Opinion and Satire

Monday September 10, 2007

Short-listed National Outdoor Book Awards, 2003-2004 Instructional Category 

What are they saying about River Otter?

Paddler Magazine Rafting Book Review by Eric Hermann, Mar.-Apr., 2004 http://www.paddlermagazine.com:     "Trip planning can be like kayaking with an armload of pots and pans, or herding ringtails. Where to begin?  What and who to bring?  Maria Eschen's book River Otter: Handbook for Trip Planning enables a trip planner to sort out the pile and fit the plan tightly together.  A river runner for 34 years, Eschen shares her knowledge in this comfortable, easy-to-read guide.  With River Otter in hand, you'll be able to plan a trip from an armchair."

River Management Society's News, Book Review by Jack Mosby Alaska Chapter, Winter 2004 http://www.river-management.org:  "This 286-page book offers a plethora of ideas...a complete reference...plus an extensive list of resources, bibliography, and index.  I highly recommend it."

Morris Christensen, BYU Idaho Physical Activities, Outdoor Adventure Advisor, Summer 2005 www.byui.edu/activities/outdoor  "We recently completed our first trip down the Main Fork of the Salmon and used your book very extensively in planning our trip.  I was worried that we would end up on the Salmon and say 'I wish we would have brought that' or 'We forgot that'. However we had no such incidents.  Your book covered everything that we needed to know and we had a very successful trip.  Thank you for all of your useful information.  We hope to cross paths again with you.

Randy Hess, outfitter/owner White Otter Outdoor Adventures, Feb., 2005  http://www.whiteotter.com:
"This is an excellent book for anyone putting together a multi-day trip.  It is a great resource for the novice as well as any old grizzled river runner who can learn a few new tricks.  I am recommending it to all our clients who rent our equipment for the Middle Fork and Main Salmon Rivers.  I think our equipment will come back in better shape and the people will have a better wilderness experience."  Email:   whiteotter@sunvalley.net

North West Rafters Association, Inc., Mary Fleischmann, Chair,  in Confluence, Dec., 2004  http://www.nwrafters.org: "There's a new book out which can be a very useful tool...a very comprehensive piece...I haven't found anything similar that has this much helpful information for planning a river trip--be it a day trip or one that lasts for weeks."

Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education, Association News, Summer 2004:  "If you're looking for a down-to-earth, nuts-and-bolts manual on preparing for river trips, look no further:  River Otter Handbook fills the bill...it's a wonderful reference for both your personal and program's bookshelf." http://www.aore.org

Billings Gazette Review by Brett French, Outdoor Writer, March 18, 2004:        http://www.billingsgazette.com     "River runners looking for some expertise on overnight river trips now have a solid source, Maria Eschen...the information is so complete that any river runner with modest experience could use the book as a start-to-finish guide."

Appalachia, America's Longest-Running Journal of Mountaineering and Conservation, Summer 2004:  "River Otter...this useful compendium of useful facts, checklists, group dynamics, safety and rescue techniques, and handy resources is a solid piece of work.  Recommended for both new and experienced multiday water trippers."  http://www.outdoors.org

Ben Lawhon, Education Manager, Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, Boulder, CO (http://www.LNT.org):     "Thanks for sending us a copy of your new book, River Otter. It's excellent and I was very glad to assist with the Leave No Trace portion of it. I have already put it to good use; I'm headed out next week for a three-day river trip and the book's just outstanding. So, it's a great resource for us, and also for us to tell people about -- because of the fact that it easily guides people through trip planning with a major consideration for leave-no-trace. It's great! So thanks again. We sincerely appreciate your efforts to spread the word. Let us know of LNT can ever do anything for you in the future. Just let me know."

Spokesman-Review, "Wild Women:  Female authors provide fresh, new perspective on great outdoors" by Rich Landers, Outdoors Editor, June 6, 2004:  "Maria Eschen of Boise taps her vast outdoor experience not to philosophize about wilderness issues, but rather to tackle them head-on....well-connected with the who's who of West whitewater, Eschen has fine-tuned her approach to rivers to impeccable standards, including the safety and rescue techniques taught by Les Bechdel.  River Otter...teaches how to be efficient, practical, economical, safe, well-fed and light on the land."

