5 comments about Into a Desert Place: A 3000 Mile Walk Around the Coast of Baja California.

1. I have traveled many times down to Baja, his descriptions reflect my impression of the people and places.



2. This book was the perfect gift for my husband. He keeps talking about his dream of going in the desert, walking, exploring, being away from civilization for a while,... but he's never done it. This book author DID IT!



3. Baja is an adventure, even if by air in your own airplane. Hopscotching from place to place on a peninsula that stretches almost a thousand miles south of California, is quick and efficient but, as always in a single engine aircraft, the prospect of an off field emergency landing is on the pilot's mind.
   
   In Baja, where an arid, desolate landscape, and rugged mountains stretch endlessly below the wings and dry riverbeds host cactus and rattlesnakes, nature ups the ante. These inhospitable thoughts are a memory of my flying adventure to "The Baja" in October 1993, but they are nothing in comparison to Graham Mackintosh's incredible journey on foot following the coastline.
   
   As luck would have it Graham was in Mulege (about midway down the eastern coast of Baja on the Sea of Cortez) and attended the well known Hotel Serenidad's pig roast fiesta with us on Saturday evening. In response to our questions, Graham (this was before I read the book) told us how ill-suited and inadequately prepared he was for his adventure. But his appearance belied an iron will, unyielding perseverance, and an indomitable spirit. It took two years to achieve his goal, then another two more to write the book. My fellow travellers and I sat in awe as he recounted his tale.
   
   The inscription he wrote for me in my copy of the book shows his humility. He very generously referred to me as "A Fellow Baja Adventurer," but I know there is no comparison in our experiences. Thanks Graham, I wish you well. Is there a movie in the works?



4. This book is an wonderful read. Graham Mackintosh somehow manages to convey the beauty, loneliness, danger, and culture of Baja in a way that is absolutely captivating. I have spent a fair amount of time in Baja myself working with the fishermen, and I thought his portrayals of these interesting folk was spot on and entertaining. I normally don't write reviews, but I could not put this book down, and good books are few and far between in my opinion! Besides being a great adventure story, this book has another side, which in a sense describes the author's spiritual awakening. He's not there, as are so many foreigners, to amuse himself in Baja as if it were a giant playground; rather he immerses himself in the land and the culture in a way that even most of the locals have failed to do!
   
   Baja is a magical place that you simply can't appreciate from the comfort of your hotel room, RV, or (God forbid) your off-road vehicle. This book will hopefully inspire many people to seek out solitude in one of the last places in the world you can still find it.



5. I have to say I completely disagree with the 4- and 5-star reviews of this book. In fact, I am astounded by them in some ways. About the only positive thing I can say about this book is that the descriptions of the landscape and the people the author encountered on his journey are interesting and seem pretty accurate, especially for the timeframe of his walk (1980's). But the author himself comes across as an ill-prepared, narcissistic tool who despite his protests to the contrary seems to have little respect for the land or the wisdom of local peoples and cultures.
   
   I am not saying that the only people who do adventure travel should be well-honed experts. Everybody has to start somewhere, and even the most experienced of adventurers will make mistakes and have accidents. But in this case, the author did very little research, did not bother to gain any practical skill or experience prior to his journey, he blatantly disrespected the land and disregarded the experienced advice of Baja locals, and ultimately he behaved more stubbornly than the mule who helped him during the final leg of his trek.
   
   Here are some examples from his book:
   
   - The author claims that he is the "one in a million" traveler through Baja who does not pollute or damage the land. Nearly in the same breath he describes throwing his dead flashlight batteries as far into the ocean as he can. He scatters his empty food cans and packages with no thought other than ensuring the garbage was away from his campsite. He tosses a full jar of rancid butter into the sea. Really? If the author had ANY common sense or had bothered to learn anything in advance, he would have known that butter wasn't such a good idea for backpacking through a Baja summer. More importantly, why should the ocean have to absorb his mistakes and be his private dump? A few chapters later he describes with disdain the amount of garbage he finds washed ashore in one particular bay, and he criticizes Mexicans in general as not having much concern for trash disposal. The author's hypocritical actions add to the pollution, and he fails to even acknowledge this.
   
   - The author repeatedly disregards the advice given to him by locals, stubbornly claiming that he will proceed with his original plan. He mentions doubting the accuracy of their information several times. This arrogance leads him repeatedly into situations that cause him injury. Laying at the bottom of a cliff, bloody and injured, he decides that his best course is to climb back up and take the same route. Two pages later he falls back down again, further injuring himself and destroying some of his equipment.
   
   - At one point, the author claims that the desert tells him that it exists solely for him and that he should take whatever he needs from it, which he repeatedly does with glee. The only reason he even needs so much from the land at that point of the book is because he didn't prepare well enough or act rationally enough to prevent his then-current predicament.
   
   If everybody who went backpacking, climbing, or otherwise journeyed through wild areas behaved like this author, nature would be a trash heap full of dead fools. this guy lived to tell his tale in spite of himself, not because of himself.
   
   I obviously did not like this book at all. I did not find this story to be inspiring in the least. Honestly, I cannot believe that anyone published it. If you are a true adventurer, this book will likely frustrate or anger you. If you are an armchair adventurer, choose virtually any other similar book and you will get a far better story. And if you are seeking an adventure travel role model, please choose someone who journeys with greater humility, respect, and common sense.

2 comments about Chronicle of the Narvaez Expedition (Penguin Classics).

1. I was intrigued by this strange chronicle when i lifted it from the dusty shelf of my local bookstore. I had never heard of it and I was surprised that such a thing even existed. A first-hand account of a 16th century conquistador expedition to the new lands of the Americas no less!

   The book is short enough to hold the attention and the fact that it is a true tale holds the attention through periods of drab text and detailed descriptions of the lay of the land. In fact, two distinct points capture the attention, firstly the matter-of-fact way in which cabeza de vaca views the monstrosities he is faced with, from shipwreck to torture and hunger. Secondly, the altogether human way in which the natives are protrayed; they are not seen as unthinking savages but as children, scared and uncertain, that need to be cared for. This is certainly not the tale of a gross escapade to conquer primitive peoples, rather it is an 'expedition' in every respect and it is fascinating as a result.

   At times it is a chore to plough through, but i believe the overall and lasting impression that the book leaves is a sufficient reward for the time spent on it.

   And, hang on a minute, doesn't the name of the author mean 'head of the cow'? How strange....




2. I didn't know anything about this real story until I watched BBC Conquistadors. When I learned about Cabeza de Vaca, I was eager to read the account of his years lost, wandering in the south part of North America for 9 long years until he found some "Christians" in the northwest part of Mexico. Although the book is short and simple, the information provided is invaluable, especially with the descriptions of the Indians in this region, its customs and way of living.
   One thing that called my attention was all the hardships he had to endure during his long journey, going naked and feeding mostly of fruits and roots, proving in this case that he was a survivor by nature since others were not that lucky in the same precarious environment. And yes, what a strange name.

1 comments about Heaven's Window: A Journey Through Northern New Me (Crossroads).

1. THIS IS WITHOUT A DOUBT THE BEST BOOK I HAVE READ ABOUT NEW MEXICO. IT SHOULD BE ON EVERYONE'S 'MUST READ' LIST. A WOINDERFUL GIFT BOOK.

5 comments about Searching for Steinbeck's Sea of Cortez: A Makeshift Expedition Along Baja's Desert Coast.

1. Parts of this book are highly interesting, but others would have better been omitted. What I liked most about the book were the author's insights into the book that inspired her and her husband's journey - Steinbeck's Log from the Sea of Cortez. For anyone who shares a fascination with the Log from the Sea of Cortez, as I do, the author provides valuable background information on the book and the trip that inspired it. On the downside, the author seems fixated on trashing her brother-in-law, who piloted the boat her family used in attempting to re-create Steinbeck's journey. Obviously there was a personality conflict here, and her extended diatribes (which seemingly take up a full third of the book) seem mean-spirited and unwarranted. The book would have been vastly better if all of this material had been removed.



2. I love Baja (visited at least annually for 20-plus years), and Steinbeck books, so the title of this book snookered me into buying it. When I heard someone had written a book to recreate the destinations of that earlier trip I eagerly sought it out. Misleading and disappointing. Frequent allusions/comparisons to Steinbeck/Ricketts' "Log" don't change the fact that this wasn't an expedition in any way, shape, or form...but simply an extended family vacation conducted on the cheap! The resultant book (with nothing but an intriquing title)was merely the way to pay for it. The first half of the book was mostly spent unnecessarily beating up on the poor brother-in-law, whom had volunteered to accompany the author (and her husband and small kids)and sail the very small borrowed sailboat. Five people on a 26 footer. Nearly anyone whom has spent much time in Baja has readily duplicated or exceeded the experiences reported in this book. Unfortunately I read the entire thing, presuming it would just have to get better, but no such luck. Funny how a title (and a pretty cover) can sell a book.



3. I agree with another reviewer who stated that the continual and constant trashing of the author's brother-in-law gets old real quick. But to make matters worse - she has a whining attitude about almost everything. Read Sparky's book - good tales by a contemporary who was on the cruise with Steinbeck. Worst of all - THE BOOK HAS NO INDEX - no way of looking up place names, creature names, etc. It's worthless as an on-the-spot guide.



