ry_guy Posted October 20, 2005 Share Posted October 20, 2005 I just finished reading the book, The Long Walk, by Slavomir Rawicz, and this story is by far the greatest epic of human stuggle to survive that I have ever come across. It is about a handfull of guys in a Siberian labor camp that escape. With no supplies they trek south through Siberia in winter, into Mangolia, cross the Gobi desert, reach Tibet and finally over the Himalayas into India where they are safe. Talk about a clever title. Reading that makes my little weekend excursians feel like a day at the pool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dru Posted October 20, 2005 Share Posted October 20, 2005 ...and see the Yeti. Apparently some people regard the whole story as dubious. Facts are hard to verify. Still a great read though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EWolfe Posted October 20, 2005 Share Posted October 20, 2005 That is an amazing story. One of the most epic survivals since Shackleton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ry_guy Posted October 20, 2005 Author Share Posted October 20, 2005 I can't get over what those guys had to go through. A friend of mine has told me that of the 4 survivors, recent years after they reached civilization 3 of them commited suicide. Haven't checked if it is true or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greta Posted October 20, 2005 Share Posted October 20, 2005 An amazing yarn indeed. I think I read it in one sitting- a hard book to put down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sobo Posted October 20, 2005 Share Posted October 20, 2005 That is an amazing story. One of the most epic survivals since Shackleton. Shackleton's saga is indeed truly impressive. What really amazed me was that he lost nary a soul. Incredible! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archenemy Posted October 20, 2005 Share Posted October 20, 2005 Yeah, the Yeti thing was a bit hard to believe. As was ice climbing with a pocket knife. And rescuing the girl without expecting payment. But it was a good read, I couldn't put it down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blake Posted October 20, 2005 Share Posted October 20, 2005 we had a discussion on thie very book a few months ago. It's never been verified by any credible source. military records have never been found. geographic/topographics indicators in the book don't match reality. Animals encountered, including type of snakes that they supposedly lived off of in the Gobi desert, don't match any real animals. They claim to have navigated (mapless) through the himalayas in winter with no real clothes, gear, or food. What are the chances of someone (with NO knowledge of the geography or mtn climbing) to be able to do that through the cascades, let alone himalayas? Nice story, not true though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archenemy Posted October 20, 2005 Share Posted October 20, 2005 we had a discussion on thie very book a few months ago. It's never been verified by any credible source. military records have never been found. geographic/topographics indicators in the book don't match reality. Animals encountered, including type of snakes that they supposedly lived off of in the Gobi desert, don't match any real animals. They claim to have navigated (mapless) through the himalayas in winter with no real clothes, gear, or food. What are the chances of someone (with NO knowledge of the geography or mtn climbing) to be able to do that through the cascades, let alone himalayas? Nice story, not true though. Frankly, I could not navigate through the himalayas with a NorthFace wardrobe, a gear collection to end all gear collections, and a personal chef. True story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dru Posted October 20, 2005 Share Posted October 20, 2005 we had a discussion on thie very book a few months ago. It's never been verified by any credible source. military records have never been found. geographic/topographics indicators in the book don't match reality. Animals encountered, including type of snakes that they supposedly lived off of in the Gobi desert, don't match any real animals. They claim to have navigated (mapless) through the himalayas in winter with no real clothes, gear, or food. What are the chances of someone (with NO knowledge of the geography or mtn climbing) to be able to do that through the cascades, let alone himalayas? Nice story, not true though. C'mon dude, they were Polish. The truly incredible thing is that they didn't settle down in Tibet with a herd of sheep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archenemy Posted October 20, 2005 Share Posted October 20, 2005 Has anyone verified that they didn't? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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