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Brothers on the Bashkaus: A Siberian Paddling Adventure
This riveting memoir follows the exploits of four Americans and ten Latvians on a white-knuckled trip down the Bashkaus River, one of the hardest whitewater runs in all of Siberia.
- GenresAdventure
256 pages, Paperback
First published March 9, 2007
2 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Eugene Buchanan
10 books9 followersEugene Buchanan is the editor-in-chief of Paddling Life magazine and was the former publisher and editor-in-chief of Paddler magazine. He is also a freelance writer for national magazines such as Outside, National Geographic Adventure, Men’s Journal, and many others. A member of New York’s prestigious Explorers Club, he is an avid adventurer with several first descents to his credit. His passion for traveling, writing, and paddling has taken him to more than 30 countries on six continents. Buchanan lives in Steamboat, Colorado, with his wife and two daughers, a block away from the Yampa River, the last remaining free-flowing tributary of the Colorado River.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 21, 2020
Fantastic read about whitewater paddling in Russia. Explores the contrast of USA individualism and post Soviet collectivism in the context of outdoor adventure and multi-day class V whitewater rafting, specifically.
April 13, 2011
When the language barrier could mean life or death, trust is essential…
Eugene and three white water companions are hyped up and on their way to Siberia to run a river with international cohorts. When they arrive they are greeted by three unknown Russian rafters who just seem to take over their lives. Communication is difficult, but at a bit of broken English is spoken.
The group the Americans intended to meet, is unavoidably detained by weather conditions, and unable to participate. The Russians invite the Americans to join them on their trip down the Bashkaus River. They are shown movies of the river and it is more dangerous than they had planned to run. Several of the rapids are class V and some class VI, (extremely dangerous). After several unsuccessful attempts to contact their planned partners, the Americans decide to join the trip down the Bashkaus. A choice they later question on more than one occasion.
Getting off to a “rough start” doesn’t even describe the challenges they endure just trying to reach the drop off point. Struggling with the language, unfamiliar customs, carrying their gear and undependable transportation is just the beginning.
Finally they set off down the river on homemade Russian rafts. All team members are assigned responsibilities. Confidence between the teams is a bit unstable. But as they face the power of the Bashkaus, uniting for the good of the team, a brotherhood of the river starts to grow.
When the common goal to best the Bashkaus becomes frightening, even terrifying at times, quick thinking and sharp minds are essential. The Americans experience the art of survival in a very different way while cooking, food rationing, foraging, and improvising with what is available. Everyone’s knowledge and skills are respected and needed, each a valuable part of the whole. Friendship develops into a deep trust and when danger threatens they all pull together. Sleepless nights, hunger, bruises, pains, bugs, and fatigue are overcome by music, camaraderie and sheer will.
Eugene and three white water companions are hyped up and on their way to Siberia to run a river with international cohorts. When they arrive they are greeted by three unknown Russian rafters who just seem to take over their lives. Communication is difficult, but at a bit of broken English is spoken.
The group the Americans intended to meet, is unavoidably detained by weather conditions, and unable to participate. The Russians invite the Americans to join them on their trip down the Bashkaus River. They are shown movies of the river and it is more dangerous than they had planned to run. Several of the rapids are class V and some class VI, (extremely dangerous). After several unsuccessful attempts to contact their planned partners, the Americans decide to join the trip down the Bashkaus. A choice they later question on more than one occasion.
Getting off to a “rough start” doesn’t even describe the challenges they endure just trying to reach the drop off point. Struggling with the language, unfamiliar customs, carrying their gear and undependable transportation is just the beginning.
Finally they set off down the river on homemade Russian rafts. All team members are assigned responsibilities. Confidence between the teams is a bit unstable. But as they face the power of the Bashkaus, uniting for the good of the team, a brotherhood of the river starts to grow.
When the common goal to best the Bashkaus becomes frightening, even terrifying at times, quick thinking and sharp minds are essential. The Americans experience the art of survival in a very different way while cooking, food rationing, foraging, and improvising with what is available. Everyone’s knowledge and skills are respected and needed, each a valuable part of the whole. Friendship develops into a deep trust and when danger threatens they all pull together. Sleepless nights, hunger, bruises, pains, bugs, and fatigue are overcome by music, camaraderie and sheer will.
May 13, 2008
This is such a wonderful book. I had the butterflies you get in your stomach before your rafting trip the whole time. The differences in cultures and rafting techniques/styles are so enormous but the river, as always, manages to bring everyone together. Great read, very adventurous. I'm totally into rafting books now.
February 24, 2016
Loved it! I finally picked this up to take with me for some long travel. A perfect adventure to engage while going on an adventure. Huge respect for taking on this challenge. I enjoyed the way the author wove historical and cultural aspects into the telling of the trip itself. Thanks for the wild ride!
December 30, 2024
Wow! This was a PHENOMENAL book. I absolutely loved reading about groups from two different countries come together over a similar passion for whitewater! It was so intriguing to read about the different lifestyles and how they adapted to each other. Definitely would recommend to anyone who has a sense of adventure:)
January 16, 2008
i'm completely biased as my cousin wrote this book. the cousin we all had a crush on growing up. so cute and confident! i'm not much into adventure books but this is engaging and very readable. being an avid traveller i related with the trials and tribulations of travel to difficult lands.
September 22, 2011
If you like river running - this is a great story! And it has not diminished my curiosity about travelling in Russia, although I'm not going to make a trip down the Bashkaus.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews