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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
In spite of being property outfitted, danger was everywhere, March 24, 2001
This review is from: Birthplace of the Winds: Storming Alaska's Islands of Fire and Ice (Adventure Press) (Hardcover)
Subtitled, "Adventuring in Alaska's Islands of Fire and Ice," this is the account of Jon Bowermaster's modern-day exploration of the four Aleutian Islands in 1999. He's a writer for National Geographic, who sponsored this trip, and he and his three traveling companions were thus able to be properly outfitted with the best outdoor gear and kayaks available for the adventure. The trip took 25 days in mid-summer, but it sure didn't seem like summer to me. The Aleutian Islands are located in the heart of the Bering Sea, in one of the most dangerous and stormiest waters in the world. But the team Bowermaster put together were all skilled, experienced and strong men. They kayaked from island to island, camped on the beaches and hiked up the volcanic mountains that dominate this small world. They carried their food with them as well as camera equipment as one of the men was an official photographer for National Geographic. The best part of the book was the well-researched history. I am fascinated by all things about the frozen north and wondered if the Aleutian Islands as depicted by James Michener in "Alaska" was accurate. This book confirmed the accuracy of the fictional book and even added more. There are no people who live on the Aleutian Islands anymore even though they once held a population of more than 25,000. But first the Russians and then the Americans discovered that this was a place to hunt for seal and otter and forced the people to hunt for these pelts. After being isolated for thousands of years, the Aleuts had no natural resistance to disease and many of them died. There was still a small colony in the 1940s but they were all removed from the area because they were being attacked by Japan. Most of these people were sent to internment camps in Alaska and never returned to the Aleuts. No wonder this place attracted Bowermaster and his National Geographic crew. Of course, in spite of being properly outfitted, there was still danger everywhere, especially since they had no communication with the outside world. And they had to paddle their kayaks for as many as 7 hours without a rest through volatile and dangerous waters. Some of the time I felt I was right with them. The map could have been better, but the photographs were excellent -- definitely National Geographic quality. They captured the beauty and the isolation with a professional's eye. Because I have a particular interest in Alaska, I did enjoy this book. But the writing reads like a National Geographic piece -- clear, concise and accurate, but lacking in real passion or interesting personal details. The author tried to introduce a small bit of description of some tension in the group, but I had never gotten to know the people enough to really care. I guess I wanted it to be more than what it was -- four modern men dressed in Gore-tex looking for adventure. Therefore, as far as my own personal taste goes, I can only give it a modest recommendation.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Accidental Adventurer, February 13, 2001
This review is from: Birthplace of the Winds: Storming Alaska's Islands of Fire and Ice (Adventure Press) (Hardcover)
An honest tale speeds best being plainly told. shakespeare Perhaps `plainly' misleads. Birthplace of the Winds: Adventuring in Alaska's Islands of Fire and Ice `speeds' well because of its remarkable clarity and tightly knit narrative structure. Writer and adventurer John Bowermaster's engaging account of a sea-kayaking expedition in one of the more remote and inhospitable regions of the world benefits from the fact that Bowermaster is foremost a writer, and, by his account, only accidentally an adventurer. While ably possessed of the stamina and skills necessary to accomplish the challenge-kayak to all four "Islands of Fire" with a team of three others-it is his gift as a storyteller that sets this book apart from in the adventure travel realm. Two elements contribute to the book's success, both of which drive the narrative forward in a smooth and graceful manner. By interweaving well-researched ethnographic and historical information with the daily accounts of his expedition, Bowermaster manages to unite two positions that often clash--the role of the adventurer and the anthropologist. By linking the past of this place with its present, through contemporary locals, and these temporary visitors, one gets a vivid sense of how this brutal and magical landscape shapes those who encounter it. As a result, the reader rides a steady wave of tension, chronic and looming. That very fine line between thrill and danger never lets up. Even during accounts of calm days and quiet seas, the reality of a tempest whipping up from nowhere keeps the reader on edge, turning pages with a combination of trepidation and excitement. Many recent adventure travel narratives have tried to rely on exploiting the tragedy that befell the participants. While sensationalism has its base appeals, this account of danger flirted with and averted--by a blend of skill, fortune, and patience--aims higher. It provides, among other things, a welcome model in this increasingly saturated and formulaic genre-a model that provides history, ethnography and adventure with all the humanity, fear and desire intact. The added element on top of the harsh environment is a potentially volatile team member. One thinks of those dreadful airline catalogue inspirational posters-"There is no ` I' in team". This is a place where that insipid cliché actually matters, and the threat of pride compromising safety is imminent. Someone once described the proverbial `tipping point' as "imperceptible and ominous-a thing whose identity is revealed always, and only, too late." There is a sense that Bowermaster is mapping out the anatomy of a disaster, a priori, and this gives us an acute sense of the daily fear and anxiety endemic this territory. All arrive back safely, without major incident, making us realize that the potential of danger is far more enticing than the reality of tragedy. And given both the banality of tragedy, and its devastating effects, one is deeply relieved the journey ends an unmitigated success, and grateful that someone took the risks necessary to share the story of this enchanting and wild place.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Kayaking in the Aleutians - truly an adventure, April 23, 2002
This review is from: Birthplace of the Winds: Storming Alaska's Islands of Fire and Ice (Adventure Press) (Hardcover)
Generally, I liked the book because I love the Aleutians and seakayaking, and there are not many books on the market that describe this combined experience. However, some statements in the book are incorrect, e.g., when explaining plate tectonis, and I agree that the Aleutians are isolated and quiet, but they are definitely not untouched. There are islands you almost don't dare to step on because of unexploded ordnance or environmental hazards - all remnants from WWII. I must say I got a little tired from reading over and over again how far away from any help they were and how long they would survive if capsizing. I think it would have been enough to dedicate a single chapter to this, and spend more time instead describing the things that actually happened and that they discovered. I also would have liked to read more about the great kayaking they did rather than coming to the conclusion that they behaved like little boys fighting for prestige and food. The way the historical facts are woven into the story is well done, and the photos are really great.
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