COLIN ANGUS | IAN MULGREW
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
1 amazon extreme
Several years ago, I read Joe Kane's "Running the Amazon" and I was interested to hear how Angus' journey compared. Not surprisingly "Amazon Extreme" proved to be every bit as exciting. The part that intrigued me the most was their budget. These three young men had just over ten thousand dollars for the entire five month journey - and that included their transportation and equipment. It is easy to see that the sheer determination of these men is what carried them across the South American Continent in one piece. For those of you who read this book, prepare to be inspired. Perhaps the writing isn't the best in the world, but the non-stop adventure more than makes up for it. Definitely worth reading!
2 This book is the definition of adventure
I had no idea that the Amazon was anything other than a flat meandering river flowing through the South American jungle. When my wife first gave me this book, I thought, 'so what? some guys went down a river.' I had no idea that only a select few have ever achieved this feat and that it was so incredibly difficult. Angus paints a magical picture of beauty and fear as they navigate the Amazon's treacherous headwaters. Snow-capped mountains, raging whitewater and excellent team-dynamics weave together to create a story like no other. I would definitely recomend this book to adventurers or adventurers at heart.
