Jonathan WatermanCritiques

I was never sure what Waterman's main intent was. I know other books and know how straightforward a chronicler he can be.
Is it a pamphlet against xenophobia or cliches, for wildlife preserve, a spiritual motif, a historical overview of the region, an adventure travelogue or a book about love? It is supposed to be all of these, and yet it would have been more rewarding to be just one or two.
I'm sure the translation doesn't lend itself to the original smoothness of the style which I'm sure it has.

In an interview about this book project, the author stated, “Obviously there are a lot of politics, water decisions, and allocations are made behind closed doors, and there is next to no federal oversight. But for me, there was a need for someone to do a first person account that looked at these issues.”
The book stems from the author’s journey down the Colorado River, from it’s Rocky Mountain source to the dried up delta in Mexico. He focuses on the natural beauty and history of this iconic river, but more importantly, he highlights the current state of its demise and the changes needed to ensure its survival.

Jonathan Waterman's crisp writing style really carries his book "In the Shadow of Denali" above the level of the typical expedition book. It's clear he loves Denali, the tallest mountain in North America as well as many of the guides and personalities that have climbed up and down its snowy slopes. The book tells the tale of many of Denali's most famous adventurers and a few lesser known friends of Waterman who have been involved in tragic expeditions. Tales are told in a moving and beautiful way, making this book a real joy to read.

Solid, grounded writing on a subject dear to my heart.

You need more than this this book if you want to climb in Alaska, but this is a great place to start. Waterman, no mean climber in his own right, provides routes and plenty of pictures. Again, you need MORE THAN this book, but you can start here. It will give you wanderlust.