First Descents: In Search of Wild Rivers

Rating:
Summary: stories for whitewater boaters
Review: This collection of whitewater stories centers on the theme of new experiences and adventures from the perspective of river runners. Some of these stories have been published elsewhere. The quality of the writing varies but it's a good collection and a worthy addition to any paddler's library who enjoys stories from the river. The collection leads off with Andrzej Pietowski's adventure with a crew from Poland who set off down Peru's Rio Colca, which they completed despite formidable barriers to success. Richard Bangs, who would later record many first descents across the world, tells his story of learning to guide on the Grand Canyon. William Nealy, the sport's best-known cartoonist, tells his hilarious childhood story with appropriate cartoon illustrations of floating down a forbidden drainage ditch, known as Polio Creek. Yvon Chouninard joins the legends of class V explatory boating for a 3-day first descent of the Clark's Fork of the Yellowstone. Robert Portman and Dan Reicher relive their experiences on the Yangtze paddling from Yuyang to Wushan and through the first of the Three Gorges, and then on the Li River. Pete Skinner provides a rare account of kayaking the Niagara River Gorge. Jamie McEwan tells the story of the pioneering run on Mexico's Santa Maria with his brother Tom along with Wick Walker and Andy Bridge. William Scheller relates his urban exploratory adventure on the headwaters of the Anacostia in Washington DC. Royal Robbins tells the story of his first descent of the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin Gorge with Reg Lake and Doug Tompkins, completing a 30 mile traverse through the Sierra Nevada. Richard Bangs tells the story of the first attempt on the Baro River in Ethiopia that ends tragically before it even begins with raft flips and the loss of a guest. Bo and Kathy Shelby provide a brief account of paddling the Braldu River in the Himalayas with Andy Embick, Rob Lesser, and Bob McDougall. Tim Hillmer's short story The Hookman tells of becoming a search and rescue worker on the Kern River. While SOBEK's first descent of the Zambezi grabbed all the media attention, Franz Lidz tells what the second trip was like. David Roberts tells the entertaining tale of Sobek's BBC-sponsored trip on Papua New Guinea's Tua River where the adventure itself is restructured to suit the film. Scott Thybony provides the brief account of Glen and Bessie Hyde, newlyweds lost without a trace on the Grand Canyon in 1928. Bill Mason describes their attempt on the Hood River's Wilberforce Canyon in northern Canada. The memorable 1980 spring break trip that included the first descent of Bald Rock Canyon on the MF Feather and Golden Gate section of the SF American is relived by Chuck Stanley who was joined by Lars Holbek and Richard Montgomery. The history of southeastern whitewater including the first runs of the Chattooga, French Broad, Green, Tuckasegee, Nantahala, Chattahoochee, and the early adventures of Frank Bell and many other whitewater pioneers, is told by Payson Kennedy. Jeff Rennicke closes out the collection of stories reflecting on a solo trip down Alaska's Kobuk River.