Outdoor Recreation Audiobooks | Sports & Recreation

Mother Nature is Not Trying to Kill You: A Wildlife & Bushcraft Survival Guide

Prepare for all the worst case scenarios mother earth throws at you with Mother Nature is Not Trying to Kill You-the only survival kit you need to overcome wildlife, natural disasters, and everything else outdoors. Survive the unexpected. Statistically, you're more likely to die from a vending machine than a shark. But, Rob Nelson knows many shark survivors. His college girlfriend was attacked by a crocodile and his roommate, a grizzly bear. His wife was sucked by a wave down a blowhole, he was left stranded at sea after a storm sank his sailboat, and the list goes on and on. To Rob, these 'improbable' altercations are 'random acts of nature,' and he's learned how to survive them. On knots, poisonous plants, and natural disasters. Featuring fifty-two challenges you can encounter in the wilderness, this survival guide is your year-long crash course for ultimate disaster management. Whether you're preparing for a moose attack or a nuclear fallout, Mother Nature is Not Trying to Kill You enables you to confront the natural world with skill and confidence. This wilderness survival guidebook also includes pop culture examples like Jaws and The Revenant; nature and science-packed stories and narratives; diagrams, survival tips, and more!

Haley Nelson, Rob Nelson (Author), Rob Nelson (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Last of His Kind: The Life and Adventures of Bradford Washburn, America's Boldest Mountaineer

“Stunning and stirring.” —Boston Globe In The Last of His Kind, renowned adventure writer David Roberts gives readers a spellbinding history of mountain climbing in the twentieth century as told through the biography of Brad Washburn, legendary mountaineering pioneer and photographer. Jon Krakauer, author of Into Thin Air, has praised David Roberts, saying, “Nobody alive writes better about mountaineering”—and nowhere is that truth more evident than in this breathtaking account of the life and exploits of America’s greatest mountain climber.

David Roberts (Author), David De Vries (Narrator)

Audiobook

Sea Trial: Sailing After My Father

Shortlisted for the 2019 Governor General's Literary Award for Non-Fiction An adventure story set against the backdrop of a son trying to understand his father After a 25-year break from boating, Brian Harvey circumnavigates Vancouver Island with his wife, his dog, and a box of documents that surfaced after his father's death. John Harvey was a neurosurgeon, violinist, and photographer who answered his door a decade into retirement to find a sheriff with a summons. It was a malpractice suit, and it did not go well. Dr. Harvey never got over it. The box contained every nurse's record, doctor's report, trial transcript, and expert testimony related to the case. Only Brian's father had read it all - until now. In this beautifully written memoir, Brian Harvey shares how after two months of voyaging with his father's ghost, he finally finds out what happened in the O.R. that crucial night and why Dr. Harvey felt compelled to fight the excruciating accusations.

Brian Harvey (Author), Jason Gray (Narrator)

Audiobook

Journeys North: The Pacific Crest Trail

In Journeys North, legendary trail angel, thru hiker, and former PCTA board member Barney Scout Mann spins a compelling tale of six hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2007 as they walk from Mexico to Canada. This ensemble story unfolds as these half-dozen hikers-including Barney and his wife, Sandy-trod north, slowly forming relationships and revealing their deepest secrets and aspirations. They face a once-in-a-generation drought and early severe winter storms that test their will in this bare-knuckled adventure. In fact, only a third of all the hikers who set out on the trail that year would finish. As the group approaches Canada, a storm rages. How will these very different hikers, ranging in age, gender, and background, respond to the hardship and suffering ahead of them? Can they all make the final sixty-mile push through freezing temperatures, sleet, and snow, or will some reach their breaking point? Journeys North is a story of grit, compassion, and the relationships people forge when they strive toward a common goal.

Barney Scout Mann (Author), Traber Burns (Narrator)

Audiobook

Sandstone Spine: Seeking the Anasazi on the First Traverse of the Comb Ridge

On September 1, 2004, three middle-aged buddies set out on one of the last geographic challenges never before attempted in North America: to hike the Comb Ridge in one continuous push. The Comb is an upthrust ridge of sandstone—virtually a mini-mountain range—that stretches almost unbroken for a hundred miles from just east of Kayenta, Arizona, to some ten miles west of Blanding, Utah. To hike the Comb is to run a gauntlet of up-and-down severities, with the precipice lurking on one hand, the fiendishly convoluted bedrock slab on the other—always at a sideways, ankle-wrenching pitch. There is not a single mile of established trail in the Comb's hundred-mile reach. The friends were David Roberts, writer, adventurer, famed mountaineer of decades past, at age 61 the graybeard of the bunch; Greg Child, renowned mountaineer and rock climber, age 47; and Vaughn Hadenfeldt, a wilderness guide intimately acquainted with the canyonlands, age 53. They came to the Comb not only for the physical challenge, but to seek out seldom-visited ruins and rock art of the mysterious Anasazi culture. Each brought his own emotions on the journey; the Comb Ridge would test their friendship in ways they had never before experienced. Searching for the stray arrowhead half-smothered in the sand or for the faint markings on a far sandstone boulder that betokened a little-known rock art panel, becomes a competitive sport for the three friends. Along the way, they ponder the mystery, bringing the accounts of early and modern explorers and archaeologists to bear: Who were the vanished Indians who built these inaccessible cliff dwellings and pueblos, often hidden from view? Of whom were they afraid and why? What caused them to suddenly abandon their settlements around 1300 AD? What meaning can be ascribed to their phantasmagoric rock art? What was their relationship to the Navajo, who were convinced the Anasazi had magical powers and could fly?

