Rafters rejoice! A new book by Ty Childress is out, bringing rafting’s early heydays in California to light as spearheaded by rafting pioneer Bryce Whitmore. The biography/memoir of Bryce Whitmore, “Bail! Bail! Bryce Whitmore and the Birth of Whitewater Rafting,” is printed in 8 1/2” x 11” format with a thick, laminated cover, at over 80,000 words and more than 240 photos. The long-awaited biography of Stanislaus and river running pioneer Bryce Whitmore was written and put together by river guide and photographer Ty Childress and contains stories from Marty McDonnell, Stein Buer, Chris Condon, Donald Segerstrom, Alexander Gaguine, Mark Dubois, Fred and Jacqueline Dennis, Bob Holland, Dorn Cranert, George Armstrong, and others.

 

About the Book:

Passing away this past November at age 97, Bryce was the first whitewater rafting outfitter in California and Oregon, beginning Wilderness Waterways 62 years ago. Ty’s book brings to life the early days of rafting and kayaking in California and Oregon with this collection of stories from a free-wheeling cast of characters. Much of the book traces Whitmore’s life and his improbable and extraordinary path to becoming a professional river guide. But it’s more than a biography. The book also describes evolution in raft design, techniques for navigating rapids, early conservation efforts, and wonderful stretches of river that Ty himself has rafted—some of them now lost to us. Altogether, the book serves as a rich color commentary on the early days of river running in the American West, capturing not only the precious nature of our wild rivers but also the audacious spirit of the people who are drawn to them.