friends and she took a trip on down to Lee's Ferry to ride the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Her friends and she went down about a year ago and never got to ride the river, so this time they can't wait. They took off on down the river and everything was calm. About two days later down the river is where they ran into trouble. You are going to have to read the rest of this book to find out what happens.
river thunder
River Thunder by will hobbs is written as as a realistic fiction. Its about some friends that go white water rafting in the calorado river. Jessie is the main character and has to overcome her fears of flipping over in her raft.
river thunder
If you are one of those people who do not like adventure books, I would suggest you stop reading my review. But if you like those kinds of books keep reading-I have a wonderful surprise.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. Colorado River (Colo.-Mexico)    6. Fiction    7. Interpersonal relations    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Rafting (Sports)    10. Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure   

Editorial Review

Imagine passing a summer drifting up and down a slow-moving river, watching as cranes, turtles, raccoons, otters, and ducks grow accustomed to your presence. Envision days spent poling the raft through lily pads and grasses, glimpsing foxes through the trees on shore. On hot, sticky nights, picture a tent set up on the raft, from which you have an unobstructed view of huge bucks drinking from the moonlit river. Nicky has no idea what he's getting into when his father drops him off for the summer at his grandmother's cottage in the woods. And he's not especially pleased at the prospect. "There's nobody to play with ... She doesn't even have a TV." But this "river rat" is not the normal kind of grandma. Without pushing, she quietly allows Nicky to discover for himself the wonders of river life. Gradually, Nicky's interest in drawing the wildlife he sees brings him closer to his artist grandmother, and to an inner peace that looks as though it will last for a lifetime. Read more

Reviews (12)

Great for kids ages 6-100
It's a excellent book. You can imagine it really happening well you read it.It is a wonderful fast moving story.
Wonderful images, flat story
As a native of Wisconsin, I had much interest in the story of a boy, his grandmother, and wildlife on a Wisconsin river.The illustrations, admittedly the author's strong suit, were strong indeed.The images were of such excellent quality that they almost made the book worthwhile.The beginning of the story held promise, but ended up spending beyond its means into imagination.Either a story of the boy visiting his grandmother for the summer and experiencing adventure on the river, or an imaginary tale of prolific so-close-you-could-touch-it wildlife would have been good.Neither was completed, and the resulting combination left me feeling flat.The experts, my two and five year-old grandchildren lost interest before the book was halfway through.Maybe for children a little bit older?I wish hope Mr. LaMarche to continue to illustrate, and a story-teller to author the books.

Raft Revelation
The Raft is a book that captures the heart of the reader with its great illustrations and vivid details of na-ture. It is a story of a boy who travels to his grandmother's house for the summer but really does not want to go. Her house is by a river where Nicky discovers a raft and a love of nature. He soon realizes the raft attracts animals, encountering many he hadn't seen in real life. Animals that would normally be frightened by a human seem calmed by the raft Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 1-2    3. Family - Multigenerational    4. Fiction    5. Grandmothers    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Nature & the Natural World - General    8. Rafting (Sports)    9. Rivers    10. Sports & Recreation - Water Sports    11. Juvenile Fiction / Nature & the Natural World   

Reviews (2)

Oddly Organized by Location
I found that this book lacked organization by geographical region of Oregon. It has a good sized map of Oregon in the front with the various trips represented as a dot with a number in it. There are no city or county indications on the map. If you wanted to look for trips in Bend, you'd be guessing what trips are there. There are regional maps in the back, but I don't think there is an index into them. You just have to hunt around. I was thinking of kayaking in Bend on the stretch of the Deschutes from Wiki Up reservoir to Bend, the first easy section, which stops at the falls about 8 miles downstream. It shows the stretch on one map as easy but no mention is made of how to get there or what to expect.
Great Oregon Boating Reference Book
Paddling Oregon -along with Soggy Sneakers- are the two definative guide books about Oregon boating. Read more

Subjects:  1. Boating - General    2. Canoeing    3. Guidebooks    4. Oregon    5. Rafting (Sports)    6. Recreational use    7. Rivers    8. Sports    9. Sports & Recreation    10. United States - Pacific - Oregon    11. United States - West - Pacific (General)    12. Water Sports    13. White-water canoeing    14. Travel / United States / West / Pacific (AK, CA, HI, NV, OR, WA)   

Reviews (1)

white water
I read the book White Water. It's about a thirteen year old boy whose name is Greg. His parents have been divorced ever since he was little.Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Boats and boating    3. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    4. Children: Preschool    5. Family - General    6. Fiction    7. General    8. Green River (Utah)    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Rafting (Sports)   

Reviews (3)

He and His Father's Vacation
I like this book because it had a kid in there just like me that helped his father out.His father got bitten by a snake and his son rafted all the way back to the yellow bus. Then his father went to the hospital and the two sons went to see him.His father said "Next time when we go on vacation, you can pick where ever you want to go."

