First Descents: In Search of Wild Rivers is now available as a brand new second edition, filled with new whitewater paddling tales and some of the very best stories from the original 1989 first edition.

Two decades ago, Menasha Ridge Press published First Descents as a chronicle of the best writing and most daring adventures in whitewater paddling to date. Much has evolved over the past 21 years, and the second edition of First Descents recognizes this with a selection of new essays and photos from modern whitewater explorers.

In the new edition, you can read about Tao Berman's waterfall world record in Banff National Park, Brad Ludden's Madagascar first descents mission and Trip Jennings and the Epicocity Project's close calls and "descent into madness" on Papua New Guinea's Pandi River.

Also included are classic tales like Bill Mason's recount of his ill-fated Wilberforce Canyon run on the Hood River, Yvon Chouinard's rough-and-ready descent of the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone, and 15 other stories from early whitewater pioneers.

The breadth of experiences and years represented in First Descents makes for an alternately gripping and edifying read. After closing the back cover, you'll be much wiser on where paddling has been and where it may be headed.

$19.95 US
154 pages