Almost Too Late: The True Story of a Father and His Three Children Shipwrecked Off the Coast of Wintry Alaska

by Elmo Wortman

Book by Elmo Wortman

Genres: Nonfiction, Survival, Memoir, Travel, Adventure, Biography

211 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1981

Reviews

[Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find it interesting that I grew up next door to Randy Wortman and never knew that there had been a book written about his ordeal until it was assigned to me in my freshman literature class in high school. Their struggle is a true depiction of the wildness of the Alaskan outdoors that we call our backyard.

[Virginia Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

True story of a father and his three teenage children shipwrecked off the coast of Alaska in winter, 1981. It has a happy ending but it sure was painful to travel with this family. Not sure why I liked this book so much. I've had it on my library shelf for years. It's simply written and at times it's almost painful to observe the errors this man made in the care of his children, such as when he took them out into waters off the Alaska coastline in the middle of winter without an emergency radio. Nevertheless, the concern the family members show for each other throughout their ordeal, and their sheer will to survive as castaways made for a pretty compelling story.

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was a kid, I saw a Made-for-TV movie called "Anything to Survive" and I don't know why but it fascinated me and my family. Years later we happened across it again on TV and were again reminded of the movie we liked more than any other TV movie we'd ever seen. After reading The Raft I was reminded of this movie and searched for it online and discovered that "Anything to Survive" was based on a book about the actual event. I'd had no idea it was based on a real story so I was pretty excited to order the book and read the story that inspired the movie.

The story follows Elmo and three of his children whom manage to survive against all odds when their ship wrecks in Alaska during one of the worst winters the area had seen. Elmo had been taking the children to the only orthodontist in the area and was en route back when a winter storm hit and they lost their boat in the storm despite all futile attempts to keep her afloat. After all miraculously make it to shore, they spend the next month attempting to find help and be rescued.

I seem to gravitate towards survival stories and this is definitely one of the better ones I have read. I definitely recommend it to anyone whom has seen the movie or likes ship wreck or survival stories. What this family went through and survived is amazing!

[Mom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never go out in a boat in bad weather. The father drove me crazy. True story.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this up off a library book sale clearance rack based on the subtitle alone-- who needs subtlety!

I appreciated how the author--a father stranded with his three children in the Alaskan wilderness--doesnt make himself out to be the hero. Each child's personality was well described; I felt like I knew each one of them by the end.

Describes what the subtitle says it does, but with plenty of interesting internal struggles as well. Liked it a lot!

[Sandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disaster, danger, calamity... why I am so drawn to these survival true stories?

I think it is like looking at my worst nightmare (which is maybe not an alien monster although they are darn scary) but Mother Nature, the killer mama of sea & wind, ice and destruction! I want to test my brain and instincts to see if I could keep on fighting to live and conquer the ravaging force of nature at her worst.

Of course I couldn’t...I would lay down and bawl like a baby! But could Elmo and his children? Fast amazing read, I had an old 1st edition copy that belonged to my dad, he loved this type of book as do I.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book when I read it years ago. It was exciting, suspenseful, and I really cared about the people as I was reading it. It’s the true story of a father and his 3 teenage children, residents of Alaska, who take their boat to get supplies and get stranded in the wilderness in the snow, and their efforts to survive. Written by the father.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a true story I NEVER want to live through.

I read this YEARS ago because my dad wanted me to. It's about a family who goes out one day in Alaska, and have an accident. They end up spending several days in sub-zero temperatures, and them desperately trying to survive.

Great story about the will and desire to live, and how far you will go stay alive.

[Cris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I seem to be in the mood for survival stories lately and this one did not disappoint. An amazing story told told exceedingly well by a non-author, Elmo Wortman. Not only was their true life adventure gripping in its unfolding, but the family's unconventional lifestyle was intriguing. Highly recommend.

[Karen Bjornstrom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read it when it first came out! I was good friends with Jena, knew Cindy Randy and Elmo! When reading I could like hear the sound of the voices! I didn’t get to know them until after the wreck, memories miss the good ole days!

[Roman Dial · Rating 4 out of 5]

A family survival story of epic proportions, with wicked winter storms; a shipwreck; wetness and cold and no proper clothing, shelter, or food; improvisation; determination; cooperation; starvation; unbearable suffering; faith; the meaning of family where a father's love and responsibility for his kids is exceeded only by the siblings' responsibility for each other.

Like other reviewers I picked it up and couldn't stop, reading it in one day.

It has lessons: some situations it's must be every one for themselves, like when you leave a sinking boat; other times, you can only survive together, like when your cold and hypothermic with minimal shelter and food; finally, you may need to split up, when it's faster to go for help.

A classic Alaskan story that leaves a reader wondering about how the survivors are today.

[Joanne Poppenk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Riveting sea survival story. The fingernails on both my hands, as I recall, were bitten to the quick, figuratively speaking, during the description of the wreck at the beginning of the book. Then there wasn't enough wool by way of toques, socks, scarves and dry blankets to keep me warm for the rest of the story. It was, however, vastly pleasurable to vicariously wallow in the misery, despair and desperation that this family endured lost in a frozen wilderness as I curled up with the cat on my cozy sofa beside a toasty fireplace eating a steaming-hot bowl of delicious homemade soup. A thoroughly chilled-to-the-bone one.

[Oscar Lilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Almost Too Late" is an aptly named survival memoir.

[Audrey Webster · Rating 3 out of 5]

True life story of a family boat wreck and survival.

[Janice Sheufelt · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing Alaska survival account

[Amanda Taft · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing true story of endurance and the will of four people to survive in the harshest of environments.

[Hans Guttmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like sailing and adventure stories, this is for you. A gripping tale of a family that almost didn’t make it out. AKA a frozen toes book.

[Alia McLaughlin]

Everytime i came home I was just excited to see what happened next. All I can say is WOW. What an exceptional story

[Maryann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A captivating retelling of survival in the SE Alaskan wilderness. A family of 4 who fought hardship and survived.

[Claire Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant story of survival!!

[Barbs · Rating 2 out of 5]

If it wasn’t for Randy, the son I don’t think they’d be alive. Amazing resilience, common sense and bravery.

[Elvis2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

How many times have I read this wonderful book? A lot. I highly recommend it. It's a great story, told very well. This time I'm not giving away my copy.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping and intense. inspirational.

[Joel Horn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book years ago and it has stuck with me ever since. For a long time I hated Elmo for what I thought he did wrong to his daughters but as I grew and understood life more I realized he did a masters job of just telling the story as it stood with all human failings. The children and him went through a really rough adventure that I am sure made them into stronger people. As a new author of a story in the same genre I can appreciate deeply the story he told.

[Leila · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING - survival endeavors unparalleled - could NOT put it down once I began reading - dispells the theory 'survial of the fitest'.

[M K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Exciting to read, lots of adventure!

[Marcel Gagnon · Rating 4 out of 5]

excellent

[Armatstorage]

was amazing

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down! Read it in one day. Was a super anxious, edge-of-your-seat read. Played into my darkest fears of being eaten up by the ocean.

[Momo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing story. May be out of print which is too bad. This family lived one hard adventure