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Outdoors & Nature |
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Lost in the Wild: Danger and Survival in the North Woods
written by Cary J Griffith
Studio : Borealis Books
by Borealis Books
Publisher : Borealis Books
Released : 2006-03-15
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Number of Items : 1
EAN : 9780873515610
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 10 reviews)
List Price : $24.95
Our Price : $15.79
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Product Description |
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In the wilderness, one false step can make the difference between a delightful respite and a brush with death. On a beautiful summer afternoon in 1998, Dan Stephens, a 22-year-old canoeist, was leading a trip deep into Ontario’s Quetico Provincial Park. He stepped into a gap among cedar trees to look for the next portage—and did not return. More than four hours later, Dan awakened from a fall with a lump on his head and stumbled deeper into the woods, confused. Three years later, Jason Rasmussen, a third-year medical student who loved the forest’s solitude, walked alone into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness on a crisp fall day. After a two-day trek into a remote area of the woods, he stepped away from his campsite and made a series of seemingly trivial mistakes that left him separated from his supplies, wet, and lost, as cold darkness fell. Enduring days without food or shelter, these men faced the full harsh force of wilderness, the place that they had sought out for tranquil refuge from city life. Lost in the Wild takes readers with them as they enter realms of pain, fear, and courage, as they suffer dizzying confusion and unending frustration, and as they overcome seemingly insurmountable hurdles in a race to survive. |
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Poor translation of actual events |
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I was one of the Scouts personally involved with Dan Stevens' rescue, and it was surely a case of "right time, right place", but we handled the situation properly and swiftly. In this account though, we are written off like the cast of the Sopranos. Every line "quoted" from a New Jersey participant is fraudulent, and written to add cliche humor to a skewed story. None of us are from the inner city, all but one New Jersey scout eventually made the rank of Eagle, and we all revere the outdoors, even to this very day. I personally earned a degree in biology, and just finished a two-week excursion through the entire Grand Canyon for a second time, with members of the Minnesota crew. The hero Dan Stevens broke wilderness rule number one: Don't venture off alone! This is hack writing at it's finest, and any real authors should be appalled that this person is published. |
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Good read |
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A very enjoyable read especially if you visit this area. People who travel to this part of the world must read this book. It shows how fast circumstances can change what was a fun outing into a life and death struggle. Do your homework before go to the BWCA. |
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A cautionary tale |
The book is a riveting retelling of how two young men (independently) became lost in the boundary waters area. The most useful element of the story is the cautionary tale of how simple mistakes, easily made through carelessness or shortsightedness, can lead quickly to life-threatening situations in the wilderness. Alternating between the experiences of the two campers, and jumping between to the rescue efforts mounted on their behalves, the accounts are woven together ably. That said, the author insists upon describing all the events in the present tense rather than the past tense, i.e. he looks up, he sees the light, he wonders, he goes.... It's a personal gripe that some might not share, but rather than creating a breathtaking atmosphere for me as a reader, I found this writing style annoying in an otherwise well told story.
The book is not a survival primer per se, but there are many lessons of the "I never thought of that" variety to be learned here by those with little experience in the wilderness. For those who have "been there and done that," there are sobering reminders of the consequences of lessons forgotten. Keep your map with you and look at it frequently. Don't lose the compass. Never part with your matches if you walk out of camp. Don't wander out of sight of your camp in thick woods. Don't make a jump you don't need to. Avoid needless risks. Insulation is your friend, moisture your enemy. The fact that this isn't rocket science is what makes the book compelling -- simple mistakes that anyone could make can snowball. It is thought provoking to say the least. |
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Almost unbelievable ... |
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This book follows two unfortunate souls and for one of them, you will find yourself wondering if the story can be true since it is one bad decision after another. But I guess that is how it goes. I found both stories compelling and gave this book as a gift to two of my friends (one of which read each story through to the end instead of alternating them). |
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An Amazing Tale of Survival |
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I started this book right after a visit to the area where these events took place. I met one of the rescuers and he casually mentioned the book. I bought it based on that comment but I didn't expect the book to be as well-written or as engrossing as it was. I stayed up well past my bedtime the first night and finished it a few days later in one sitting. It's all I could think about during that time. The author did an excellent job of researching the events so that the reader can feel what it was like to be in the wilderness with the lost men and with the rescuers. It's an amazing story and it's very well told. Highly recommended! |
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