Editorial Review

Colin Fletcher is a self-described "compulsive walker." It is not unusual for him to pick up a map, drive to an area that intrigues him, and then start walking. It should come as no surprise then that a detour from U.S. 66 to visit the Grand Canyon on a June morning in 1963 inspired Fletcher to walk the length of the Canyon below the rim. In Read more

Reviews (19)

A VERY INTERESTING AND INSPIRATIONAL READ
This well written volume is the story of one man and one trip.I suppose if I took the same journey, my motivation might be quite different and my story, I am sure, would be different.I think you kind of have to take this book as just that, i.e. one mans quest, one mans vision and one mans interpretation of what he saw and what he expierenced.I personally felt inspired by this work and felt as if I were reading the words of a kindred spirit.On the other hand, according to my friends and family, I am a bit of a flake, so take this review for what it is worth.Granted, Fletcher did have good support, but then I don't think he had a particular death wish either.If I could afford it, I would do the same.I do regrete that, as one reviewer pointed out, that the hype for the book could be a bit misleading to the reader. I suppose those that like living on the very edge might find this work a bit prosaic in that no death defying feats were performed, yet I really don't feel that is what this work was all about.I suggest just reading and enjoying it.

Amazing True Adventure
This book suceeds on every level and is one of the best adventure books I've read. Much more than a hiking guide, it is an amazingly well-written of a journey more mental than physical, as Colin shares deep insights into life, geology and the history of the Earth as revealed by the Grand Canyon.
The Man Who Walked Through Time
The Man Who Walked Through Time, Colin Fletcher, United States: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., January 15, 1968. 247pg.Read more

Subjects:  1. Arizona    2. Description and travel    3. Essays & Travelogues    4. Fletcher, Colin    5. General    6. Grand Canyon    7. Grand Canyon (Ariz.)    8. Nature    9. Nature/Ecology    10. Special Interest - Adventure    11. Travel    12. Journeys    13. Modern fiction    14. Travel / Adventure   

Reviews (1)

A usefule tool for all riders
I found this book to be the most comprehensive, helpful and informative guide for the novice as well as experienced rider. Wether you are looking to start up or tune up their touring experience, I highly recommend it. Also, anyone who may be getting ready to start training or is considering purchasing equipment for some touring. It will give you helpful information regarding the purchase of your equipment, planning trips and even training. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bicycle touring    2. Cycling - General    3. Reference - Guides (General)    4. Special Interest - General    5. Sports    6. Sports & Recreation    7. Travel - General    8. Travel / Special Interest / General   

Reviews (2)

Excellent Grand Canyon Hiking Guide!
I have been hiking Grand Canyon since 1977 with over 9,000 miles below the rim and have hiked all the trails in this guide, in most cases multiple times.This guide has the most detailed descriptions of all canyon hiking guides; maps are more than adequate; nearly all information is up to date.Adkison's writing style is very clear.I especially appreciate his information about plant communities along the routes.This second edition is largely the same as the earlier edition.I am glad to see the addition of a section on cairns.How can this book be improved?Add an index.Looking through the guide I only found a few errors --- Western Union is no longer available inside the park and the Tanner Trail one way distance is not 7 miles but more like 10 miles!

A "Tortoise" Hikes the Grand Canyon
While writing my book "The Tortoise Diet - Win The Race To Lose!", an account of my 120 pound weight loss, I bought this book an became interested in hiking in the canyon as a fitness goal. This very informative and well written book helped inspire me to hike in 2005 from the South Rim to Phantom Ranch, and back again the next day. This May (2006) my husband and I are hiking from the South Rim to the North Rim. We will be carrying along our copy of the book to help us appreciate thecanyon more as we undertake this huge fitness challenge(my husband is 55 and I am 49.) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Hiking    2. Travel    3. Travel - United States    4. United States - West - Mountain (General)    5. Travel / United States / West / Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, UT, WY)   

Reviews (4)

Family pleaser
We are a family of Ohioans who love this book.I have lived here for several years and never knew there were such interesting things to see and do in a state that I had thought was so boring.Even my 11year old son who hates to read devoured this book.We plan to search out several of Mr. Zurcher's suggestions next summer!!!!