Colorado Whitewater's The Spray, "Connie Conservation", by Liz Hall, April, 2004 http://www.coloradowhitewater.org : "I found a great book on planning and execution of overnight river trips...River Otter...is excellent for any aspect of river trip planning."

Outdoor EdVentures at the University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point, www.uwsp.edu/centers/outedven:  "We have reviewed your book River Otter...we find it to be an excellent resource."

Bruce Genereaux, Hanover, NH, author of Beyond the Comfort Zone, http://www.classfivepress.com:     "River Otter is a testament to a pure love of rivers and camaraderie. I'll be happy to use it to plan some beginning river trips with my young family."

Idaho Whitewater Association, On the Eddy Line, Editorial by Ron Myers, Sept. 2003:     "If you don't have this book, get one. I have been on a few multiday river trips (probably not as many as most of you), some were not so fun and some were pretty much fun depending on the level of organization and group dynamics. After reading through Maria Eschen's book "River Otter" I wished I had this book before each and every trip! If you're thinking about a multiday trip next year, you need to get the book now -- this is when the planning needs to start. Maria's book is like a giant checklist of everything you need to consider. Oh, did I mention how impressed I was with this book?"

Les Bechdel, Canyons Incorporated, McCall, ID (http://www.canyonsinc.com), author of River Rescue:     "Great book. I really enjoyed reading River Otter. Maria has done an excellent job and has covered all the bases of trip preparation and conduct. I just wished she would have had this book out when we started running our trips here in Idaho."

Neil Rucker, Canoe West, Redding, CA (Canoe West - River Rats Running for Year 2003-2004!) (email:  canoewest@snowcrest.net     "River Otter will established itself as the definitive work on trip planning for all water enthusiasts. The coverage of the subject matter is remarkable. Until we change the way we eat, there will be no need for another book on trip planning."

Poudre Paddlers (N. Colorado) Waterlines, "New Book" by Eric Hermann, Jan. 2004:  "So you've scored a river permit and now you face the logistics mayhem, the planning.  Maria Eschen's book, River Otter: Handbook for Trip Planning is a good vessel in this strait; in fact, it's good for anyone who might organize or lead a river trip."

Boise Weekly by Joe Carberry, Feb. 3, 2004:  "Planning a river trip is a daunting task for experience riverrunner, let alone river novices.  Longtime Boise resident Maria Eschen has tried to simplify the process...River Otter...offers trip tools, resource links, recipes and over 90 photographs to aid in successfully planning self-outfitted multi-day river trips."

Park Headquarters (http://www.parkheadquarters.com):     "River Otter: Handbook for Trip Planning offers an insightful analysis and virtual tour of what needs to be done and how to do it. Difficult organizing steps become easy when broken down into key camp duties and areas of responsibility. Maria Eschen advocates a team approach to minimize stress and offers sensible leave-no-trace tips to preserve river ecology "for future generations of river otters."

Jim Acee, Idaho River Guide and Community Education Instructor:     "River Otter, Handbook for Trip Planning by Maria Eschen should be required reading for anyone planning or leading their first multi-day private group river trip. For the more experienced river trip planner, the book provides valuable checklists, tips, insights and information for refining one's planning and leadership skills. Even those on the trip with lesser responsibilities, or those just going along for the ride, can learn how to be better contributors to a well organized, safe, environmentally friendly, and successful trip."

Alan Kesselheim, Bozeman, MT, author of The Wilderness Paddler's Handbook:     "River Otter is a pleasure to browse through, and my general impression is very positive. Maria has clearly done a thorough and careful job and her knowledge is based on a great wealth of experience. I enjoyed the anecdotal and personal style of the book. Very approachable and practical."

Bill Sedivy, Former American Whitewater Board member, current executive director Idaho Rivers United (http://www.idahorivers.org), author of River's End:     "A veteran river trip planner and participant, a clear and entertaining writer, Maria Eschen has put together for us the Koran of coolers, the Torah of teamwork, and the New Testament of timetables, trip logistics, and multiday meal planning. In these pages you’ll also find worthwhile tips on safety, first aid, food handling, communication, and conservation -- taking care of the rivers we float." [refer also to Bill's Foreword, reprinted in "Feature" section]

Toni Burroughs, boating since 1972 in US and Canada, San Jose, CA:  "Congratulations on putting together an invaluable resource for trip planners…lots of good information for everyone from first-time trip leaders to old hands.  Having all those resources in one place is a godsend....it's work that many of us have been meaning to do for years…. Many future river trips will be vastly more enjoyable thanks to your work."

