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Note: I wrote the basic draft and then gave it to Chat GPT. I removed some of the really florid stuff and a sentence where Chat GPT says I read these books while windbound on a serene lake. 
Embarking on my recent canoe adventure, I made sure to pack a selection of books. Given my penchant for fast reading and windbound days, I ended up reading them all at least three times each.
What made this reading experience truly remarkable was the unexpected alignment of three of these books with the very terrain I was traversing. It was like the literary universe was conspiring to deepen my connection to the natural beauty that enveloped me in this rarely traveled area. I started in Stony Rapids, which is on Athabasca Lake with the intent to paddle to Black Lake.
Among these riveting reads, one book stood out, capturing my heart and imagination—the remarkable Canoeing with the Cree by none other than Eric Sevareid. Astonishingly, he penned this adventure epic during his teenage years, foreshadowing his future fame as a distinguished writer and news correspondent.
The narrative unfolds as Sevareid and his intrepid companion, Walter Port, embark on a daring journey from Minneapolis, MN, through the challenging waters of the Red River, across the expanse of Lake Winnipeg, and into uncharted territories leading to York Landing on Hudson Bay—all of this transpiring in the tumultuous 1930s. What's more, neither of them had prior canoeing experience, setting the stage for a tale of audacity and discovery. Armed with rudimentary camping gear, including a pup tent, blankets, and rubber sheets, and saddled with a secondhand canoe missing its center thwart, their adventure was fraught with obstacles and close calls.
It seems that guardian angels might have been their constant companions, as they encountered perils that would have tested the mettle of the most seasoned outdoorsmen, who in fact told them it could not be done. Canoeing with the Cree is an enthralling chronicle of their extraordinary journey, leaving readers on the edge of their seats, all while instilling a profound respect for the wild.
Running a close second is Water and Sky by Alan S. Kesselheim, who, along with his partner Marypat, embarked on an equally captivating odyssey. Their voyage led them up the rugged Athabasca River, across the expansive Athabasca Lake, and into a winter sojourn in Stony Rapids. When spring's thaw arrived, they steered their course northwestward from Black Lake, ultimately reaching the Arctic Ocean. Throughout their 14-month expedition into the Canadian north, Kesselheim's writing combines eloquence with thoughtfulness, offering a unique blend of entertainment and contemplation.
Robert Perkins, in Into the Great Solitude, recounts his daring solo expedition along a river known to whites as the Great Fish River and to natives as Thlew-ee-choh. Having previously navigated this river with a partner and with access to the journals of the 19th-century explorer George Back, Perkins embarks on a riveting solo journey. His courageous adventure was captured on film, and a documentary exists to chronicle it. Incredibly, Perkins continues his solo paddling pursuits in the Arctic, proving the existence of a dedicated guardian angel overseeing his remarkable exploits. (Paddling Pitt recently met him on a plane where he was embarking on yet another solo arctic trip.)
Perkins's narrative is marked by candid admissions of the perilous nature of his undertakings, acknowledging the inherent dangers and risks. He will tell you why he should do this, then does it, and then drifts around amazed he got through. Apparently his guardian angel is still on duty.
North to Athabasca by David Curran rounds out this quartet. Chronicling a six-day voyage down the Franklin River into Athabasca Lake, this book provides valuable insights into a less-explored river. While it may not have been my personal favorite among the four, it still offers an entertaining read and serves as a valuable resource for those seeking information about a relatively uncharted waterway.
In the world of canoe tripping literature, these books stand as testament to the indomitable human spirit, the lure of uncharted waters, and the unwavering presence of guardian angels guiding the daring souls who dare to paddle into the great unknown.
Embarking on my recent canoe adventure, I made sure to pack a selection of books. Given my penchant for fast reading and windbound days, I ended up reading them all at least three times each.
What made this reading experience truly remarkable was the unexpected alignment of three of these books with the very terrain I was traversing. It was like the literary universe was conspiring to deepen my connection to the natural beauty that enveloped me in this rarely traveled area. I started in Stony Rapids, which is on Athabasca Lake with the intent to paddle to Black Lake.
Among these riveting reads, one book stood out, capturing my heart and imagination—the remarkable Canoeing with the Cree by none other than Eric Sevareid. Astonishingly, he penned this adventure epic during his teenage years, foreshadowing his future fame as a distinguished writer and news correspondent.
The narrative unfolds as Sevareid and his intrepid companion, Walter Port, embark on a daring journey from Minneapolis, MN, through the challenging waters of the Red River, across the expanse of Lake Winnipeg, and into uncharted territories leading to York Landing on Hudson Bay—all of this transpiring in the tumultuous 1930s. What's more, neither of them had prior canoeing experience, setting the stage for a tale of audacity and discovery. Armed with rudimentary camping gear, including a pup tent, blankets, and rubber sheets, and saddled with a secondhand canoe missing its center thwart, their adventure was fraught with obstacles and close calls.
It seems that guardian angels might have been their constant companions, as they encountered perils that would have tested the mettle of the most seasoned outdoorsmen, who in fact told them it could not be done. Canoeing with the Cree is an enthralling chronicle of their extraordinary journey, leaving readers on the edge of their seats, all while instilling a profound respect for the wild.
Running a close second is Water and Sky by Alan S. Kesselheim, who, along with his partner Marypat, embarked on an equally captivating odyssey. Their voyage led them up the rugged Athabasca River, across the expansive Athabasca Lake, and into a winter sojourn in Stony Rapids. When spring's thaw arrived, they steered their course northwestward from Black Lake, ultimately reaching the Arctic Ocean. Throughout their 14-month expedition into the Canadian north, Kesselheim's writing combines eloquence with thoughtfulness, offering a unique blend of entertainment and contemplation.
Robert Perkins, in Into the Great Solitude, recounts his daring solo expedition along a river known to whites as the Great Fish River and to natives as Thlew-ee-choh. Having previously navigated this river with a partner and with access to the journals of the 19th-century explorer George Back, Perkins embarks on a riveting solo journey. His courageous adventure was captured on film, and a documentary exists to chronicle it. Incredibly, Perkins continues his solo paddling pursuits in the Arctic, proving the existence of a dedicated guardian angel overseeing his remarkable exploits. (Paddling Pitt recently met him on a plane where he was embarking on yet another solo arctic trip.)
Perkins's narrative is marked by candid admissions of the perilous nature of his undertakings, acknowledging the inherent dangers and risks. He will tell you why he should do this, then does it, and then drifts around amazed he got through. Apparently his guardian angel is still on duty.
North to Athabasca by David Curran rounds out this quartet. Chronicling a six-day voyage down the Franklin River into Athabasca Lake, this book provides valuable insights into a less-explored river. While it may not have been my personal favorite among the four, it still offers an entertaining read and serves as a valuable resource for those seeking information about a relatively uncharted waterway.
In the world of canoe tripping literature, these books stand as testament to the indomitable human spirit, the lure of uncharted waters, and the unwavering presence of guardian angels guiding the daring souls who dare to paddle into the great unknown.