Like We Didn�t Already Know We Were Odd
I have a friend who I met while interning in Cleveland who still remembers the first thing I ever said to him: "Did you know the average person eats a pound of bugs a year?" It was one of the many facts I gleaned from Grossology: The Science of Really Gross Things. I can't say that my bug fact was the smoothest ice breaker, but it was clearly memorable. Ohio Oddities
Some of the most interesting features of Ohio are now brought to light by Zurcher. Some curiosities we have heard of, but never investigated. Now it is all before us to study and then go see for ourselves. This book adds much to the appeal of traveling around Ohio. If you like adventure of a curious nature, this book is for you. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Museums, Tours, Points of Interest    3. Special Interest - Adventure    4. Travel    5. Travel - United States    6. United States - Midwest - Ohio   

Reviews (10)

A Must for Northern Woods Canoeists
There's really only two things worth doing in Minnesota: One, canoeing the Boundary Waters/Quetico during Spring, Summer, and Fall; Two, THINKING about canoeing the Boundary Waters/Quetico during Winter.For the latter, this book is the gateway to paradise.Sevareid and Port have the true spirit of adventurers, the love-bug for the North Woods and her bevy of streams, rivers, and lakes, and Sevareid effectively tells his now-classic tale of how he and his friend drank deeply of all her treasures--complete with the axiomatic mistakes, mishaps, surfiet of discomfitures, and, alas, irresistible beauty that she provides to all who avail themselves of her wonders.Like St. Augustine, let us "Take up and read."

The Insanity and Necessity of Adventure
Walter Port and (Arnold) Eric Sevareid took an amazing trip that they started by skipping some of their high school finals so they could get the boat they could afford. Though the project appeared to have been Port's pet, it was Sevareid who came up with the way to fund it: writing about it for the Minneapolis Star. It was clear that once the project began both of them were truly enthralled by it and could not be put off. The tale is told simply, but with a clear affection for all of the people who helped them try to reach their goal, even though few of the people who helped were confident that these young men could make it or were even very encouraging.
canoeing with the cree
I thought that this book was a great wiild life adventure. It's about two boys going aginst their odds in a canoeing trip from St. Paul Minneapolis all the way to the Hudson Bay. Nobody thinks that they will make it. The two young boys come close to death many times. They almost get lost and find their way thanks to many kind people that help them overcome the impossible and they make it. They encounter Indians and some very nice people, and this makes their trip much easier even though they really struggle through all those miles. That's why I think this book was a good book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1912-    2. Canada - Prairie Provinces    3. Canoeing    4. Canoes and canoeing    5. Childhood and youth    6. Cree Indians    7. Sevareid, Eric,    8. Special Interest - Adventure    9. Sports & Recreation    10. Travel    11. Travel / Canada / Prairie Provinces (MB, SK)    12. Travel writing   

Reviews (2)

Full of errors
This book is full of factual and spelling errors. None of them are very harmful, so won't get you into trouble.

for himalaya lovers
the book presents a very focussed view for people interested in trekking in the indian region of the himalayas. it gives details of treks along with relevant maps. it is not for those looking for a general tourist guide for the region, but can be used by a variety of trekkers.usually one does not trust the trek details and advice given in such books and this might be very general at times. but it is different in this book. I am myself from one region in the himalayas and some of the facts and details about my region were also interesting and so accurate that this made me like and trust the book.i have also read the previous edition, and the author has built the book across regions. but the information is not very consistent across regions and one can easily make out some gaps for some regions. on the whole a good buy for people interested in specifics. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - India    2. General    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Walking    6. Himalayas    7. India    8. Travel & holiday guides    9. Walking, hiking, trekking   

Reviews (3)

Kelley's Climber's Guide to North Carolina
A very well done guidebook.Location information is especially helpful.Kelley made extraordinary efforts to contact climbers of early routes to obtain accurate historical data.We can only hope Kelley will put togethera fourth edition.

Great Book
This book is must have to anyone climbing in North Carolina. Especially if new to the area. It is a very well thought out and produced book, The Photos and topos are very useful,a nd the line drawings are very clear. Itcovers all of the good Climbs I know about in the state.

