Dead Reckoning: Learning from Accidents in the Outdoors

by Emma Walker

It's easier to stay alive if you know what's out there. That's the philosophy behind Dead Reckoning, an honest, unflinching, sometimes-thrilling collection of close calls and catastrophes in the Great Outdoors. Emma Walker's narrative nonfiction covers outdoor activities ranging from hiking to sea kayaking to backcountry skiing, all in accessible, easy-to-understand terms. At the end of each chapter, she distills lessons learned for staying safe in the outdoors––all with a relatable (and occasionally vulnerable) twist.

Genres: Nonfiction, Adventure

208 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2021

About the author

Emma was born and raised in Golden, Colorado, and has spent her adult years traveling and living around the American West and Alaska. She has worked as a camp counselor, raft guide, and avalanche educator, and holds a master's degree in outdoor and environmental education. Emma lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband, trusty mutt, and a handful of backyard chickens. You can see more of her work at emmarwalker.com.

Reviews

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I picked up and read the first few pages of Emma Walker’s Dead Reckoning, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The title reminded me of the rather cold, factual retellings of wilderness adventures gone wrong I’ve read before. I love those books, because like Emma, I always want every detail. I pick these up because I, again like Emma, try to anticipate how every decision may impact the outcome of a trip into the field.

But separate from those types of books, there are times I pick up books on wilderness adventures not for the tales of disaster, but for the rich personal narratives from fellow wanderers. I mention this because I found Emma’s book to be a wonderfully unique combination of empathetic, well-researched retellings of disasters woven into beautiful narratives of her own experiences, including thoughtful reflections on lessons learned. This is not a cold retelling of disaster facts. This is really a wonderful collection of stories that do a fantastic job of passing on memorable, essential lessons. It’s fantastic.

What really takes this book to another level, however, is how clearly Emma’s personality comes through in her stories. I closed this book feeling like I’d found a compassionate, capable friend who I’d gladly pack in anywhere with. Not because she’s full of bravado and confidence, but because she’s careful and refreshingly honest, and has built her skills over years of hard-won adventures.

I would recommend this gem of a book to any passionate outdoor enthusiast, and I will be on the lookout for more books by Emma in the future.

[Ken Gross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drawing on her experience as a professional guide and outdoors person, Emma Watson has pieced together a nice collection describing 10 common hazards to be wary of in the wilderness and how to prepare for and defend against those hazards. The scenarios that Watson discusses include sea kayaking risks, wild animals, hypothermia, and lightning and is well researched with historical statistics and references. If you are just starting work as a guide, a book like this provides a valuable reference; if you’re already experienced, then you will still find the stories presented to be a good read, a refresher on the best practices.

The book is not without drawbacks. Walker relies heavily on jargon commonly used in the Rockies, and a reader may find themselves googling terms such as Yosemite Decimal System and the difference between objective and subjective hazards. In several instances, a map would have been useful to illustrate locations and situations far better than the written descriptions that she penned. And the writing in the tenth chapter fell apart in several instances. Nevertheless, this book is useful, generally well written and often entertaining.

[Karen Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not a big outdoor adventurer, but the book sounded interesting. It was great!

Afraid of being lost in the desert? Or trapped in an avalance? Perhaps you are anxious about a bear encounter in the wilderness. This book covers these and MANY more tradgedies that could happen to you if you are outdoors.

The author is an experienced outdoorsperson with many great personal anecdotes. Emma Walker was funny and a great story teller. I doubt I will ever need to know the things she discussed in the book -- but should I come upon a grizzly or a black bear, I will at least have a chance of survival. I also learned things to do if I go on a mild hike, which is more my speed than the author's extreme adventures.

The book also made me realize I don't want to go on any extreme adventures where I could encounter an avalanche or get caught in a blizzard on a mountain. If you are adventurous, this is a must-read! If you're not adventurous, I'd still read it. It's really intersting and well-researched. Emma gave examples of individuals who had perished in various types of tradgedies. Fortunately, she lived to tell about her similar experiences and provides wisdom to others on how to handle the situation, should you ever have the need.

It's a good read for anyone!

[Clare vanLieshout · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written with the author’s real life experiences exposing both how her knowledge has helped her avoid accidents and her ignorance at the time had exacerbated them, this was an enjoyable read with some great applicable advice when going into the backcountry. I read a lot on how to deescalate wildlife encounters, of which she has two chapters dedicated to (cougars and bears), but not as much on rapids or avalanches. This was super clarifying on the latter issues for me since I’m much less educated on those

[Hatie Parmeter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent research, resource, and personal anecdotes!