Crossing Antarctica

Rating:
Summary: Adventure? You bet!
Review: Despite what others might say, this book is about an adventure. Doing the unthinkable and something that no one has done before is by it's very nature an adventure. Others may have you believe that unless something catastrophic happens it is not an adventure, but usually bad things happen from lack of proper planning. Don't discount Steger as a true adventurer simply because he is smart! People who have done a fractional amount of the exploration Will Steger has should appreciate this book. However, if your idea of adventure is sliding a little closer to the fire in your stocking feet while you read about some blokes misfortune via improper planning then read another book.

Rating:
Summary: adventure as boredom
Review: This book is an account of the first crossing by foot of Antarctica by veteran adventurer Will Steger and his team. Steger is no adventurer in the British tradition of SCott, instead his crossing his meticulously planned and carried out. Very little out of the ordinary occurs. THe lesson in this book is that most adventure travel is boring, unless disaster strikes! Even a less than enthralling adventure however, would have been made better by a more gifted writer than STeger. His descriptions are stilted and the diary style entries only reinforce the boredom. If you want to know how to plan an expedition, read this book. Other wise there are far better adventure stories out there. Read The Last Place on Earth by Roland HUntford or Endurance by Alfred Lansing.