David Roberts (Author), David De Vries (Narrator)

Audiobook

Bushcraft: 3 books in 1 : How To Heal Oneself in the Wilderness + How To Eat in the Wilderness + How

This book includes : - How To Heal Oneself in the Wilderness - How To Eat in the Wilderness - How to Make a House in the Wilderness Here is an overview of the bundle : - The first few chapters focus on the wildlife of a region with animals and insects being discussed first. The shrubs and greenery are also part of a region’s wildlife, some poisons and some delicious, so we’ll be exploring that in the initial chapters. - The book is also a guide on how to self-heal from unfortunate experiences and interactions with this wildlife and plant life. There are several procedures that can be conducted by an explorer on him/herself in order to sustain their life in the wild. - An entire list has also been compiled that allows readers to efficiently pack for their next trip, depending on the region they will be visiting and the wildlife they will be exploring. - The emotional aspect has also been covered in this book. A newer perspective on wildlife has been included, which explains how the wilderness can become a source of emotional and spiritual clarity. - The basics of bushcraft - The basics of foraging - Identification of various edible plants - How to harvest plants - Basics of hunting and trapping - Bushcraft gears and weapons - Foraging snails and slugs - Butchering - Cooking in the wilderness - Uncommon foods - And much more! - Unlocks the mystery of the wilderness in an organized layout. - An easy to understand introduction to bushcraft. - Seamless progression from basic to advanced bushcraft skills and concepts. - Includes essential tips and tricks, along with examples of real wilderness scenarios. - A systematic chapter progression that concludes into building practical skills. - Explains the wood processing and shelter construction in layman terms.

Branda Nurt (Author), Mark Wheeler (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Wild Silence: The Sunday Times Bestseller from the author of The Salt Path

Brought to you by Penguin. Following the Sunday Times bestselling, prize winning book The Salt Path, Raynor Winn returns with her profoundly moving second memoir. In The Salt Path, Raynor and her husband Moth head to the windswept coastline to try to find a way through homelessness, and ultimately to find themselves. Now in The Wild Silence, they come back to four walls, but the sense of home is elusive and returning to normality is not easy. Raynor and Moth continue to face his debilitating illness, as Raynor struggles to recover trust in herself and others. Until someone who read The Salt Path makes an unbelievable offer and they find themselves living on an overused farm, tasked with revitalising the land and returning the wildlife to its hedgerows. With only their life-long love of each other and the natural world to help them, they begin to rediscover the meaning of home. © Raynor Winn 2020 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

Raynor Winn (Author), Raynor Winn (Narrator)

Audiobook

The American Adrenaline Narrative

The American Adrenaline Narrative considers the nature of perilous outdoor adventure tales, their gendered biases, and how they simultaneously promote and hinder ecological sustainability. To explore these themes, Kristin J. Jacobson defines and compares adrenaline narratives by a range of American authors published after the first Earth Day in 1970, a time frame selected as a watershed moment for the contemporary American environmental movement. The forty-plus years since that day also mark the rise in the popularity and marketing of many things as 'extreme,' including sports, jobs, travel, beverages, gum, makeovers, laundry detergent, and even the environmental movement itself. Jacobson maps the American eco-imagination via adrenaline narratives, grounding them in the traditional literary practice of close reading analysis and in ecofeminism. She surveys a range of popular and lesser-known primary texts by American authors. She also discusses such narratives as they appear in print and online articles and magazines, feature-length and short films, television shows, amateur videos, social networking site posts, fiction, advertising, and blogs. These narratives provide important insight into the American environmental imagination's connection to masculinity and adventure.