Must have!
This is the third copy of this guide I have owned. I wore out two copies of the 2nd edition. This latest edition is superb in the descriptions, details and advice offered. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Mountaineering    2. Sports    3. Sports & Recreation    4. Travel / United States / South / South Atlantic (DC, DE, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV)   

Reviews (4)

If you're diving the BVI This is the book to have!
Jim and Odile Scheiner have been photographing and diving the BVI since long before any Bush's were in the white house. Their diving expertise and professionaly crafted photgraphs will guide you to some of the best diving in this area. Don't travel to the BVI without this book if you're planning any diving! It's that good.

Essential resource
If you're planning a bareboat charter in the British Virgin Islands and would like to head off to dive sites on your own then this is the book you need.The book contains dive site locations, mooring locations, skill requirements, weather considerations, site layouts, suggested underwater routes, and dive descriptions. We arrived in the Virgin Islands with a bag of dive books and this is the one that we used over and over again!

Diving at BVI
If you want a realy good book for diving at the BVI then take this one. I got all of my informations out of this book and all dives where fine. The only thing i missed was a map with stations for tank refill. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Caribbean & West Indies    2. Scuba & Snorkeling    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Travel - Foreign    6. Winter Sports    7. Sports & Recreation / Water Sports   

Reviews (15)

Easily one of the most absorbing and well-written travelogues ever
_Stranger in the Forest_ by Eric Hansen is easily one of the most absorbing and well-written travelogues I have ever read. This extraordinary book chronicles Hansen's remarkable journey across the island of Borneo in 1982. The author traveled some 2,400 miles on the island, largely on foot and through tropical rain forest on an island that straddles the equator; actually he made two trips, traveling four months and 1,500 miles before turning around and going back across the island, a mere 50 miles from the ocean (to the astonishment of his traveling companions and shouts of "Crazy man!").
Little More Than Sensationalist Fiction
I read this book when I was actually in Borneo where I spent over a year, visiting many of the places described in the book.
An excellent read!
Eric Hansen's a fantastic writer and an intrepid traveler.He doesn't actually travel the whole distance on foot (he does jump in river boats here and there) but that doesn't matter.It doesn't even matter if he made up the stories he narrates although I don't think he did.It's a great book.I finished Stranger in the Forest and I just picked up Motoring with Mohammed.I searched Amazon and noticed that he's only written a few travel books.I've very disappointed, I was hoping that he could provide me with at least a dozen wild and interesting travel tales. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. (Eric K.)    2. Asia - Southeast    3. Description And Travel    4. Essays & Travelogues    5. Hansen, Eric    6. Malaysia    7. Sarawak    8. Special Interest - Adventure    9. Travel    10. Travel - General    11. Travel / Adventure   

Reviews (1)

It Makes You Want to Go
Alex Hall has translated his knowledge of and love for Canada's Thelon River in this excellent book.It is not a "how to" book, as the adventures he takes are not of that sort.On their own very few people could cobble together the support and equipment, and then find a survivable route given the scant mapping available.Alex's years in the North have given him the skills and connections to pull off successful trips.Alex writes an account of how he puts it all together and travels the river with groups of visitors.His love for the Barrens, the Thelon, and the North shine through and make the reader appreciate his adventures.It also makes you want to go on one with him.
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Subjects:  1. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    2. General    3. Nature    4. Northwest Territories    5. Travel writing   

Reviews (2)

Recommended for both visitors and especially local residents
If Weekend Adventures In San Francisco & Northern California sounds familiar, it should be: this latest represents its 8th updated edition, including a wide range of attractions from staying in a coastal lighthouse the night to exploring small local parks, byways, and less major attractions. Even the well-traveled California native who has seemingly covered all routes will find plenty of new adventures here, all updated thoroughly. A recommended 'staple' for both visitors and especially local residents.

Must Have Travel Guide Book
Carole Terwilliger Myers, author of the 8th Edition of Weekend Adventures in San Francisco & Northern California, points out in her introduction that there is nothing more disappointing than returning home from a vacation and finding out that you had missed an interesting attraction or you overpaid for your hotel accommodations.
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Subjects:  1. California    2. California, Northern    3. Family recreation    4. Guidebooks    5. San Francisco    6. Special Interest - Adventure    7. Travel    8. Travel - United States    9. United States - Pacific - California    10. United States - West - Pacific (General)   

Reviews (13)

Gripping Tale!
I've read numerous sailing adventure books, but this one is a true page turner!You learn about all of the differnt sailors on board each boat that gets swallowed up in a Force 12 storm.You begin to bond with these people and feel their anxiety and fears right along with them.One thing that stands apart in this book, verses others that I've read: is the author takes time to pay tribute to the heroics of the rescuers who are sent out to sea, to risk their own lives to save the lives of others. If you want fast paced, gripping suspense and adventure; then you'll certainly want to read this book!

