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Flying South: A Pilot's Inner Journey
Describes the adventure of Barbara Rowell's single engine plane trip through Latin America.
272 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 19, 2015
I am a pilot with much experience and I have instructed on the Cessna-206. This plane, used by Barbara Rowell on her journey around South America, is one of the larger single-engine planes built by Cessna. It was a workhorse of a plane; it could carry almost anything you could get into it. It was hard to fly, because it was heavy on the controls and the pilot needed muscle. So, remember, when you read this book that this young lady is flying a big plane.
The book, wow, it is nothing short of amazing, it blew me away. The photos are superb. The loss of the gyro-vacuum pump at 22 thousand feet over Machu Pichu, on oxygen, in instrument conditions, (clouds)is usually fatal, however, she covered the Gyro horizon with a piece of paper (see the photo in the book!) and landed the plane safely. Read this book from first page to last and then be prepared to get the shock of your life. One of the books a pilot must read.
The book, wow, it is nothing short of amazing, it blew me away. The photos are superb. The loss of the gyro-vacuum pump at 22 thousand feet over Machu Pichu, on oxygen, in instrument conditions, (clouds)is usually fatal, however, she covered the Gyro horizon with a piece of paper (see the photo in the book!) and landed the plane safely. Read this book from first page to last and then be prepared to get the shock of your life. One of the books a pilot must read.
October 29, 2023
I’m not a pilot but I found this book quite interesting and the photography is gorgeous. I was sad to learn that Barbara didn’t get to experience the release of the book and that the fears she expressed so eloquently came to pass.
March 26, 2019
I went to high school with this amazing woman!
January 3, 2020
this book continues an apparent theme lately of reading about journeys. I was horrified to learn this past summer of the plane crash that took the lives of Galen Rowell & his wife, Barbara -- he's long been a favorite photographer of mine, and it's a terrible loss. And she had just completed this book, about a journey by plane they took from Oakland down the Pacific coast (more or less) to Patagonia & then back along the Atlantic, way back in 1990 -- sad irony that it would finally be published just after a small plane (piloted by someone else) killed them. This book has amazing photographs by both Barbara and Galen, and for those is well worth seeking out. I'm less entranced by her writing, which swings between overly-detailed descriptions of her flight plans (and I'm amazed by how *little* time they spent on the ground in some truly extraordinary places) and inner ruminations on why she's so cowed by strong men in her life. And a rather harrowing tale of a river-rafting trip in Chile/Argentina where nearly everyone was injured, including serious damage to Barbara's jaw and teeth, and yet having to fly herself home still before finding a decent oral surgeon... Still, an interesting document of personal perseverence in truly challenging circumstances, and a beautifully-illustrated journey. It seems an important legacy for the distance she travelled on that inner journey, given that their external travels have been cut short. (1/03)
March 2, 2025
This is a personal favorite of mine because I had the honor and experience of a lifetime being on a trip with Barbara and Galen in 1995 in Peru. It was a photography expedition organized through Wilderness Travel, with Galen teaching photography. Peter Frost ("Exploring Cusco") was one of the guides on the trip. We did a 13-day trek in the Cordillera Blanca and also visited Machu Picchu.
Flying South is the recounting of Barbara's amazing adventure piloting her Cessna through 25,000 miles of Latin America. It includes stunning photographs by Galen. At the end Barbara writes, "I could have found plenty of reasons not to fly my single-engine airplane to Patagonia-but I would have missed the greatest adventure of my life. Even though I may have slain my fears one by one this time, I know they'll be back. And when they return, I'll fight them off again. Anything truly worth doing in this life comes with risk, and risk is never without fear."
It was heartbreaking when Barbara and Galen tragically died on the eve of the publication of this book in 2002 on the final approach to their home airport in Bishop, California having just completed a three-week trip circumnavigating the Bering Sea. All four aboard were killed. Barbara was not piloting the plane.
Flying South is the recounting of Barbara's amazing adventure piloting her Cessna through 25,000 miles of Latin America. It includes stunning photographs by Galen. At the end Barbara writes, "I could have found plenty of reasons not to fly my single-engine airplane to Patagonia-but I would have missed the greatest adventure of my life. Even though I may have slain my fears one by one this time, I know they'll be back. And when they return, I'll fight them off again. Anything truly worth doing in this life comes with risk, and risk is never without fear."
It was heartbreaking when Barbara and Galen tragically died on the eve of the publication of this book in 2002 on the final approach to their home airport in Bishop, California having just completed a three-week trip circumnavigating the Bering Sea. All four aboard were killed. Barbara was not piloting the plane.
