5 harrowing adventure books (that prove things can always be worse)

That prove things can always be worse!

With most of Oz plunged back into lockdown, it can be challenging to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But life is one big adventure, and sometimes… adventures don’t go the way we plan.

In this article, we discuss some of the more (errr?) interesting expeditions ever undertaken and how they went wrong. Get a healthy dose of suspense, excitement and wonder by reading the following books – just don’t expect too many happy endings.

Into Thin Air – Jon Krakauer

Into Thin Air is a true page-turner in every sense of the word. It’s probably our favourite mountaineering book at Uptown Pokies.

Written by journalist Jon Krakauer about his ascent up Everest during the spring of 1996, Into Thin Air will keep you on the edge of your seat from the moment they arrive at basecamp to the moment when things go really, really pear shaped.

Common mountaineering issues such as the commercialisation of the pursuit are touched upon, but it’s the tragic stories of each climber that really hit home.

Of course, there’s some controversy about certain details in Krakauer’s epic, but on the whole, it’s an engaging disaster story that’s been masterfully told.

In The Heart of the Sea – Nathaniel Philbrick

Everyone has heard of Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, but have you heard the true story that inspired it?

It begins with 21 seamen who attempt a 3,000-mile voyage to South America. They only had three small whaleboats and very few provisions for such a marathon journey. Oh… and there was a vengeful and highly enraged white whale constantly ramming their ship. Sounds pretty wild if you ask us.

There’s also extreme dehydration, tales of cannibalism and plenty of against-the-odds survival stories. Thirst, hunger and fear eventually get the better of them, but it’s nevertheless a gripping recount.

127 Hours: Between a Rock and a Hard Place – Aron Ralston

Released in 2004, this autobiographical book by American mountain climber Aron Ralston has since become a hit movie starring James Franco. It details an incident that occurred when Ralston became trapped while canyoneering in 2003.

The book itself more or less recounts Ralston’s experience of being trapped in Bluejohn Canyon and the extreme measures he was forced to take to survive. And by extreme measures, we mean that in every sense of the word. 

Ralston, unable to free himself after his arm was trapped by a boulder, was eventually forced to amputate his right arm with a dull multi-tool. Sure, there are some lighter moments, but if you want an insight into what we’re capable of in times of hardship, this book is worth a read.

There are even photos of his days spent canyoneering in the area, plus maps and a glossary of mountaineering terms available in some editions. Thankfully though… there are no images of the actual amputation.

The Long Walk – Slavomir Rawicz

A man escapes a gulag near the arctic circle, walks for over a year through deserts and snowcapped mountains and eventually reaches Calcutta. Sounds implausible, right? 

This is the true story of Slavomir Rawicz, a young Polish cavalry officer who was arrested in 1939 and sentenced to 25 years in a Russian gulag. After realising that his only chance for freedom was to flee the gulag, he convinced six other companions to follow him south.

They experienced the dead winter of Siberia, blisteringly hot Gobi Desert temperatures and treacherous mountain passes. In short, it was not so much fun for all involved. 

Eventually, though, they were able to reach British India and safety… after walking over 4,000 miles through the harshest regions in the world. It’s a tale of endurance and a stirring reminder that freedom should be prized above all else.

 

The Worst Journey in The World – Apsley Cherry-Garrard

The title of this book doesn’t pull any punches, and despite what you might think, there’s zero hyperbole in it. 

Told by a member of Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s expedition team to the South Pole, The Worst Journey in The World sees a small crew of three men carry 300 kilos of supplies through -70-degree Celsius conditions.

It draws from firsthand experiences plus the diaries of his team members to bring the expedition to life. The trip has since gone down in legend as one of the most notorious endeavours ever undertaken. Cherry himself actually went back as a member of the search party to discover the corpses of Scott and his men.

Detailed, insightful and littered with what can only be described as stoic wit, The Worst Journey in The World is an incredible tale of what happens when daring and suffering collide.

 

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