Wager with the Wind: The Don Sheldon Story (Paperback)

~ (Author), James Arness (Foreword) "The mountain, 60 miles northwest of where he stood on his dirt airstrip in Talkeetna, always gave him a clue to the approaching weather..." (more)
Key Phrases: bush aviation, retractable skis, glacier landings, Super Cub, South Summit, Air Force (more...)

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
-- Review

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

See all Editorial Reviews

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Product Details Paperback: 256 pages Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (May 15, 1982) Language: English ISBN-10: 0312853378 ISBN-13: 978-0312853372 Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #104,096 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) Popular in this category: (What's this?) #15 in  Books > History > United States > State & Local > Alaska

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More About the Author

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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

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Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
The mountain, 60 miles northwest of where he stood on his dirt airstrip in Talkeetna, always gave him a clue to the approaching weather. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
bush aviation, retractable skis, glacier landings, heavy turbulence, shear turbulence, glacier surface, bush pilots, spruce boughs

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Super Cub, South Summit, Air Force, South Face, Don Sheldon, Micheko Sekita, Brad Washburn, Alaska Range, John Day, Talkeetna Air Service, Bradford Washburn, Devil's Canyon, Point Hope, Helga Bading, Ruth Glacier, Kahiltna Glacier, Muldrow Glacier, Tenth Rescue, West Buttress, Cache Creek, Ray Genet, Susitna River, Mount Logan, Mount Russell, Von Wetzel

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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

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Citations (learn more)

This book cites 8 books:

• The Mountain of My Fear by David Roberts on page 214, and Back Matter
• Mr. Piper and His Cubs by Devon Earl Francis in Back Matter
• A tourist guide to Mount McKinley: The story of "Denali"--"the great one" : mile-by-mile through the Park over Mount McKinley Park Highway (formerly the Denali Highway) : the record of McKinley climbs by Bradford Washburn in Back Matter
• Mountain World by Malcolm Barnes in Back Matter
• The Last of the Bush Pilots by Harmon Helmericks in Back Matter

See all 8 books this book cites

 

15 books cite this book:

• The Last New Land: Stories of Alaska, Past and Present by Wayne Mergler on 5 pages
• Denali: A Literary Anthology by Bill Sherwonit in Front Matter, page 151, and Back Matter
• Wings over Denali: A Photographic History of Aviation in Denali National Park by Bruce McAllister in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
• Mount McKinley: Icy Crown of North America by Fred Beckey in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
• Moments of Doubt: And Other Mountaineering Writings by David Roberts on page 123

See all 15 books citing this book

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Books on Related Topics (learn more)

Van Sickle's Modern Airmanship by John F. Welch

Discusses:

• heavy turbulence
• bush pilots
• spruce boughs

Surviving Denali by Jonathan Waterman

Discusses:

• glacier landings
• Ruth Glacier
• Kahiltna Glacier

Bushplanes by Geza Szurovy

Discusses:

• retractable skis
• glacier landings
• glacier surface

Denali by Bill Sherwonit

Discusses:

• glacier landings
• Super Cub
• South Summit

The Coldman Cometh by Bob Durr

Discusses:

• bush pilots
• spruce boughs
• Don Sheldon

Moments of Doubt by David Roberts

Discusses:

• glacier landings
• Super Cub
• Don Sheldon

Van Sickle's Modern Airmanship by John F. Welch Discusses: heavy turbulence bush pilots spruce boughs Surviving Denali by Jonathan Waterman Discusses: glacier landings Ruth Glacier Kahiltna Glacier Bushplanes by Geza Szurovy Discusses: retractable skis glacier landings glacier surface Denali by Bill Sherwonit Discusses: glacier landings Super Cub South Summit Loading...

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	81% buy the item featured on this page: Wager with the Wind: The Don Sheldon Story 4.6 out of 5 stars (18) $10.85
	5% buy Flying the Alaska Wild: The Adventures and Misadventures of an Alaska Bush Pilot 4.5 out of 5 stars (21) $13.57
	5% buy The Alaska Bush Pilot Chronicles: More Adventures and Misadventures from the Big Empty 5.0 out of 5 stars (2) $16.50
	5% buy North Star over My Shoulder: A Flying Life 4.8 out of 5 stars (20) $10.88

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Customer Reviews

18 Reviews 5 star:  (11) 4 star:  (7) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.6 out of 5 stars (18 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 10 of 10 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful adventure, May 7, 2000 By  William E Jacobs (Boothwyn, PA) - See all my reviews 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 7 of 7 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 24, 1999 By  [e-mail] (Adams Mills, Ohio) - See all my reviews 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. 5 of 5 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 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.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars Wager with the Wind This biography is of an amazingly skilled bush pilot in Alaska who's experiences were fascinating to read about. Read more Published 19 days ago by M. Inglis 5.0 out of 5 stars bush pilot This is an excellant story abiut the life of an Alaskan bush pilot.Hia achievements were nothing short of remarkable and is the story of a rather modest man who lived life to the... Read more Published 9 months ago by Thomas A. Davidson 5.0 out of 5 stars THE DON SHELDON STORY I am proud to say I knew Don Sheldon, and even spent 20,000 hours in sharing his Alaska wilderness flying experiences. Read more Published 9 months ago by Mort Mason 5.0 out of 5 stars A scary, but enjoyable book. As a budding new student pilot myself, I found some of the stories absolutely scary. I hope I never find myself in half the situations he found himself in. Read more Published 13 months ago by Craig Hammond 5.0 out of 5 stars great biography of a fascinating man i bought this book because don was a friend of my grandfather whom he nicely mentions in the biography. however, i really enjoyed it. Read more Published 17 months ago 5.0 out of 5 stars Great book Great book on Alasks's history. Too bad such a highly skilled wonderful man had to die so young. Published 22 months ago by H. Lee 4.0 out of 5 stars One of he best Don Sheldon was one of kind, and one of the greats of Alaska aviation. He was a pioneer without doubt on Denali. A good job by author James Greiner. Read more Published 23 months ago by Cascade 4.0 out of 5 stars Good book Good book if you are interested in Bush Pilots in Alaska and flying. Don Sheldon was a fearless, dedicated pilot. Published on February 24, 2007 by Charlotte A. Schilling 5.0 out of 5 stars great reading The man character in this book is a amazing person and pilot. I could not believe the true live experiences this person lived through. Read more Published on February 22, 2007 by JERMONE CIVIL 4.0 out of 5 stars Mountain flying If you like Mountains and Flying then this is a book for your library, most enjoyable. Published on November 5, 2006 by Matthew Cooper Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (May 15, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312853378
• ISBN-13: 978-0312853372
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #104,096 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #15 in

  Books > History > United States > State & Local > Alaska

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

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

By	William E Jacobs (Boothwyn, PA) - See all my reviews

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

7 of 7 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 24, 1999

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

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.

5 of 5 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

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.