4. There were so many ways of tackling what could have been a splendid sea voyage. Instead, it appeared to have been a taxing, challenging, emotional and financial disappointment for the crew.
   
   Although the book picks up in pace and focus at page 133 on, the author was confusing toward the reader in not letting us know at the beginning what this book was about. Was it truly to discover Steinbeck's old route, was it to explore the sealife of the Cortez waters? Was it a family sailing trip with a grumpy captain and a toddler who wailed and vomited almost daily? Was it just a mundane journal of a sea voyage gone wrong? I really wanted to enjoy this book and tried hard.
   
   Sometimes I felt lost with the nautical or marine terminology. That's why I only gave this book three stars instead of four. The author becomes more of an environmentalist toward the end as well, ranting about how Mexico and its people and the tourists should take better care of the shores and the Marine life or else so many fragile ecosystems will perish, as they surely have since Steinbeck's time.
   
   The family didn't truthfully follow the Steinbeck/Ricketts voyage as the four spent more time in northern Baja along the coast, a region so unlike the southern Baja with its colder climates and gustier winds. Since I live in Arizona and the Sea of Cortez is only a four-hour drive on Mexican backroads, I was especially wanting to read more on that part of the waters. But, that part of the trip came toward the end of the journey and was a hasty finale void of many more detailed observations given at the start of the book.
   
   I will agree with other reviewers who said Andromeda was very critical of her former brother-in-law. She seemed critical of EVERYONE. Sometimes her descriptions of the Mexicans was downright rude, based on whatever bad experience she was going through at the time. In fact, she comes across as a very critical person toward everything, which makes enjoying her book hard.
   
   The end, like many mediocre travelogues, ends anticlimactically. Time and money ran out and so did the book. The end meant an end of the sour mood and that was a relief. Still, I was left wondering what the main purpose was of this book? There were so many things the travelers should and could have done better through more thorough planning and better accomodations. The two young children would have been happier, too and not been so traumatized by some of the incidents that they endured toward the end.



5. but I am not sure that anyone could really recreate the voyage of the western flyer and capture the same magic. The Sea of Cortez is different and so are the players.

5 comments about Beyond the Deep: The Deadly Descent Into the World's Most Treacherous Cave.

1. What is it that drives cave explorers to descend to unbelievable depths, as if they were involved in an international game of subterranean chess?
   

   
   Perhaps the clues are to be found within the pages of a book entitled Beyond The Deep that chronicles the breathtaking 1994 San Agustin Expedition as told from the perspective of Bill Stone and Barbara am Ende.
   Much of the information was gleaned from their logbooks, diaries, and recollections, as well as from dozens of interviews conducted by their co-author Monte Paulsen.
   

   
   In 1977, 1979 and 1981 cave divers were unsuccessful in exploring the San Agustin sump or the underground tunnel that was flooded entirely with water. This sump is the deepest point in a cave known as Sistema Huautla, Oaxaca, Mexico.
   

   
   Many of the difficulties were the result of using traditional equipment as well as the inability to effectively transport the supplies and gear necessary to accomplish this incredible feat.
   

   
   In 1994 international exploring expert Bill Stone completed the constructing of an closed cycle life support system or as he termed it a "rebreather." This piece of apparatus was called the Mk-ll.
   

   
   This would permit the cavers and divers to explore the San Agustin Sump far longer than anyone was able to accomplish in the past.
   

   
   It was Stone's contention that the problem was primarily a technological challenge. Once this was overcome, the rest would fall into place.
   

   
   The next step entailed the meticulous organization of the various components of the team.
   There was expedition leader Stone, six dive team members, 35 support team participants and 5 members of the photo team.
   

   
   These individuals wanted to "place their own boot where no one hand before." According to Stone, "every member had made enormous personal sacrifices in the pursuit of this elusive grail. They'd left family behind for a third of a year; had trained relentlessly for two years just to get there; had gone deeply into debt; and were subjecting themselves daily to physical hardships."
   

   
   Why do it? Perhaps Stone sums it up when he asserts, "after so many years of struggle, he'd found the route, the secret doorway to the gaping, unexplored beyond."
   

   
   One of the shortcomings of the book is the extensive use of technical jargon. The authors did indicate in the introduction that they have substituted common words for technical jargon wherever possible.

   However, unfortunately, far too often I had to refer to the glossary at the back of the book to understand a paragraph or sentence. No doubt this deflated some of the suspense of the saga.




2. Fascinating book about the ultimate 'adventure' junkies-- who explore the world's most treacherous cave in Mexico. An amazing crew of people. What's so unusual is that these are divers-- deep see divers, not just guys and gals who go down into the cave on ropes or climb rocks. They call themselves CAVERS -- details make the true-life adventure come alive. What's disturbing though is that lives were lost on this expedition and the authors tend to gloss over those lost in their quest for the ultimate experiences. Cinematic and even outrageous tale of diving into disaster.