October 27, 2020
I couldn't put this down. Her writing puts you right there in the action. Others complain about how much of her feelings and thought processes she shares. I think they deepen the insight into what happened, why things happened as they did, and those passages enable her to trace her evolution into the person she is by the end of the journey. I loved following along another female pilot's journey, and I was so sorry to hear that she and her husband died in a GA accident the same year this book was published (she was not piloting that aircraft, nor was it her plane).
Bonus - the photos are spectacular
Bonus - the photos are spectacular
April 4, 2016
Already a woman of many accomplishments, Barbara Cushman Rowell embarked on the greatest adventure of her life. Together with her husband, world renowned adventurer/photographer Galen Rowell and her younger brother, Barbara Rowell set out on an epic aviation adventure.
Leaving Oakland, California in November,1990 Barbara Rowell flew south in her single-engined Cessna 206 to Central America, then on to Patagonia at the southern end of South America. Along the way, she dropped off first her husband so that he could fulfill a climbing and photography assignment for National Geographic magazine, then her brother so that he could return to his business in the United States. Along the way she picked up two or three other passengers, some who fulfilled the role as co-pilots, some just along for the ride. She completed the flight in February,1991.
Barbara Cushman Rowell had previously logged 700 flying hours as a pilot, but was also licensed for instrument flying. I loved the “pilot speak” with explanation enough to understand the gist and complications of a pilots life. The book also contains a helpful glossary. Photographs taken by Barbara and Galen add immeasurably to the book’s 302 glossy pages.
The memoir has vivid descriptions of aqua-blue bodies of water, impenetrable jungles, sparkling Mayan ruins, vast deserts, colorful markets, and cities sometimes not so friendly. She also shared the difficulty in some countries of getting through customs, airline paperwork and dramatically increased fees, and landing in a country in the mist of a coup.
Along the way, we see Rowell grow in confidence as an individual, not as someone’s wife, especially someone as famous as Galen Rowell. She realizes that most of her life she acquiesced to men’s will or desires. For example, a friend scheduled a rafting trip for them on the Bio Bio River in Chile. Although she didn’t want to go, she consented, with disastrous results.
Barbara had her share of fears: fear that her plane would have mechanical problems (it did), fear of having to fly in bad weather (she did), fear of having to land under adverse conditions (that happened, too), but she learned to recognize her fear as a biological warning to pay attention.
Flying South is an extraordinary memoir, one that held me captive. I recommend this book not only to anyone interested in flying, but to anyone who longs to test herself, to stretch her limits. Barbara Rowell’s candid writing rings with honesty and character.
Note: Flying South had just been published when, on their return trip from Alaska, the charter plane in which Barbara and Galen Rowell were passengers crashed. There were no survivors
Leaving Oakland, California in November,1990 Barbara Rowell flew south in her single-engined Cessna 206 to Central America, then on to Patagonia at the southern end of South America. Along the way, she dropped off first her husband so that he could fulfill a climbing and photography assignment for National Geographic magazine, then her brother so that he could return to his business in the United States. Along the way she picked up two or three other passengers, some who fulfilled the role as co-pilots, some just along for the ride. She completed the flight in February,1991.
Barbara Cushman Rowell had previously logged 700 flying hours as a pilot, but was also licensed for instrument flying. I loved the “pilot speak” with explanation enough to understand the gist and complications of a pilots life. The book also contains a helpful glossary. Photographs taken by Barbara and Galen add immeasurably to the book’s 302 glossy pages.
The memoir has vivid descriptions of aqua-blue bodies of water, impenetrable jungles, sparkling Mayan ruins, vast deserts, colorful markets, and cities sometimes not so friendly. She also shared the difficulty in some countries of getting through customs, airline paperwork and dramatically increased fees, and landing in a country in the mist of a coup.
Along the way, we see Rowell grow in confidence as an individual, not as someone’s wife, especially someone as famous as Galen Rowell. She realizes that most of her life she acquiesced to men’s will or desires. For example, a friend scheduled a rafting trip for them on the Bio Bio River in Chile. Although she didn’t want to go, she consented, with disastrous results.
Barbara had her share of fears: fear that her plane would have mechanical problems (it did), fear of having to fly in bad weather (she did), fear of having to land under adverse conditions (that happened, too), but she learned to recognize her fear as a biological warning to pay attention.
Flying South is an extraordinary memoir, one that held me captive. I recommend this book not only to anyone interested in flying, but to anyone who longs to test herself, to stretch her limits. Barbara Rowell’s candid writing rings with honesty and character.
