This is a book for the thoughtful and reflective, not the pump-me-up, thrill seeker. The little mistakes the author makes are usually pointed out by himself, and they mark the book as authentic in that Colin is a lot like the rest of us in his amateur knowledge of the details of wildlife. He differs, though, in his ability to tell the story, a unique story, of adventure and life.

10 of 10 found the following review helpful:


Motivating book as one eases out of "youth"  Mar 01, 2002 By Raoul Picante "pconte"
Colin Fletcher was one of my early "guides" into backpacking, and many of his hiking tips still stand up well as I continue to backpack in my 50's.

His trip down the Colorado provides more inspiration for what can be achieved as you get wiser and, oh yes, older, too.

This isn't an "adventure" story in the trite sense, nor a river guide. It's a sharing of a person's thoughts. Fletcher is a different kind of person than most of us, but his musings cause me to think about my own life strategies and outcomes.

-- P.C.

9 of 9 found the following review helpful:


An excellent read for Fletcher fans  Jan 31, 2001 By Mark Drury
If you're already a Fletcher fan then you should read this book. If you've never read Fletcher then read his other books first, as River not only alludes to events detailed in his other books but also ties up quite a few loose ends about the man's interesting life.

I think most of the people who did not appreciate the book either had never read Fletcher before or were expecting a serious adventure tale of some kind. But the book is as much a reflection on Fletcher's life as it is a rafting/backpacking adventure. And River is decidedly not a "How To" book--don't expect details about planning, provisioning, logistics, etc., as these are purposefully glossed over. Fletcher spends just enough words describing river-running tactics to involve the reader, yet doesn't belabor the subject.

I got from the book exactly what I'd come to expect from Fletcher's work: humor, insight, shared anger and (perhaps fleeting) despair. And, yes, adventure. But River also had the feeling of a farewell, and there are some very poignant moments in the book when Fletcher literally says, "Goodbye." A remarkably interesting man who has led an amazing life. But I won't have goodbyes. If you're still with us, Colin, give us at least another two or three books!

5 of 5 found the following review helpful:


Just when you thought he was through...  Aug 06, 1999 By Dan Heffernan
A 67 YEAR OLD MAN, THE MIGHTY COLORADO AND A SOLO JOURNEY FROM WYOMING TO MEXICO - HOW COULD ANYONE WHO HAS EVER TRAVELED BY FOOT OR RAFT NOT READ AND LOVE THIS BOOK. HATS OFF AGAIN MR.FLETCHER.

2 of 2 found the following review helpful:


Uninspiring  May 20, 2009 By C. Jacob
Fletcher is a talented writer with a knack for finding unique adventures to partake in. He has some excellent earlier work.

This book had a lot of promise and I rather enjoyed the first half of the book. I figured if the first 50% of the river can be an interesting read for me, the Grand Canyon would surely be a special adventure. During the first half, we are treated to descriptions of beautiful areas, wildlife and sojorning. But voila, by the time he traveled the Grand Canyon, all he could talk about was 1) the other rafters(bad and good) that were floating in his vicinity. 2) how he failed to connect with his own memories of his land voyage through the canyon decades earlier. 3) How damn good of a oarsman he'd become in rapid after rapid after rapid.

There was essentially zero muse of the majesty, epicness, solemness, visuals, wildlife, geography, history(Powell), non-rapids adventure of the spectacular 200 mile stretch that is the Grand Canyon. Didn't seem like he much cared to flush out an interesting story for the grandest of all canyons. He pulled off an incredible solo adventure, but slopped together a subpar narrative of the journey when it hit its apex.

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