I was there.
As capitan of the Destiny and having experienced this storm first hand, I can say that Tony's work is by far the most accurate of all the articals I have read. This is the book I recogmend when asked for my story. For those of you planning an ocean crossing, I would suggest that there are lessions learned during this storm that will prove of great value to you should you ever find yourselve in "the wrong place at the wrong time". My views of survival in extreem heavy weather were forever changed. It's a good read. More compelling than A Perfect Storm
A real page-turner.I couldn't put it down.The suspense was spellbinding.Unlike A Perfect Storm, you don't know the outcome.Well written and true according to a friend who married a pilot who knew the rescuers. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Earth Sciences - Geography    2. Natural Disasters    3. Sailing - General    4. Science    5. Ships & Shipbuilding - Shipwrecks    6. Sports & Recreation    7. Travel    8. Sailing    9. Travel / Adventure    10. True stories of endurance & survival   

Reviews (4)

Ryan's review
Wolf Stalker
Wolf Stalker: Who will it get next?
Review of the Wolf stalker
Exciting and Real - A great series for boys or girls
This series is wonderful! It has everything a mystery/adventure story should PLUS more.We picked up Wolf Stalker in Yellowstone and have been buying the series ever since. Listen parents, my son is devouring them, he normally is instructed to read but not with these. The books are factual yet fun. Each book is set in a beautiful park that inspire your imagination and makes you want to visit them. I could tell you the valuable lessons they will learn but I just have to say get this series and watch your kid get obsorbed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Fiction    4. Juvenile Fiction    5. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    6. Nature & the Natural World - Environment    7. Nature & the Natural World - General    8. Wildlife conservation    9. Wildlife reintroduction    10. Wolves    11. Juvenile Fiction / Mysteries & Detective Stories    12. Sports & Recreation / Hiking   

Reviews (10)

Pass
I'm not enamored by this hiking series.I think it could go into more trail detail.Some of the trail descriptions were real fuzzy and oftentimes wrong.An overall good map is sadly missing.Not a bad book but choose another if you're looking for accuracy.

Pass
For advanced hikers this book misses the mark. I would have liked more detailed hiking descriptions and more off the beaten track destinations. Longer distance hikes are also needed in this book.

Buy the second edition of this great book!
I owned the first edition of this book (the one with the Golden Gate Bridge on the cover) and I just loved it. It completely changed the way I feel about living in the Bay Area. There are so many wonderful trails around here and this book takes you to the best of them. I just recently bought the second edition (the one with the red cover) to give to a friend, but I wound up keeping it for myself because I saw that the author added trail options for every single hike in the book, so now there are really 202 hikes in the book and not 101! I can't recommend this book highly enough to anyone who lives in the SF Bay Area. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Hiking    2. Travel    3. Travel - United States    4. United States - Pacific - San Francisco    5. United States - West - Pacific (General)    6. California    7. Caravan & camp-site guides    8. USA    9. Walking, hiking, trekking   

Reviews (23)

Lessons are not hard to learn
Deep trouble recounts the stories and reports of 20 kayaking incidents which range from death (often with sketchy information as you would imagine) to mild hypothermia to extraordinary feats of endurance and survival.
A guide of what not to do.
If you are new to this sport or an experienced paddler, this book can provide valuable insight on how to stay out of trouble and what to do, or not do if you find yourself in trouble.

excellent information
As a newby kayaker, I find this book to be highly
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Subjects:  1. Accidents    2. Canoeing    3. Kayaking    4. Northwest, Pacific    5. Safety measures    6. Sea kayaking    7. Special Interest - Adventure    8. Sports    9. Sports & Recreation    10. Water Sports    11. Canoeing & kayaking    12. First aid for the home    13. Sports & Recreation / Water Sports    14. True Stories    15. SPORTS & RECREATION    

