Running such wild rivers as the crocodile-infested Tekaze in Ethiopia, Richard Bangs used to lived for the adrenalin, for the rush of reveling in the misery of hardship and sidestepping death around every bend. Now a respected conservationist, he still travels to demanding exotic environments, but with a new, more sober objective: he wants to save these special places. Bangs' personal experiences of ""witnessing many special places preserved and lost"" led him to write Adventures with Purpose, and the book follows the author to Bosnia, Libya, Panama, the American West, Rwanda, Thailand, and more as he seeks out disappearing cultures, peoples, habitats, and ecosystems particularly rivers so that he can show readers that the loss of these special places will be a catastrophe. Written in the vivid, intimate style that made his earlier books both critical and commercial successes, Richard Bangs Adventures with Purpose is an unforgettable composite portrait of a world in peril and an inspiring guide to rescuing it.
In 1973, Richard Bangs founded Sobek Expeditions, the original and now the largest adventure travel company in the world, with over a million clients guided since its beginning. But this is not just a story of an unusual company, one that profoundly transformed the way we travel and experience the world. It presents true stories, both perilous and awe-inspiring, from the full array of adventure travel: trekking, climbing, sailing, diving, adventure cruising, kayaking, back-country skiing, mountaineering, biking, cultural immersions, canyoneering, and more. Sobek pioneered scores of adventures, from trekking in the Himalayas, to cruising the Galapagos and Antarctica, to first descents of some eighty rivers around the world. The author personally led thirty-five first river descents, capsizing on six continents (a unique, albeit dubious, distinction), and organized and led the first trips into North Korea, Libya, Yemen, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, New Guinea, Iran, and even China back in 1978. Sobek clients have included Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Mick Jagger, Barry Diller, and Daryl Hannah. It is the shadow company behind National Geographic Adventures, New York Times Active Journeys, and Smithsonian Expeditions. This book traces fifty years of adventure travel and how it has evolved through times of war and peace, terrorism, the rise of the internet, the pandemic, and the first virtual expeditions.
The author presents a collection of travel and adventure stories, including a chronicle of a whitewater rafting trip in Idaho's Selway River and mountaineering in Washington State and Borneo.
Dropping into the unknown on a rubber raft, hurled against rocks and cliff walls, only to round a blind bend, go vertical on a 10-foot standing wave, and flip over backwards into a deafening vat of near-freezing whitewater. Such is life for the brave souls who commit themselves to exploring the world’s untried rivers. First Descents collects the most enthralling tales from the world’s most respected river explorers. Vivid portrayals in the adventurers’ own words and original photographs tell of solitary efforts and major expeditions on rivers both famous and unknown, including the Yangtze River in China, the Colorado River in Arizona, Ethiopa’s Baro River, and the Braldu River in Pakistan. With stories from Royal Robbins, Tao Berman, Yvonne Chouinard, and others, this newly revised and expanded edition of the 1989 classic captures the excitement, fear, and elation of over four decades of river exploration.
The author presents a collection of travel and adventure stories, including a chronicle of a whitewater rafting trip in Idaho's Selway River and mountaineering in Washington State and Borneo.
Running such wild rivers as the crocodile-infested Tekaze in Ethiopia, Richard Bangs used to lived for the adrenalin, for the rush of reveling in the misery of hardship and sidestepping death around every bend. Now a respected conservationist, he still travels to demanding exotic environments, but with a new, more sober objective: he wants to save these special places. Bangs' personal experiences of ""witnessing many special places preserved and lost"" led him to write Adventures with Purpose, and the book follows the author to Bosnia, Libya, Panama, the American West, Rwanda, Thailand, and more as he seeks out disappearing cultures, peoples, habitats, and ecosystems particularly rivers so that he can show readers that the loss of these special places will be a catastrophe. Written in the vivid, intimate style that made his earlier books both critical and commercial successes, Richard Bangs Adventures with Purpose is an unforgettable composite portrait of a world in peril and an inspiring guide to rescuing it.
Someone from outside the solar system wants to talk to Jarrod McKinley, who happens to be resting on his family farm in Montana. As he rushes to join his new team in Southern Australia, a powerful force tries to capture him to ensure first contact will benefit itself more than the people of Earth. A final and desperate attempt to control first contact collides with forces never before seen on Earth and hastens humankind's introduction to an alien presence. As his struggle to save first contact grows, McKinley realizes he has a power that will help the human species in its quest to reach for the stars.
This exciting account of adventure and competition follows several expeditions to be the first to descend China's longest river, from its headwaters in Tibet to the Three Gorges region, and eventually to the East China Sea. Among the players are a megalomaniac American fishing guide, patriotic members of China's youth movement, novice boaters full of fear and experienced rafters filled with hubris, thrown together to challenge one of the world's most dangerous rivers. Originally published in 1989, and winner of a Lowell Thomas Award that year for best travel book, "Riding the Dragon's Back" has been slightly revised to emphasize the drama and excitement of its narrative of competition and challenge, although the chapters on Chinese exploration and history remain. This is modern river exploration at its best, and the book has inspired numerous whitewater enthusiasts over the years to emulate its adventurous spirit.
A thrilling account of the greatest historical expedition of our time, this work highlights the first-ever complete descent of the Nile River in 2004. 16-page color insert.
Just when you thought your cognitive dissonance was healing... Come to a journey to Liberalland, where the best intentions are justified by any means, The logical absurdity of Socialism, Progressivism, and a few other -ism's piled on, have built a city where the city government leans so far left it has to be propped up to keep from falling over. Alice remains sane, through all this, whlle retaining her naivete' (also known as gullibility) and we follow her (respectably, not stalking) through her adventures after she wished one progressive wish too many... Excerpt: ""Oh dear!"" cried Alice impatiently, as she sat rocking in her chair, listening to the pattering of the rain upon the roof of the veranda. ""I do wish there was something to do, or somebody to do, or somewhere to go. The Gov'ment ought to provide covered playgrounds for children on wet days. It wouldn't cost much, to put a glass cover on the Park!"" ""A very good, idea! I'll make a note of that,"" said a squeaky little voice at her side...
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