Amazon Extreme: Three Men, a Raft and the World's Most Dangerous River

Norman P. Goldman is a retired Civil Law Notaire (Notary) who also
specializes in Montreal history and culture.

Amazon Extreme recounts the harrowing experiences of three young men
traveling across South America from one coast to the other and how they
rafted the 6280-kilometre Amazon River in a rubber dingy. What was
amazing is that only one of the three crewmen had any experience
white-water rafting. Colin Angus, a member of the team along with Ben
Kozel and Scott Borthwick, writes, “No one had gone down the entire
river—certainly no Canadian—and no one had rafted it from start to
finish. I wanted to be the first.”

In diary form, the book recounts this incredible expedition and the
miracle of the crew’s survival. From their very first day when they
commenced the journey in Camanб, Peru, until they finally arrived at
their destination five months later at Ponta, Taipu, Brazil, they
encountered many hair-raising episodes: infested water, violent rapids,
dehydration, oxygen loss, sickness, and loss of their bearings. After
one such episode, the author states, “We had nearly died that day. I
hated to admit it, but that was why we had come—to ride that
adrenaline rush as much as to ride the river.” In addition to high
adventure, the book offers a wealth of information about the geography
and history of the Amazon, as well as the culture of the inhabitants who
live in close proximity to it.

In taking on the awesome Amazon River, were Argus and his teammates
courageous or simply mad? Having read the book, I am still not sure.