Kristin J. Jacobson (Author), Emily Durante (Narrator)

Audiobook

Graced by Waters: Personal Essays on Fly Fishing and the Transformative Power of Nature

John Dietsch-fly fishing coordinator and stuntman for Brad Pitt on the timeless film A River Runs Through It-explores our connection to the outdoors through the prism of fly fishing and investigates its transformative and healing power in the face of loss. In this inspirational and humorous collection of essays, author John Dietsch sees his addiction to and passion for fishing as a parable that can help us shift from compulsive thinking to mindfulness and a closer connection to God. From creating fishing scenes on the set of A River Runs Through It in Montana to directing fly fishing shows in New Zealand and from exploring deep canyons in California to guiding in Colorado, John shares his experiences and asks the question: what are we really fishing for? Through John's journeys across the globe, we discover that the same pursuit in fishing-of what is elusive but attainable-can be applied to our own spiritual journey. In the end, Dietsch uncovers his own truth under the rocks of a childhood river, recognizing the loss of both his brothers as the path of acceptance and faith that is graced by waters.

John Dietsch (Author), Jim Denison (Narrator)

Audiobook

My Old Man and the Mountain: A Memoir

In 1963, the world followed the first American Mount Everest Expedition, and watched as 'Big Jim' Whittaker became the first American to stand on top of the world. He returned home a hero. My Old Man and the Mountain is Leif Whittaker's engaging and humorous story of what it was like to 'grow up Whittaker'-the youngest son of Jim Whittaker and Dianne Roberts, in an extended family of accomplished climbers. He shares glimpses of his upbringing and how the pressure to climb started early on. Listeners learn of his first adventures with family in the Olympic Mountains and on Mount Rainier; his close yet at times competitive relationship with his brother Joss; his battle with a serious back injury; and his efforts to stand apart from his father's legacy. With wry honesty he depicts being a recent college grad, still living in his parents' home and trying to find a purpose in life-digging ditches, building houses, selling t-shirts to tourists-until a chance encounter leads to the opportunity to climb Everest, just like his father did.

Leif Whittaker (Author), Eric Michael Summerer (Narrator)

Audiobook

How to Paddle a Kayak: The 90 Minute Guide to Master Kayaking and Learn to Paddle Like a Pro

Do you want to start kayaking quickly, safely, and without getting all wet in the process? Discover expert techniques for staying safe and paddling like a pro in just 90 minutes. Excited to learn how to kayak out on the open water? Want to read weather conditions, assess danger, and manage currents without costly classes or hours of instruction? Author and expert kayaker Scott Parsons was born with a love for water-based adventure. Parson’s natural talent for teaching effective kayaking techniques will have you feeling confident, safe, and ready to start paddling before you know it! In How to Paddle a Kayak: The 90 Minute Guide to Master Kayaking and Learn to Paddle Like a Pro, you'll learn all the facts and techniques you need to feel comfortable in a kayak. You’ll discover basic kayaking techniques, how to reduce hazards and risks, and everything you need to know to stay water-safe. You’ll also learn how to get into advanced kayaking, whitewater kayaking, and extreme kayaking. Parsons' formidable knowledge makes it easy for you to get on the water risk-free in no time at all. In How to Paddle a Kayak, you’ll discover: - How to safely start kayaking in just 90 minutes - The best kayaks to buy for speed, lakes, or open waters - How to stay centered and balanced in any kayak - How to read currents and tides to keep safe - Common paddling mistakes, how to avoid them, and much, much more! How to Paddle a Kayak is a comprehensive reference for anyone keen on kayaking. If you like clear and simple guidance, easy-to-learn techniques, and practical advice from a kayaking expert, then you’ll love Parsons’ handbook. Buy How to Paddle a Kayak to make a kayaking splash today!

Scott Parsons (Author), Sherry Granader (Narrator)

Audiobook

Above the Clouds: How I Carved My Own Path to the Top of the World

The most accomplished mountain runner of all time contemplates his record-breaking climb of Mount Everest in this profound and free-flowing memoir—an intellectual and spiritual journey that moves from the earth’s highest peak to the soul’s deepest reaches. What drives a person to the edge of one of the most difficult and revered mountains in the world? How much is one willing to sacrifice and suffer to pursue an authentic and bold life? The most accomplished mountain runner of all time, Kilian Jornet ponders these questions as he contemplates his record-breaking climb of Mount Everest, exploring the mountain’s changing nature over four seasons and his own existence. As he recounts a life spent studying, tending, and ascending the greatest peaks on earth, Jornet ruminates on what he has found in nature—simplicity, freedom, and spiritual joy—and offers a poetic yet clearheaded assessment of his relationship to the mountain . . . at times his opponent, at others, his greatest muse. In this sweeping, soulful journey—the flip side of stories like Into Thin Air—Jornet illuminates with beauty and brilliance what it means to be an athlete, a competitor, and a human facing the greatest life challenges—for him, the mountain he yearns to climb and honour.

Kilian Jornet (Author), Steven Brand (Narrator)

Audiobook

Outdoor Recreation Audiobooks in Sports & Recreation