Dangerous River: Adventure on the Nahanni [Paperback]

R. M. Patterson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1999

In the mid-1920s Raymond M. Patterson left a comfortable position with the Bank of England for a life in with wilds of Canada. Here, he hunted, trapped, fished and prospected his way along the rivers he would later write about. This spellbinding book, his most famous account, chronicles his two journeys down the treacherous Nahanni River between the Yukon and the Mackenzie River, spurred on by his irrepressible lust for adventure and his quest for gold. The New Yorker called this "a truly enchanting book."

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In 1927, British-born writer and adventurer Patterson braved the Nahanni, "this strange river with the beautiful name," in rugged Northwest Canada, where he was prospecting for long-rumored gold, investigating the mysterious murders of an earlier party of prospectors and, above all, seeking excitement. He found no gold and didn't solve the mystery, but the journal of his yearlong battle with the dangerous river (and with temperatures that plummeted to 60 below zero) stands as a paragon of travel writing. Even readers who dislike getting their feet wet will be carried along by Patterson's dry wit, his neatly turned phrases ("Far above the river the topmost cliffs were lit with the wild, yellow light of the setting sun, but down by the water's edge there was only the puny flame of the evening fire") and his very British devotion to tea, which he downs by the bucketful. The book includes black-and-white photos from the original edition, long out of print, that hint at the eerie, ferocious beauty of the land.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

One of the 10 Best Adventure Paddling Books: 'marvelous tale ... strikes deep within the soul of the canoeist.' (Cecil Kuhn Canoe and Kayak 200305)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 276 pages
• Publisher: Boston Mills Press (May 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1550463160
• ISBN-13: 978-1550463163
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,647,409 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #54 in Books > Travel > Canada > Provinces > Territories

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a Far North adventure you'll never forget!, November 29, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Dangerous River (Paperback)

"Dangerous River" is one of the finest Far North adventures ever written. R. M. Patterson and his partner Gordon Matthews were the last of a breed of men who tackled the Far North with nothing but stamina, courage, and consummate skill with rifle, pack and canoe. Trapping and searching for gold in the legendary South Nahanni River country in the 1920's, Patterson describes their adventures in language that makes the reader yearn to see one the premier rivers of the world. Patterson's style is laced with wonderfully dry British humor as well as a poet's skill in describing the breathtaking landscapes. You feel as though you're right beside him throughout his adventures and hungering to go there yourself. You can't ask more a writer and his book than that!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional wilderness story of gold-rush era Canada, August 28, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dangerous River (Paperback)

This tale of wilderness adventure is set in the unexplored region of the South Nahanni river valley in the Nortwest Territories, Canada. It tells of unexplained deaths (the reason it was called Dead-Man's Valley), and the survival tactics and techniques of explorers during the gold-rush days of the area. Patterson spins the tale in a way which makes you feel the icy cold winters and the lavish and wildlife filled summers. His writings are non-fictional, and he includes maps and photographs taken while he was there. It is exciting, and laden with danger about the rapids, ice-flows, and Indian legends. I highly recommend it to anyone with a love of the outdoors, adventure, or wilderness history!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Classic Canadian wilderness canoe adventure., April 29, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Dangerous River (Paperback)

Paddling upstream through "Hells Gate" rapids and past 4000 feet canyons on the South Nahanni River in Canada's Northwest Territories in the 1920's before the advent of the bush plane was northern adventure at it's best. After reading the book, I took the canoe trip and the beauty of the scenery actually exceeded the best descriptive prose in the novel. Look up Black Feather outfitters in Toronto and sign up. Rob Evan