Subjects:  1. Camping    2. Hiking    3. Maps & Road Atlases    4. Sports & Recreation   

Reviews (5)

Hiking a Little Known Area
The first thing that attracted me to this book was the first three words of its sub-title, 'Seeking the Anasazi.' Our world has become so politically correct that we aren't supposed to say Anasazi because it might offend those who claim to be their descendents. But the word Anasazi rolls off the tongue so much better than 'Ancestral Puebloans.' At the same time he speaks with great reverence in his referring to them as the 'Old Ones.'
The Comb Ridge
The Sandstone Spine of the title is the Comb Ridge, a 125 mile long crescent that crosses the desert of northern Arizona and southern Utah.Dave Roberts and two friends undertake to hike the Comb Ridge end-to-end while exploring the Anasazi ruins that are found there.No one has done the entire length of the ridge before. The youngest among them is 47; the oldest is 61. A local Navajo jokingly tells them "When I see the ravens circling, I'll know it's you guys."Hiking in the desert is not easy.The friends place water caches along the way and arrange for resupply. They carry sixty-pound packs while hiking up and down in ninety-degree heat. They have planned well. The worst that happens is that they occasionally argue about where to set up their camp.
Good, but could have been better
Although both my wife and I enjoyed parts of this book, it was not nearly as good as his previous book on this subject "In Search of the Ancient Ones." Too much of the book dealth with conflicts between the participants on this hike.Not enough of it dealt with the ruins they explored and the land that they hiked through. I was disappointed in the book overall. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Antiquities    2. Archaeology    3. Grand Gulch Plateau    4. Mountaineering    5. Mountainnering    6. Pueblo Indians    7. Social Science    8. Sociology    9. Special Interest - Adventure    10. Travel - United States    11. United States - Mountain - Utah    12. Utah    13. North America    14. Travel writing   

Reviews (9)

great book for casual hiker
I bought several yosemite books before my visit, but this is by far the best book I found for the many hikes now that I am here.Perhaps there are better ones, but this one is quite good.One great feature is that for most hikes it gives a 2D elevation change cutaway map for the entire route so that you can judge for youself the level of difficulty of the hike.Many books seem to disagree on this point.(You can see the big spike at half dome for instance as a comparison.)The maps even have GPS coordinates.The maps do have rough topographical shading as well (though color would be better for this).

hiking book collector
I spend all winter planning my hikes for the summer. I own and have used most of the titles for Yosemite. Hiking Yosemite National Park has most of the most popular trails but two other books do a better job:100 Hikes in Yosemite National Park and Lonely Planet Hiking in the Sierra Nevada. Excellent and concise guide
This is an indispensible guidebook for any hiker who loves Yosemite. I use it almost daily during hiking season and it helps in selecting hikes, planning them, reaching the trailhead and gauging whether a hike will be worthwhile. Each hike contains an accurate, though brief, description of the rigors of each trek. Occasionally I quibble with the authors ranking of a given hike, but usually they are on the mark.Read more

Subjects:  1. Hiking    2. Parks & Campgrounds    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Travel - United States    6. United States - Pacific - California    7. Sports & Recreation / Hiking   

Reviews (14)

Summary of Hiking Issues
This book, based on a number of surveys, provides a broad understanding of what hiking the AT is all about.It explores the motivations of thru-hikers along with answering lots of questions most of us have when planning to hike all or sections of the AT.Easy reading, well organized and lots of facts.

Great book for the aspiring A.T. thru hiker.
If you only read one book before hiking the Appalachian Trail, this is the book. The book is very informative and really helping me prepare for my thru hike.

Terrific Statistical Information
Roland Mueser has written a terrific book that contains the results of interviewing dozens of hikers.He chose to tackle the subjects of why thru-hike?, footwear, food, equipment, and much more.He also did some scientific testing of his own when it comes to fighting insects.Mueser did a 4-mile run in the woods with DEET and re-did the run without insect repellant so he could tally the bug bites and report his fingings.
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Subjects:  1. Appalachian Trail    2. Guidebooks    3. Hiking    4. Physical Education    5. Sports    6. Sports & Recreation    7. Walking    8. Education / Physical Education    9. USA    10. Walking, hiking, trekking   

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