outdoor adventure/travel memoirs?

[kangamitroo]

since i can't climb the mountains of Asia this year, or take a bicycle trip from one end of a continent to the other, thought i could at least read about some adventures

i'm thinking of travel to interesting places (a la Eat Pray Love), or extreme sports stories (e.g. Swimming to Antarctica). hiking or running experiences would be especially welcome.

ideas? thanks!

[KiwiZ]

I loved Peter Jenkin's "A Walk Across America", true story, fascinating and touching

[zinemama]

Baghdad Without a Map and other Misadventures in Arabia by Tony Horwitz (fun fact: he's married to author Geraldine Brooks of Year of Wonders)

Malaria Dreams by Stuart Stevens

[Jaxinator]

I think my favorite travel author is Bill Bryson. He wrote about the UK, Europe, Australia and the US, maybe others, but those are books of his I read.
The Sex Lives of Cannibals is about a man who went to Kiribati with his wife, it's really interesting. He wrote another book too, about his time in Vanuatu (which I may have misspelled), but I can't remenber the name of it.

[meemee]

some of my favourite 'reality' books

the places in between by rory stewart (he traces babur's journey across afghanistan - well written and FASCINATING) http://travel.nytimes.com/2006/06/11...er_bissel.html

do you want to read about what they saw, their reaction or do you want to read about what its like to run or walk. because i dont know about any books that talk specifically about how it felt to be doing the physical exercise.

3 cups of tea Greg Mortenson (Sp?) was really good too.

how about some blogs? i knew there are few about bicycling around ireland and europe. there is also the travelling on a shoe string budget.

would you like any online reading material?

[ollyoxenfree]

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer

Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing


Bill Bryson is a good suggestion - his books are engaging.

[Caneel]

Originally Posted by Jaxinator

I think my favorite travel author is Bill Bryson. He wrote about the UK, Europe, Australia and the US, maybe others, but those are books of his I read.

I loved, love, loved a Walk in the Woods about his attempt to hike the Appalacian Trail. He walks it with an old college friend, Katz, who is also involved in the Neither Here Nor There adventures. Both are fun reads.

Originally Posted by ollyoxenfree

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer

Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing


Bill Bryson is a good suggestion - his books are engaging.

While I have no interest in mountain climbing, I could not put Into Thin Air down.

Chris Stewart's Driving Over Lemons is good. It is about their move to Spain and is very detailed about the challenges, mental and physical, in adapting to a completely new way of life. Not travel per se but definately about their adventures.

[Nightswimming]

I love the book "Breaking Trail" by Arlene Blum. I found it very interesting and inspiring.

The excerpt from her website about the book is, "Arlene Blum’s dramatic new memoir explores how her difficult childhood in the flats of the Midwest gave her the courage and skills to lead historic mountaineering expeditions and carry out ground-breaking scientific research." Her website is arlene blum.com.

Enjoy!

[kangamitroo]

caneel-i had seen driving over lemons in a bookstore ages ago. thanks for the reminder!

nightmommy--breaking trail sounds perfect.

oh yes, a walk in the woods was great. bill bryson has a great sense of humor.

thanks all for these suggestions.

[BookGoddess]

One of my favorite travel memoirs is Tales of a Female Nomad by Rita Goldman Gelman. Gelman is a children's book author who, after her divorce, at the age of 47, travels without any hotel reservations or plans. She allows serendipity to give her connections to other people and places. Her book is amazing. She basically travels to live in other cultures. She integrates herself into the lives of those she meets.