In this book, Wallach does for Idaho"s Salmon River--"The River of No Return"--what such writers as Edward Abbey, Barry Lopez, and Annie Dillard have done for Utah"s slickrock country, the Arctic, and Tinker Creek respectively. Writing of his experiences as a professional river guide, Wallach penetrates the surface splendor and adrenaline rush of river running to discern why a week on a wilderness river touches people so profoundly.