Publishers Marketing Association, Books for Review, Winter 2003-2004:  "Full of action photographs and illustrations galore, this sturdy handbook promises a fun read for outdoor enthusiasts who want to save time, money, and energy."

Idaho Statesman, by Pete Zimowsky, October 30, 2003:  "Besides being a veteran camp cook, Eschen is a seasoned river runner....Her book covers everything from polenta to potties and cheese cake to coolers.  In between are tips on loading gear, trailering, shuttles, Dutch oven cooking, first-aid and more....Her love of the river comes out in her writing."

Kim Allen, RN, Course Director, Colorado Outward Bound/Outward Bound West:  "I found your book to be very well written and very instructive.  I always appreciate an organized river trip and I learned some new tricks too!"

Thrive Magazine, November 11, 2003:  "Non-commercial trips, those not done by outfitters, take a lot of planning and coordination.  It can be stressful.  Eschen advocates a team approach to minimize the stress.  She also promotes Leave No Trace tips to preserve river ecology."

Bill Cross, RN, Ashland OR, co-author Western Whitewater:  "It's a hell of a good book (you can quote me on that!). I only wish I'd had it 25 years ago when I started boating, so I wouldn't have had to learn by trial and error and invent my own systems for so many things. Still, I'm very grateful to have it now, as it includes lots of clever ideas that I'd not yet invented! I will heartily recommend it wherever I can."

Idaho Press Tribune by Ineke Neumeyer, January 26, 2004:  "This must-have read is chock-full of useful tips and tricks from an experienced local river runner....  Eschen's background as a public health professional also provides sanitary sense about healthful food and water safety tips...a comprehensive guide to mastering responsible and ecologically sound river trip planning."

Jim Fitzsimmons, Assistant Director of Campus Recreation at the University of Nevada Reno: http://www.unr.edu/campusrec
"We just completed our annual guide training. We presented your book as an optional text and highly recommended that the student purchase it as an excellent reference for trip planning.  The book does such a great job catching all the little things that can get overlooked in the flurry of putting a trip together."

Independent Record (Helena, MT), "Paddling Preparedness" 3/22/04 by Brett French: "Eschen's 280-page book is a distillation...." http://www.helenair.com

Daily News (Clinton, Oklahoma) by Dee Ann Ray, March 29, 2004:  "This is a very comprehensive book about planning a river trip of any kind...and most of all it teaches how to have a safe water adventure."

Mike Glasgow, Elko, NV:  "I've guided some and boated for most of my life, and am happy to say, I found tremendous wisdom in your book.  A must-have tool for those new to big trips or useful tips for old hands."

Para Publishing, Success Stories, Sports and Recreation:  http://www.parapublishing.com  "This authoritative guide...will save rafters, canoeists, and kayakers time, money, and energy."

"It's a fine book."  --A Virginia river-runner

"It's excellent - congrats - nice flow, hangs together and meets a need. The river otters, and otter theme are charming, Barry and Kate's part add a bit of variety. The menu planning is incredibly complex," --A Southwest Idaho physician and rafter

"I like it, you've done a great job and it will definitely come in handy for future river trips." --A Boise photojournalist

"It's fantastic...sharing your knowledge is a way of achieving immortality...you're doing that! Way to go."                --A Treasure Valley lithographer and kayaker

"Your book is, obviously, a work of art," --A Missoula, MT backcountry skier

"Having just finished leading a private party of 21 down the Main your soon-to-be-released book sounds like it would be awful useful."  --From near the Canadian border

"I am heading on a river trip today. Sounds like a good book that could have proven useful...will digest it before my next long trip."  --A central Idaho school administrator

"What a tremendous accomplishment!"  --A Monroe, Maine artist and sailboater

"I liked it a lot!"  --A Ripon, Wisconsin whitewater canoeist and family doc

New Opinion Feature!

