Wager with the Wind: The Don Sheldon Story [Paperback]

James Greiner (Author), James Arness (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 1982

Don Sheldon has been called 'Alaska's bush pilot among bush pilots', but he was also just one man in a fragile airplane who, in the end, was solely responsible for each mission he flew, be it a high-risk landing to the rescue of others from certain death in the mountains of Alaska or the routine delivery of supplies to a lonely homesteader. Read this book to learn how a hero was born, and also how he made his courageous journey to the unknown skies of dealing with cancer.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Don Sheldon is the unchallenged guardian angel of the mountain climber and downed aviator in distress...his story is a rare opportunity for those who place the quest for high adventure above all other worthy endeavors."--L.A. Herald Examiner

"We'll wager this is one book you won't be able to put down!"--Seattle Times

"It's full of hair-raising true stories. I have flown with Don Sheldon. He is one of our super airmen."--Lowell Thomas

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (May 15, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312853378
• ISBN-13: 978-0312853372
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #152,401 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful adventure, May 7, 2000

By 

William E Jacobs - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wager with the Wind: The Don Sheldon Story (Paperback)

The true story of Don Sheldon, one of Alaska's great bush pilots. You will fly with Don as he rescues people stranded in the bush, lands on glaciers on the flanks of Mount McKinley, lands on rapids in a float plane to rescue military personnel and yes the occasional crash landing. You also learn about some of the mountain climbing expeditions and geographic surveys which Don flew support for. The descriptions of the land, the people and wildlife of Alaska are fantastic. You will come away feeling you have been there. A great story not just about aviation but about how one man made his dream of living on a frontier come true

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read if you are a pilot or mountain climbing fan., August 23, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Adams Mills, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wager with the Wind: The Don Sheldon Story (Paperback)

I must have stumbled into this book 20 years ago, and loved it, recommended it and gave it as gifts. I had a in-active pilots license then. I purchased a plane and started flying again, 10 years ago. I re-read it, loved it , recommended it and gave it as gifts. Because of this "bush" flying, I changed planes and started doing this type of "off-airport" flying. My wife ( flying is not her bag) read it this spring and suggested that we fly our little two seater to Talkeena from Ohio, and make a three week vacation there. We just got back, and I've ordered 6 more books for gifts. We got to meet Don's wife and grand daughter, and landed and camped beside his old Aeronca sedan that he used in the famous river canyon rescue. Read this book, it might change your life.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very compelling book if you enjoy Alaska aviation., December 3, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Wager with the Wind: The Don Sheldon Story (Paperback)

I have personally visited Talkeetna(the town of Don Sheldon's home) during my tenure on the US Army's High Altitude Rescue Team(79-82) as well as the places described in the book, including the landing sights on Mt. McKinley where Mr. Sheldon conducted his various climbing operations. The book is an insight to what a bush pilot had to endure in order to accomplish the flights in the harsh Alaskan environment. There are several examples of humorous incidents such as the rather large lady Mr. Sheldon rescued as well as the horrific crashes he miraculously survived. Mr. Sheldon help pave the way for other bush pilots through his common-sense approach to flying, while at the same time having an extremely high respect for the Alaskan wilderness. Mr. Grenier done an excellent job in exposing the aviation legend for which the skill of all bush pilots are measured. This book also looks inside Mr. Sheldon's personal life with his wife and children, as well as the personal relationships he had with his fellow pilots, the Alaskan climbing community, the US Government and his friends. His compassion for life and his commitment to his family elevated him to an icon status as a symbol of what Alaska was all about during his life. I have read this book more than a dozen times because it is an example of what a person should strive to accomplish in the short period of time that each of us have on this earth. I will again read this book with the same amazment I had the first time I opened the cover.