Note: Flying South had just been published when, on their return trip from Alaska, the charter plane in which Barbara and Galen Rowell were passengers crashed. There were no survivors
February 7, 2017
This is the story of a journey that starts in California and travels to Argentina and back. A physical journey of 25,000 miles and 163 hours of flight in a Cessna-206 .
You the reader, will feel like you are another passenger in her small plane.
Books also contains photos by her Nat Geo photographer husband Galen Rowel. Who accompanied her on much of the trip, but then broke off to go mountain climbing with Doug Tompkins, so she continued the journey south with her brother Robert. At that point, a college student and young pilot joined her, while Robert flew commercial air home.
The inner journey is just as strong as the overwhelming physical journey. The story of a woman learning to trust her own judgments in a male dominated world.
On the final leg of the trip, in the US, with Phil Ayers their bookkeeper's husband, she runs into extreme stormy weather in New Orleans. Flying into a break in the weather gets them across Louisiana. Then stops in Texas. On one of the stops, they are in a van heading to the airport with three commercial pilots in uniform. The men speak of the weather and when she comments on how rough it is, they make some snarky remark about how tough it must be as the passenger. Once she clarifies that she is the one flying, they ask from where, and she responds with info regarding her trip. The entire conversation shifts. Later Phil says, that since he climbed in the plane, people assumed he was her flight instructor and he didn't want to hurt her feelings by revealing this.
In many ways, the story is identifiable. How as a woman, or a person, we sometimes concede are own judgment to others, an expert, a friend, and pay the price for not following our own instinct.
This journey made her a better pilot. It made her a better person.
You the reader, will feel like you are another passenger in her small plane.
Books also contains photos by her Nat Geo photographer husband Galen Rowel. Who accompanied her on much of the trip, but then broke off to go mountain climbing with Doug Tompkins, so she continued the journey south with her brother Robert. At that point, a college student and young pilot joined her, while Robert flew commercial air home.
The inner journey is just as strong as the overwhelming physical journey. The story of a woman learning to trust her own judgments in a male dominated world.
On the final leg of the trip, in the US, with Phil Ayers their bookkeeper's husband, she runs into extreme stormy weather in New Orleans. Flying into a break in the weather gets them across Louisiana. Then stops in Texas. On one of the stops, they are in a van heading to the airport with three commercial pilots in uniform. The men speak of the weather and when she comments on how rough it is, they make some snarky remark about how tough it must be as the passenger. Once she clarifies that she is the one flying, they ask from where, and she responds with info regarding her trip. The entire conversation shifts. Later Phil says, that since he climbed in the plane, people assumed he was her flight instructor and he didn't want to hurt her feelings by revealing this.
In many ways, the story is identifiable. How as a woman, or a person, we sometimes concede are own judgment to others, an expert, a friend, and pay the price for not following our own instinct.
This journey made her a better pilot. It made her a better person.
May 1, 2009
I was curious about this book because my husband worked for the Rowell's many years ago and knew them both slightly. While I admit that I skimmed many parts of this book, what interested me the most is the way that she came to flying, how she identified it as her need to define herself outside of her husband's fame and ambition. It was truly where she found herself and became the person she was meant to be. All of this is bittersweet, knowing of their fate. I had always thought that she had piloted the plane that went down but now know that is not the case. It is interesting to get an honest, first-hand account of someone who battles her fears, and who has had to mark out a place for herself in a world of very confident, competent, and cocky men.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2016
This book recounts the unbelievable highs and lows of flying from the US to Chile and back: It includes not only her run ins with bad weather, a disfiguring rafting accident, and drug trafficking, but her emotional battle tagging along with "macho" outdoor male figures Doug Tompkins and husband Galen Rowell. It is a great read for the adventure woman in a world of male-dominated outdoor trips, or for the pilot, or anyone, overcoming fear and treatment as an imposter.
January 22, 2008
A generally good read. Interesting development of this author's inner journey to develop the strength to know herself and not let her desires & personal limits be trumped by the desires & expectations of others. Also enjoyed the cultural tidbits from her travels through Mexico, Central & South America, and have always enjoyed photos by the author and her husband.
July 22, 2007
This has to be one of my five favorite books of all time.
September 14, 2012
An excellent book. Inspiring to all who desire to broaden their horizons and seek new adventures, including pilots like myself ;)
January 19, 2014
Very interesting book. It tells about the authors flight to South America and back in her single engine airplane. Illustrated with beautiful shots taken by her and her husband.
October 3, 2007
this is a must for pilots or anyone interested in GA.
a great adventure tale well written.
a great adventure tale well written.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews