Amazon Extreme: Three Ordinary Guys, One Rubber Raft, and the Most Dangerous River on Earth - Softcover

Angus, Colin; Mulgrew, Ian

3.84

317 ratings by Goodreads

9780385660099: Amazon Extreme: Three Ordinary Guys, One Rubber Raft, and the Most Dangerous River on Earth

Softcover

ISBN 10: 038566009X ISBN 13: 9780385660099

Publisher: Doubleday Canada, Limited, 2004

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The true story of three enthusiastic (but inexperienced) adventurers who attempt to become the first team to raft the entire length of the Amazon River–all 4,007 miles--and (barely) live to tell about it.

To a trio of twenty-something adrenaline junkies, it sounded like an irresistible challenge: tackle the Amazon with nothing more than a rubber raft between them and fate. But when Colin Angus, Ben Kozel, and Scott Borthwick embarked on their fantastic voyage in September 1999, just climbing to the river’s source nearly killed them.

Beginning with the dehydration that nearly did the adventurers in as they hiked the Andes to the river's source, Amazon Extreme is a breathtaking account of the daily challenges, dangers, and triumphs experienced over the course of this five-month expedition. With no money to speak of and inaccurate, fifty-year-old maps to guide them, this intrepid trio manages to persevere through violent rapids, guerilla gunfire, mosquito-infested drinking water, and numerous bouts of sickness. But in spite of several near-death experiences, including one particularly terrifying moment when their raft is toppled in the raging white water, Angus's crew finds a reverence for the compelling beauty that makes this region so renowned. Amidst the hardship are moments of pure pleasure, from graceful dolphins and lush forests to the intriguing, gracious people who’ve made their homes along the riverbank.

An inspiring tale of courage and exploration, this is the story of three guys who truly went off the deep end, and one who came back to write a riveting recollection of it.

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Review:

What were these guys thinking? In September, 1999, three young men set out to float the length of the Amazon River in a rubber raft for the sheer thrill of it. No National Geographic sponsorship, no high-end gear, no support team--just plenty of guts and a desire to do something that had never been done before. Having sailed around the world at the age of 19, author Colin Angus was no stranger to adventure. But he had only one season of river-rafting experience and that was more than the other two members of the expedition combined--hardly impressive credentials for such an ambitious, even foolhardy, exploit. After an auspicious start in which they nearly died of dehydration before even reaching the source of the river, they put their small raft in the water and experienced one adrenaline rush after another, including countless raging rapids, scarce food and clean water, and even Shining Path guerrillas. Refreshingly devoid of bravado and boasting, Angus at times makes the trip sound as if it was just another weekend jaunt into the woods rather than a five-month endurance test. That they survived at all is amazing enough--how they did it makes for an exciting and enjoyable read. The writing itself is not stellar, but they are a likable trio with pure intentions, and Angus, with help from journalist Ian Mulgrew, has created an enthusiastic recollection of the adventure of a lifetime. --Shawn Carkonen

About the Author:

At the age of nineteen, Colin Angus bought a sailboat and embarked on a five-year trip around the world. In April 2001, he and his Amazon River crew undertook another five-month journey, this time on Siberia’s Yenisey River. He is now based in British Columbia. Ian Mulgrew is a senior feature writer and columnist at the Vancouver Sun.

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