Greatest book ever
I thought this book was very action-packed.It really made me want to go white water rafting.When I read the first page of that book,I knew it was going to be really cool.So,if you like white water rafting books,then this is the book for you.

Exciting and realistic for the middle schooled reader
White Water is a story about a boy named Greg whose parents are divorced. He only gets to see his father one weekend a month.When he visits his father each month, they both switch off and pick what they are going to do. This time it was his fathers pick and he picked to go white water rafting,at first he was against Greg was against the idea of going so was hismother.When his parents found out he was listeningin on theirconversation about this they made him go.To find out what happens on thisadventure i strongly recommend getting this book and reading it u won'tregret it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Fear    5. Fiction    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Rafting (Sports)    8. Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure   

Editorial Review

Photographer Kathleen Jo Ryan first witnessed the awe-inspiring spectacle of the Grand Canyon in 1987. A year later she rafted the Colorado River into the canyon, emerging from this transforming experience with the idea for a book: "Going down the river into the heart of the canyon is adventuring into a place of spirit. I hold a warm, overwhelming feeling of gratitude, respect, and humility for having been allowed to float and play through this majestic canyon." In Read more

Subjects:  1. Arizona    2. Colorado River (Colo.-Mexico)    3. Description and travel    4. Essays & Travelogues    5. Fiction    6. General    7. Grand Canyon    8. Grand Canyon (Ariz.)    9. Pictorial works    10. Rafting (Sports)    11. Subjects & Themes - Travel - U.S./West    12. Travel    13. Travel - United States    14. United States - Mountain - Arizona    15. Women authors, American   

Editorial Review

"It's well known that Mother River doesn't like a smart aleck," says Patricia McCairen. Accordingly, she plies her oars with reverence and skill on a sometimes hair-raising solo rafting trip along the Colorado River that winds though the stupendous stone valleys of the American Grand Canyon. Like the waters of the Colorado, which change from long, still stretches to boiling white water that barely clothes sharp rocks and hides holes that can suck down a raft, McCairen's moods--and even her name--change as the miles unwind. One moment, she's the cocky, athletic river guide Babe; the next, she's an earthier, more spiritual woman who answers to the name of Patch. Hours later, she seems more vulnerable, less convinced of her strength and joy in the solitude she so zealously courts. Read more

Reviews (12)

A book to savor
This is a wonderful read. It gracefully mixes adventure with honest self-revelation as it explores the potentials and pains of a woman at midlife. Especially meaningful to me were McCairen's meditations on solitude versus loneliness and her wrestling with fear of intimacy. Going alone into the wilderness is a radical act for a woman, and McCairen engages it with consciousness and skill. I was sorry when the book ended, I had grown to so look forward to curling up with it at the end of the day. I would welcome a sequel.

From Secretaryville to the Grand Canyon
I'm not a rafter, and have no particular interest in rafting, but this book somehow captured my interest and I read it in a couple of hours. Patricia has a poetic way of writing about nature and her adventures rafting over the Colorado, and she takes the reader along for the ride. I admire her greatly for her courageous decision to go it alone (at least most of the time) on a very hazardous journey. I hope she continues to write (and avoid that dreaded Secretaryville).

I wouldn't do it, but someone has to.
Experienced river-runner Patricia McCairen was suddenly faced with a choice when she found herself without companions for a trip through Grand Canyon. She could give up her permit and hope to get another at some point or she could go it alone. Certain she would be saved from her bravado she called the National Park Service to get special permission for a solo trip and was both surprised and terrified when permisssion was granted.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1940-    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Colorado River (Colo.-Mexico)    4. McCairen, Patricia,    5. Rafting (Sport)    6. Rafting (Sports)    7. Sports    8. Sports & Recreation    9. Travel    10. Water Sports    11. White Water Canoeing And Kayaking    12. Women    13. Women And Sports    14. Arizona    15. Grand Canyon    16. Journeys    17. McCairen, Patricia    18. North America    19. Travel writing    20. USA   