How would you answer these letters from River Otter's mailbag? (senders' names have been deleted to protect the innocent and promote open discussion of difficult issues)

          □  M.Y.O. B. (mind your own business)                                                                   River Otter: pages 36, 84

          □ Agree with Sid and your leader (after all, what's a little algae among faquats anyway?)

          □ Disagree with Sid and your leader                                                            

2.  What the heck is "Graywater"?                                                                                    River Otter: pages 63, 83

□ Technical term Forest Service uses to describe a silt-laden river water after a blowout

□ Dirty dish water

□ Brackish saline found in some coastal river deltas

□ River water added to your privy bucket to soften things up for the SCAT machine visit                                                                                                                                                  

□ Yes. Just be sure you do it in a freezer with an automatic defrost cycle.

□  No. You want to make a big mess, or what?

□  Maybe. All depends on the type of beer.                                                             River Otter: pages 139

4.  The trip leader just asked me to be trip treasurer and pay for the food out of people's deposits. What other things might come my way if I say yes?                                                              River Otter: pages 77-78

□ Paying shuttle drivers (including some group discussion about whether or not to tip)

□ Reminding folks to put down their deposits by a certain date to reserve their spot

□ Expecting a bit of stress over getting folks to save receipts for reimbursement

□ All of the above

5.   Here's this warm summer day, see, and I'm like, you know, a teenager in the double duckie with this older guy I just met who is drinking coffee from a mega-Nalgene bottle like there's no tomorrow. He stops to pee often and seems cranky about everything -- like he keeps trying to paddling us right into gnarly holes! Well, after we get trashed for the third time and he starts bad-mouthing the breakfast crew's scrambled eggs and whines that he feels a case of food poisoning comin' on, I'm like, so outta his boat and onto the raft!. Come on, River Otter, what gives with a guy like that? guy?                                                                                                                                                       River Otter: pages 41, 103             

□  Just missing his wife, girlfriend, or significant other

          □ Hypothermic or starting to get an allergic reaction

          □ Perhaps he's just dehydrated

          □ Probably has kidney stones or gall bladder disease                                      

 6.   Cryptosporidium parvum is especially nasty to us humans our trip medic said. I was embarrassed to ask why. Is she just pulling my leg or something?                                                        River Otter: page 67

□ Not at all. It has an oocyst form that is resistant to halogens.

□ Not at all. It is the most frequent cause of "swimmer's itch" in backcountry hot springs.

□ Not at all. It can be spread quickly through a camp by poor food-handling techniques

□ None of the above

7.  I have my significant other's favorite Canadian Aunt Nellie's amazing baked bean recipe for eight and it takes "10 ml of Tabasco." How do I convert her recipe to exact teaspoons or tablespoons and add the right amount for a recipe that feeds 22 paddlers?                                       River Otter: pages 237-238

□ Google Search for "milliliters"; find out that 10 ml. = 10 x 0.27 fluid drams; answer is 1/3 cup

□ Go to your nurse friend; borrow a Merck Manual; find out 10 ml. is 2 tsp.; 22/8 is about 2; 2 x 2 = 4 tsp.

□ Don't fuss over this ingredient; just tell folks to add Tabasco they want it from the big glass bottle you bring

□ Use River Otter's fast Metric Conversion table, then the Recipe-Adjusting Table; answer is 1 T. + 2 1/2 tsp.                      

          □ super-soaker to spray the folks who would pack food in the stupid things

          □ three carabiners per bucket handle

          □ four-foot-long bungee cords to reinforce the handles

          □ a cargo net

          □ a scrim cloth

                                                                                                                 River Otter: page 242

□ Wrong as they come (someone called a "quartermaster" should stay out of the kitchen)

□ Pretty close, if you had a 10" Dutch

□ Right on the money                                                                                      

10.   My kid took a river rescue class with someone named Les. He tells me this Les gentleman said there's a simple safety technique for assisted rescue receives lots of talk, but rarely the practice it needs to be executed effectively. Give me the inside so I won't look like a geek around my kid. What's the technique?                                                                                                                       River Otter: page 107

          □ Eskimo Rescue

          □ Throw Bag Toss

          □ Strong Swimmer Rescue

          □ Ten Boy Scout Extraction 

Extra Credit (one point for each correct answer): Advanced food prep includes leaving what items at home?

_____________________________ (Only for a max of five, you hot-dogs!)               River Otter: pages 131-138