About John

John Mattson is an architectural engineer, adventure writer, and photographer who has spent most of his life enjoying the great outdoor adventures that our incredible planet provides. He is an expert kayaker, skier, climber, and a defender of Mother Earth. He has recently self-published a thrilling and colorfully photographed book of 26 diverse and extreme adventure stories. It is entitled "Dancing on the Edge of an Endangered Planet." danceonedge.com. This book took first place in the 2010 CIPA book awards for the legacy category.

First Descent of the Mekong River in Tibet

Posted on July 9, 2012 by John

“Crash! Boom! Bam! Crash! Splash!”

A loud noise startled us, so we looked downstream and saw a large rock avalanche crashing into the rapid — in the very spot where we had thought about lining the rafts. The avalanche also inundated one of the eddies I had thought about catching, and watching the rocks crash into the river brought back harsh memories of the Colca. The avalanche sent a very strong message to everyone else, as well, and as we hid from the rain and enjoyed a warm lunch, we all pondered how dangerous this river really was.

Intense portage through an active rockslide!

https://danceonedge.com/?page_id=34

Hope for the Endangered Planet

Posted on July 8, 2012 by John

“If we were logical, the future would be bleak indeed. But, we are more than logical. We are human beings, and we have faith, and we have hope.”

— Jacques Cousteau

https://danceonedge.com/?page_id=701

Trying to be a Cowboy

Posted on June 17, 2012 by John

Unidentified rider about to get tossed. Glen Ullin N. D.

In my eagerness to compete, I had managed to neglect one small detail. The W/J rodeo was a nationally sanctioned professional event, with professional riders and professional horses. Some of the horses were as famous as the riders, and I had drawn a good one.

https://danceonedge.com/?page_id=678

Filming “In Winter It’s Chile”

Posted on June 17, 2012 by John

In wilderness, I sense the miracle of life, and behind it our scientific accomplishments fade to trivia.”

— Charles A. Lindbergh, in LIFE Magazine, Dec. 22, 1967

Paul Sharpe filming “Kevins Dream” in Pucon, Chile with a lot of help from the locals.

“What in the heck are you gringos doing on top of my bus?” the bus driver asked suspiciously in Spanish.

“No comprende, no problema (I don’t understand, but it’s not a problem),” Kevin replied, as he boldly climbed onto the roof of the bus with his ropes. Paul climbed inside the bus to secure them, and I pushed the three kayaks up to Kevin, while the driver watched in bewilderment. https://danceonedge.com/?page_id=28

Table of Contents https://danceonedge.com/?page_id=22

The Rivers of Chile http://riversofchile.com/

Kayaking the Humla Karnali in Nepal

Posted on June 10, 2012 by John

“The love of the wilderness is more than a hunger for what is always beyond reach; it is also an expression of loyalty to the earth… the only home we shall ever know, the only paradise we ever need — if only we had eyes to see.” — Edward Abbey

Paul Zirkelbach in the first gorge.

https://danceonedge.com/?page_id=641

Dancing on the Edge of an Endangered Planet

adventure travel, kayaking, skiing, climbing

Author Archives: John