Scott Morrow and his Venturer unit take a canyoning trip that pits the youths against raging elements and forces them to make a life and death decision nobody wants.
The actions of the deft teenager unite a nation behind him with the Prime Minister sending army commandos and a Blackhawk helicopter to make a daring rescue attempt to save Scott and his injured mate.
Hundreds of Rovers join the race to help save Scott, the boy who brought them to national prominence and gave the Australian community a new force in rescue management.
Excerpt
Slowly William inched his way backwards on the rock shelf. The BlueWater rope ran tightly through his abseil rack. The teenager slid the rope protector in place to stop the rope abrading on the edge of the rock face. He shifted his legs shoulder-width apart and leant backwards.
His right hand held the rope under his bottom and his left hand was forward of the metal abseiling rack around the rope. William took up the slack in the rope and stepped down to the first level. He moved his feet together and overbalanced, sending him into a mini free fall.
“Got you!” Scott yelled from the bottom of the cliff as he tightened his grip on William’s abseil rope and leant backwards. Scott ‘married’ the end of the rope with the main part of the abseil rope and tightened his grip. He was belaying William when he saw his mate slip. His quick action in tightening the abseil rope averted a possible major problem. The youth’s action locked the rope in William’s abseil gear and prevented him from moving down the rope.
“William! Open your legs shoulder-width apart again and lean back,” Scott said. “I’ll lower you back on the cliff.” Scott then eased back on the rope to allow more slack and to enable William to take control.
“Thanks Scott. I misjudged my footing.”
Scott watched William intently and allowed him free play with the rope. William sat on his haunches, corrected his position and then kicked out from the cliff. The movement sent the teenager out and down in a controlled abseil. The sound, ‘clunk, clunk’ of heavy boots hitting the ground echoed at the base of the cliff as William landed. Scott dropped his part of the rope to allow William more slack to feed through his abseil equipment.
“Of course you know I was only testing you up there,” William said with a cheesy grin.
“Of course, I’m the official unit tester when I belay.”
William divested himself of the rope and his equipment and walked over to Scott. He picked up the rope and curled it around his waist and married the ends. It was an automatic gesture as each of the boys in the Venturer unit took turns in belaying after abseiling.
“Who’s next?” Scott asked.
“Peter’s up next, followed by Mark and Ian,” William said as he craned his neck upwards to see if Peter had started to hook onto the rope.
“I’ll head on up,” Scott said. “I’ll also ask Mike if he’s willing to let us do some face first or Geneva today.”
“Good on you Scott. We haven’t done any of that for some time. Cheers.”
Scott made his way across the neatly mown sportsground and climbed the hilly embankment. The abseil area was on top of a former rock quarry, long since abandoned. The quarry itself had been flattened out and public tennis courts and a carpark had been built. The local council knew Venturer units and other groups used the quarry for adventurous activity but did nothing to hamper them. A series of homes backed onto the top of the quarry.
Scott turned the corner and saw Mike, his Venturer leader, talking with one of the Venturers, explaining to him how to adjust his harness. Mike was an Army Reserve captain who loved being involved with youth when he was not in the army.
“Good one Scott,” Mike said without looking up. “That was a good save with William.”
Scott was slightly taken back. ‘Does this man miss anything?’ he thought.
“No problems. Will just lost his footing for a moment. Well, actually, he was just testing me,” Scott said with a smirk on his face.
“Sure he was ... now, I bet he wants to do forward Geneva? Would I be right?”
“Actually, I was going to ask if we could do some forward Geneva,” Scott said.
Professional Reviews
When the Brave Dare to Canyon
CANYON by Christopher J Holcroft, is the second instalment in a series that follows the adventures of Scott Morrow and his Venturer Unit. The novel tells the story of a canyoning trip that places the Venturer Unit against the elements and forces them to make a life and death decision.
The book begins with the characters practicing their abseiling skills, as they learn to trust each other, in a controlled environment before they have to put these skills into practice in the most extreme weather conditions.
With meticulous detail the author impeccably describes the scene, painting a picture in the reader’s mind. As the story builds in intensity the author switches between characters at different locations keeping the reader’s intrigue.
The book shows the important connections between the different sections of the scouting family, particularly the bond between Venturers and Rovers.
Like Only the Brave Dare, the book is targeted towards teenage readers with a passion for adventure.
Throughout the adventures of the Venturer Unit the author highlights the importance of team work.
The novel is a suspenseful and entertaining read that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
CANYON is an adrenaline filled story that will be thoroughly enjoyed by all teenagers.
CANYON is available through Poseidon Books at www.poseidonbooks.com/
Michael Lee
CANYON by Christopher J. Holcroft
(Ages 12+) Told by an expert in the field of real life adventuring, orienteering, outdoor education and Venturer Scouts, this story proves the worth of team work in times of trouble, the importance of training and organisational skills, and the national significance of rescue management.
A canyoning trip leads to near disaster but, because of the timely formation of a Rover volunteer network, an amazing rescue effort saves young Scott, who was initially instrumental in forming the groups, and his injured friend.
Though the story lacks the imaginative interest of fictional adventures, this true to life account will appeal to the young reader who prefers 'real' stories. Well researched and authoritative, Canyon, for its instructional nature, reads well, providing a good text for outdoor education groups and the like, and applauding the efforts of all Emergency Rescue Services. Mike, the Venturer leader, in instructing the young volunteers says, 'My aim is to ensure you can enjoy the challenges of the activity you choose to do and that if anything happens to you, you are self-reliant enough to get out of most problems or, you can get your mate out'. (p. 7)
The fifth and final book of the Jade Owl Legacy sees a full battle for life as we know it. The world is threatened by the denizens of the Jade Village leading the China Hans through a fantastical world and to a conclusive battle.
The fifth and final book of the Jade Owl Legacy sees a full battle for life as we know it. The world is threatened by the denizens of the Jade Village leading the China Hans through a fantastical world and to a conclusive battle.
I have taken pride in writing this novel as so many people have the wrong impression on bikers because they dress in leather clothing which is to protect themselves in case of an accident. The majority of bikers are known Policemen, Firemen, Doctors,