Reviews (2)

Great book for Montana's waterways
This books gives great detail about the each river, best times to go, where the crowds are(n't), basically everything you would need to know.The author explains that many of Monatana's rivers are in the western end, with a few in the dry eastern side.Many rivers described are also Class I (on the river rating system).Keep in mind that Class I can cover alot of levels, including those that are almost Class II.(for you beginners, just because it's class I it's not as smooth as a lake). A Canoeing Instructor's Comments
The authors are competent paddlers and good writers. This is a well organized book with an excellent format. It contains helpful hydrographs and good photos. The informations is dependable. If you desire to paddle a Montana river, this is the place to start. I highly recommend it as THE guide book to get for our state. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Boating - General    2. Canoeing    3. Canoes and canoeing    4. Fishing    5. Guidebooks    6. Montana    7. Rafting (Sports)    8. Travel    9. Travel - United States    10. United States - Midwest - West North Central (General)    11. United States - Mountain - Montana    12. Water Sports    13. Travel / United States / West / Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, UT, WY)   

Reviews (10)

Refreshing tale of fearless adventure
Angus' straightforward and readable tale of daring adventure and relentless stamina is a refreshing insight into one of the least documented regions of earth. Impersonation ---- URGENT
I am very concerned that a review of the book "Lost in Mongolia" by my son, Colin Angus, appears under my name in one of a series of reader reviews on your web-site.My name is Valerie Spentzos, and I DO live on Vancouver Island, but there is no way in the world that I would submit a review, plagiarized at that, on any web-site, for a book by a family member.Colin and I believe that someone is using my name (easily discovered in the book), to discredit his favourable reviews.Kindly remove this review, which I certainly did NOT write, from the web-site, and if possible, print my disclaimer, as such dishonesty is really reprehensible.

Magnificent!!
I received this book on Christmas day and, much to the dismay of the rellies, I finished it on the same day.As the miserable weather outside lashed at the windows and my Aunt Jennifer babbled about napkin handling etiquette, I was far removed to another world; a land of gushing rivers, Russian mafia, indigenous people, and non-stop action."Lost in Mongolia" is a true modern-day adventure and Angus vividly details the trials and tribulations that he and his team encounter as they attempt to become the first to fully navigate the length of the world's fifth longest river.It is obvious that the quest to be "first" comes secondary to the team's desire to simply get out and explore the most remote regions of our planet from a unique perspective.Angus' strongest writing comes through as he describes the varied characters that they enounter the whole way down the river.For me, the most haunting moment came near the end where, at 71 degrees lattitude in the perpetual grey twilight of the tundra, they come across a scattering of human bones, remnants of Stalin's period of terror.And amongst the bones a small rotted leather shoe is found, obviously from a little girl.It is a mystery that leaves the reader feeling uncomfortable, juxtaposed near the team's triumphant ending at the Arctic Ocean.Read more

Subjects:  1. Angus, Colin    2. Essays & Travelogues    3. General    4. Mongolia    5. Rafting (Sports)    6. Russia    7. Russia (Federation)    8. Travel    9. Travel - General    10. Yenisey River    11. Travel / Adventure   

Reviews (2)

The Alaskan Whitewater Bible
While the sport has continued to evolve since Andy did most of his rivers, he's still set the standard by which few will even come close. His reviews of the various rivers of Alaska are complete. This is a great read for entertainment. This is a dream book for the kayakers of Alaska and anyone hoping to stop by our beautiful state. Many of these rivers have still not been run since Andy and his friends ran them in the 80's. Kudoo's to THE AK whitewater book by which all others will be measured.

Excellent 4 serious riverrunners or as a coffee-table book!
After borrowing this book from the library, I had someone give it to me as a Christmas present. Andrew Embick put his heart and soul (and considerable time and money) into this effort, and it shows. He outlines many whitewaterrivers for which he has first-descent credentials; in that respect, he mustbe viewed as the acknowledged expert. One criticism, hopefullyconstructive: the book doesn't have an all-encompassing map, which would beuseful for the reader to get a sense of orientation as (s)he navigatesthrough the book. But overall, the book is a tour de force. I'll neverpaddle half the rivers in this book; I may never paddle Alaska, for thatmatter; but the book was a "must" for me. The color plates alone,depicting all the glory of glaciated streams, are worth the price ofadmission. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alaska    2. Boating - General    3. Canoeing    4. Guidebooks    5. Kayaking    6. Rafting (Sports)    7. Sports & Recreation    8. Travel    9. United States - West - Pacific (General)    10. Water Sports    11. White-water canoeing   

