River: One Man's Journey Down the Colorado, Source to Sea [Hardcover]

Colin Fletcher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1997

he backpacking guru and consummate observer of nature whose previous treks through the American West are recounted in The Man Who Walked Through Time and The Thousand-Mile Summer--now takes readers on a 1,700-mile, six-month journey down the entire length of America's second longest river, the Colorado. 41 photos. 15 maps.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Colin Fletcher, the author of the Grand Canyon classic The Man Who Walked Through Time, adds to his life list of desert voyages with a trip down the 1,700-mile-long Colorado River. From its sources in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming to its union with the Gulf of California, Fletcher traces the Colorado in an entertaining and often quite funny travelogue. More seriously, he ponders his own life's passage, musing on lost loves, the experience of war, the onset of old age, and impending mortality. Despite the title, other travelers have made this journey--devotees of the Colorado will know the writings of John Wesley Powell and the Kolb brothers, among others. That notwithstanding, Fletcher makes keen observations of the area's geology and wildlife, and of human behavior.

From Library Journal

Solo backpacking legend Fletcher's newest book will likely strike a chord with his many fans, including a generation who grew up reading his classics?The Complete Walker (LJ 10/15/68), The Man Who Walked Through Time (LJ 2/15/68), and The Thousand-Mile Summer (Random, 1989). Here, the aging-yet-spry Fletcher recounts his attempt to traverse the Colorado River from its source in the mountains of Wyoming to the Gulf of California. Traveling by raft when possible and backpacking the nonnavigable stretches, he embraced six months of solitude in spectacular scenery and gained an appreciation of the river. The reclusive author also offers some personal history and reflections on topics ranging from religion to evironmentalism. Expect strong demand, especially among public and environmental collections. [A BOMC selection.]?Tim J. Markus, Evergreen State Coll. Lib., Olympia, Wash.
-?Tim J. Markus, Evergreen State Coll. Lib., Olympia, Wash.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Knopf; 1st edition (April 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0394574214
• ISBN-13: 978-0394574219
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,385,539 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #26 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Science > Earth Sciences > Rivers

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent "thinking" book, May 17, 2001

By 

Joseph Leland Heywood (Ganado, AZ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: River : One Man's Journey Down the Colorado, Source to Sea (Paperback)

This is a book for those looking to take some quiet time to think about life, the river, and the environment. It is not a logistical book for those wishing to duplicate the experience. Fletcher's journey reveals the river from the perspective of an elderly man traveling at a slow pace (6 months) who is absorbing the spirit and feel of the Colorado and reflecting upon a lifetime of wilderness travel. It is slow, methodical, and at times a little tedious, but rich in detail and thoughtfulness.

This is a book for the thoughtful and reflective, not the pump-me-up, thrill seeker. The little mistakes the author makes are usually pointed out by himself, and they mark the book as authentic in that Colin is a lot like the rest of us in his amateur knowledge of the details of wildlife. He differs, though, in his ability to tell the story, a unique story, of adventure and life.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Motivating book as one eases out of "youth", March 1, 2002

By 

Raoul Picante "pconte" (Eugene, OR) - See all my reviews

This review is from: River : One Man's Journey Down the Colorado, Source to Sea (Paperback)

Colin Fletcher was one of my early "guides" into backpacking, and many of his hiking tips still stand up well as I continue to backpack in my 50's.

His trip down the Colorado provides more inspiration for what can be achieved as you get wiser and, oh yes, older, too.

This isn't an "adventure" story in the trite sense, nor a river guide. It's a sharing of a person's thoughts. Fletcher is a different kind of person than most of us, but his musings cause me to think about my own life strategies and outcomes.

-- P.C.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent read for Fletcher fans, January 31, 2001

By 

Mark Drury (Palo Alto, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: River : One Man's Journey Down the Colorado, Source to Sea (Paperback)

If you're already a Fletcher fan then you should read this book. If you've never read Fletcher then read his other books first, as River not only alludes to events detailed in his other books but also ties up quite a few loose ends about the man's interesting life.

I think most of the people who did not appreciate the book either had never read Fletcher before or were expecting a serious adventure tale of some kind. But the book is as much a reflection on Fletcher's life as it is a rafting/backpacking adventure. And River is decidedly not a "How To" book--don't expect details about planning, provisioning, logistics, etc., as these are purposefully glossed over. Fletcher spends just enough words describing river-running tactics to involve the reader, yet doesn't belabor the subject.

I got from the book exactly what I'd come to expect from Fletcher's work: humor, insight, shared anger and (perhaps fleeting) despair. And, yes, adventure. But River also had the feeling of a farewell, and there are some very poignant moments in the book when Fletcher literally says, "Goodbye." A remarkably interesting man who has led an amazing life. But I won't have goodbyes. If you're still with us, Colin, give us at least another two or three books!