TORRENTS AS YET UNKNOWN

A renowned kayaking expert provides a collection of riveting stories about the world’s most dangerous and mysterious whitewater rivers.

There is something primal about rushing, roaring water. People who ride the rapids in kayaks know the risks and choose to face them, testing themselves and perhaps finding a deeper connection with the world. Walker is one of those people, although in the course of his life, he has also held senior military positions and written several books about kayaking. In his latest, he chronicles 10 expeditions on unconquered rapids, ranging from the Zambezi in Africa to Tiger Leaping Gorge on the Yangtze. Walker paddled the Yarlung Tsangpo River at the eastern end of the Himalayas, described in the final chapter of the book; he draws the other accounts from interviews with and memoirs by the other participants. In several cases, documentary films were made, providing a crucial record. Simply getting to the starting point could be an epic journey involving not just the kayaking team, but their support crew and supplies. The rapids were not the only danger; in some places, there were also piranhas, bandits, crocodiles, and bureaucrats to contend with. The unchartered rivers could be a battlefield, and sometimes the rivers won. Several expeditions lost team members or were, after bruising accidents and wrecked boats, forced to acknowledge defeat (including Walker’s expedition). Clearly, this is not a sport for the faint of heart, and Walker captures it all: the adventure and the danger of the rapids, the terror and the thrill of the unknown, the camaraderie and the occasional humor. The author is a solid storyteller, and though the book is not for everyone, it will appeal to readers with an interest in challenging sports, untraveled paths, and the process of confronting fear and overcoming it.

Page-turning adventure tales from an experienced, knowledgeable guide.