Editorial Review

As the 20th century neared its close, few corners of the globe remained unexplored. One exception was a "monstrous and largely obscure river in southeastern Tibet" that had already resisted several British expeditions: the Yarlung Tsangpo. Raging through a nearly impenetrable gorge in one of the most remote places on the planet, it was a place variously reported as the source behind the Western myth of Shangri-La and the "Everest of rivers." In 1998 a team of middle-aged American men--all of them expert river runners--aimed to notch their paddles with this last great stretch of virgin whitewater that many knowledgeable river people considered "beyond the means of what humans could do in a boat." But after securing crucial funding from National Geographic and flying halfway around the world, the team of four paddlers (three in expedition kayaks, one in a whitewater canoe) arrived in-country to find the river at flood stage. Their leader, a man with a "stubborn allegiance for things that look hopeless," decided they would continue anyway. Those familiar with the story know what happened next. Read more

Reviews (38)

Not for the armchair adventurer
Like others, I wondered at the number of people who slammed this book, which I found to be gripping, enjoyable, and in places hard to read for all the right reasons.The answer is simple: this book is not written for the armchair adventurer, for someone who will watch the Discovery Channel but never actually go to any of those places they'll see on the screen.It tells some hard truths, and I can easily understand why those who bought the book hoping to be entertained by someone else's tragedy would be greatly disappointed.If, however, you've ever been closer to real adventure than picturing yourself in an SUV ad, I have a feeling this book will work for you.
A tragedy indeed....
"The Last River - The Tragic Race for Shangri-la".......Tragic. Yes I'd agree that this book is tragic.
Last River or Diamond Sow?? It's a toss up.
My comments come after finishing the books "The Last River" and "Courting the Diamond Sow", both of which I read over the last 2 weeks, and was provoked to write by a couple of factors. Reading the existing reviews for "The Last River" particularly, I was struck by the number of people who felt it necessary to slam the book.Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Brahmaputra River    3. Himalaya Mountain Region    4. Kayaking    5. Nature    6. Nature/Ecology    7. Rafting (Sports)    8. Rivers    9. Special Interest - Adventure    10. Travel / Adventure   

Subjects:  1. Alaska    2. Canoes and canoeing    3. Guidebooks    4. Outdoor recreation    5. Rafting (Sports)   

Reviews (1)

Guide's Guide Very Informative
As someone in the process of starting a rafting company, RiverIndia.com, I needed a book with thorough, dependable information covering all aspects of whitewater rafting. The Guide's Guide suprised me in its completeness and in-depth treatment of everything from knots, guiding, cooking, forms, games, and more! William McGinnis, one of California's whitewater pioneers, should be commended on this meisterwerk. It is a great help to those of us who hope to follow in his footsteps. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Sports & Recreation    2. Sports & Recreation / Water Sports    3. Water Sports    4. Guides    5. Rafting (Sports)    6. Rapids    7. Safety measures   

Subjects:  1. Canoeing    2. General    3. Guidebooks    4. Nature    5. Nature/Ecology    6. Rafting (Sports)    7. Recreational use    8. Rivers    9. Sports & Recreation    10. United States   

Reviews (3)

Very Informative
This book is the authority on where to raft/kayak/canoe - you get all the info you need about drop-off and pick-up points, plus mile-by-mile information.Great book - I wish the authors would revise their last edition (2000)!Still, the 2000 edition is very helpful.Highly recommended to Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas canoeists/kayakers!

Essential Reference for Texas/Arkansas/Oklahoma Paddling!
This Essential Reference book opens with detailed local fish population info and photos. Statewide canoe/paddling clubs are listed next along with recommended equipment diagrams & checklists and a glossary of useful river/paddling terms.(worthy of purchase alone) THEN you get an alphebetically listed, turn by turn, comprehensive diagram and description of multiple rivers in 3 states. Enough said? Too bad this is getting so hard to find!

Amazing Book - Very Complete Information
This book is the perfect guide to Texas rivers.It gives a description of each river, including different runs on each.It provides information on camping in the area, where to rent a canoe, rapid class categories, phonenumbers for flow information and myriad other details that give you theconfidence to literally pick a trip from the book and do it! I'm buying mysecond copy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Boating    2. Sports & Recreation - Water Sports    3. Travel - United States