3. I really wanted to like this book but I found myself struggling to finish it. No doubt, the experience itself was immeasurably exciting / interesting, but the book was, well, kind of boring.

   It could have easily been half the length and not lost much, and as another reviewer indicated, I never really got a feel for what is so great about crawling though caves. I'm sure it IS great, at least to those who are as into it as these people are, but I didn't get why or how from the book. I also found the third-person writing style a bit contrived, somehow.

   If you DID like this book, I would highly recommend 'The Last Dive' which is in a similar vein but I found very exciting and extremely well written.




4. I'm a scuba diver. I have also done a lot of spelunking in my late teens and early 20's. I never really considered combining the 2. It just didn't cross my mind.
   
   Now I never will.
   
   There were so many times in this book that I simply got the willies. (Did I spell that right?) It became more frightening that some of the horror I've read.
   
   It also (in my humble opinion) addresses one of the greatest downfalls of some explorers; Not taking into consideration one's mortality.
   
   While I doubt I'll ever willingly mix traditional scuba diving with spelunking I may consider it if I had access to the re-breathers this team used.
   
   This book is NOT for the claustrophobic.



5. I still recommend this book highly. The story of these explorers is simply amazing. As someone who is very very claustrophobic (my worst fear is being stuck in some confined space), I have to be an "armchair" explorer, and this book makes you confront these fears. In the end it's very rewarding.
   
   The book's only flaw is the "reconstructed" dialogue. I don't know who recommended the author(s) adopt this format, because it is really awkward in places. The narrative of, say, a Jon Krakauer book or a Simon Winchester book is much, much more effective than a lot of the bogus, even boring dialogue that comes across here. There are a lot of characters the author(s) and the readers have to deal with, so perhaps giving most of them "voices" was thought of as the best way to do it, but after a while it gets a little tiring and actually disrupts the build-up of the action.
   
   Still, it's an awesome story of exploration and what drives us to keep pushing the limits.

3 comments about Hidden Southwest: Including Arizona, New Mexico, Southern Utah, and Southwest Colorado (Hidden Travel).

1. I had earlier editions of this book and just loved them. We found the best places to stay, motels and bed and breakfasts that are really special, at a great price. I used this book for planning many trips to the Southwest, for myself and friends, and it was always a great experience. It is the best reference books on places to eat and to stay, phone numbers of attractions etc. You can find every place in the Southwest. However, I would still use another travel guide for more detailed information about e.g. national parks and monuments or specific hiking tips.



2. I purchased this book in order to plan a 6 week trip to New Mexico and Arizona. If you want a book that will clearly and intelligently tell you about everything in these two states, this is a good option. Unfortunately, this book isn't very helpful in prioritizing sites. For example, I'm sure every single indian pueblo is listed, but it's difficult to tell which ones are worth allocating time to. Don't get me wrong, this is an excellent book, but, if this is your first visit to the area, you will need a more opinionated book to help you sift though the many, many sightseeing options.



3. Very personal writing style and detailed recommendations make this a great read and a great guide. This book covers the major sights in more detail than most compact guidebooks. The maps are easier to read than most guidebooks due to higher contrast. I loved the suggested iteneraries and "hidden" travel suggestions you may not find in other guidebooks. This is a thick book, maybe a bit bulky for travel. I do recommend it. It has been a great guide to help me plan a trip.

No comments about New Mexico Wild & Beautiful.

No comments about San Miguel de Allende & Guanajuato: Great Destinations Mexico: A Complete Guide (Great Destinations).

No comments about Fodor's Cancun, Cozumel & the Yucatan Peninsula 2009 (Fodor's Gold Guides).

3 comments about Canyon.

1. The author carefully weaves his own experiences as a Grand Canyon river guide with the history of the Canyon. This book will keep you enthralled right up to the last page.

   I would heartily recommend this narrative to all who enjoy adventure books. This classic should be on the bookshelves of everyone who enjoyes whitewater rafting.




2. This book is full of interesting information about the Colorado River going through the Grand Canyon. The author has included all aspects of this great place. He tells the history of the river and canyon, including the geolgy, the first residents, the first settlers, the daming and problems with the daming, the many people who have tried to make the trip, and the history of the wildlife. I found it to be a great read with a lot if great insight into the Grand Canyon. I couldn't put it down and I look forward to reading it again before I take the pluge and float this great river.



3. Well written narrative that provides good information about the Colorado River at higher levels. Decent adventure story and also captures some of the magic or running the river in this magnificent canyon.