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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Eclectic accounts of river experiences, October 8, 2005
This review is from: Hell's Half Mile: River Runners' Tales of Hilarity and Misadventure (Paperback)
Whitewater rafting is one of the most popular sports in the United States. Every year hundreds of thousands of tourists and avid "river rats" float every type of river in the country. Challenging rivers like the Colorado through the Grand Canyon to the Middle Fork of the Salmon in Idaho, fromthe Tuolumme in California to the Gauley in West Virginia, are routinely rafted by adventurers seeking the challenge and thrill of facing these liquid locomotives. It is not uncommon to wait up to 15 years for a private permit and up to 3 years for a seat on a commercial raft trip through the Grand Canyon. Predictably, there are numerous books about individual whitewater rafting experiences and a respectable number that explain how to participate in the sport with or without the benefit of a guide. In addition, a few former guides have written books about their experiences but remarkably there are few anthologies written by river guides that purport to tell the truth about river running on western rivers. This book seeks to remedy that oversight by providing stories from 30 former and current "river rats" that will provide as good a description as one is likely to get of the less than scientific method of river running as practiced by a bunch of "...misfits and misanthropes, dreamers and daredevils, weekend warriors and professional guides, nataphobes and bibliophiles, "established voices" and undiscovered gems." In short, these are stories purported to be factual from a group that's primary claim to fame is storytelling regardless of the truth. It is that and much more. The stories of kayakers, dory men, canoeists, rafters and assorted others are humorous, thoughtful, questionable, and a reminder of the river lore that has lured rafters to water since Huckelberry Finn. There are stories about nude canoeists, games and pranks favored by river guides, lost tourists on the river and a host of others that provide a hard-to-put down account of both adventures and misadventures on western rivers. Not to be missed is Jessica Maxwell's account of forcing herself to face the "grim river reaper" that is probably more true for a number of rafters than they would, or will, admit. While some of the essays appear to be designed to glorify the writer they are more than offset by the works of such legends as Bruce Berger, John Nichols, Scott Thybony, Brand Dimock and Edward Abbey. To read these eclectic accounts of river experiences is to be introduced to wilderness writings of the first order. Highly recommended.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Don't Even Go Near the Water!!!, October 6, 2004
This review is from: Hell's Half Mile: River Runners' Tales of Hilarity and Misadventure (Paperback)
They always have names like Satan's Gut, Graveyard, Skull, Widowmaker and Disaster Falls, but would be better named I Want My Mommy, Get Me Outta' Here or I Need A Hug. For some, rapids make life on the river worth living, but if you've ever had a "fish-eye" view of your raft as it charges downstream (without you) you know there's more to rivers than staying in the boat. In this anthology of river stories, appropriately named "Hells' Half Mile: River Runners' Tales of Hilarity and Misadventure," author Michael Engelhard gathers thirty of the best, funniest and most poignant river stories to savor. You'll be introduced to the river gods that must be placated with dances, rituals and not an insignificant amount of alcohol. Here too is where frozen Butterball turkeys make their debut in Gore Canyon. These yarns and more, from river legends and luminaries such as Edward Abbey, John Nichols, Brad Dimock, Katie Lee, Scott Thybony and Richard Bangs should "wet" your appetite for some cruises (in your hammock). They recount the inglorious, meditative, stupendous, ridiculous moments that occur on, in, near or leaving the force that compels us to ride the seam between absolute bliss and bowel-flushing fright.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Mother Nature Bats Last, August 24, 2010
This review is from: Hell's Half Mile: River Runners' Tales of Hilarity and Misadventure (Paperback)
We recently took a trip with Michael on the Hulahula River in northern Alaska. While the stories from our trip would probably not have made the cut for this excellent book, the trip was full of adventure and a few misadventures. If you've ever taken a rafting trip or even a canoe trip you can relate to many of these stories. I especially like the piece that Michael contributed about his attempt to find love. Michael's a brave man to reveal so much of himself. This is a great book for someone who's overagendized and can only steal 10-15 minute breaks in their busy lives. Read a story, do some work ........ Always remember, Nature bats last.
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