This Month's Books
August-September 2004
This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
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by Diana Mumford
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Chasing Clayoquot: A Wilderness Almanac
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Seasons of Life and Landby Subhankar Banerjee The Mountaineers Books, 2003 ISBN 0-89886-438-0 (pbk), $22.95 US, 176 pp, color photos, index, Award winning photographer Subhankar Banerjee devoted two years of his life documenting the land, the wildlife and the people of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in order to help save this priceless ecosystem from oil development. He traveled 4,000 miles by foot, kayak, raft and snowmobile with Inupiat guide, Robert Thompson, to record the beauty of this northern wilderness and its wildlife during each season of the year. Accompanied by six essays by committed conservationists and a foreword by former president Jimmy Carter, the over 200 breathtaking images of this large format, softcover book speak eloquently of the inherent value of this frontier land, untouched as it is by human development. |
Wild Flowers of the Yukon, Alaska, & Northwestern Canada2nd edition Edited by John G. Trelawny Harbour Publishing, 2003 ISBN 1-55017-257-3 224 pp, color photos, index This comprehensive field guide is organized according to plant families with color coded headers to assist in locating specific plants. Color photographs, as well as concise and informative descriptions for each entry help with identification. Anyone interested in northern landscapes will find this guide an indispensable resource. |
Seashores of the Maritimesby Merritt Gibson Nimbus, 2003 ISBN 1-894765-51-6 ISBN 1-55109-428-2, 248 pp, b/w illustrations, index, $19.95 Cdn, Seashores of the Maritimes was compiled to help beach explorers identify plants and animals commonly found in a variety of habitats along the coastline of the Canadian Maritime Provinces. The 400 species included are grouped into marine mammals, birds, fish, invertebrates, flowering plants and seaweeds. The format is attractive with information organized into easyto- digest blocks, including common and scientific names, description and habitat notes in point form, and other interesting information in paragraph form. Excellent black and white illustrations by Twila Robar-DeCoste depict each species clearly and accurately, which will help even the uninitiated identify new species with confidence. A copy of Seashores of the Maritimes will no doubt add to the enjoyment of your explorations of the east coast. |
The Bald Eagle of Alaska, BC and Washingtonby David Hancock Hancock House, 2003 ISBN 0-88839-536-1 96 pp, color photos $9.95 US, $11.95 Cdn www.hancockhouse.com The Bald Eagle of Alaska, BC and Washington is the result of David Hancock’s fifty years of fascination with the species. Well illustrated with color photographs throughout, it begins with a brief outline of the biology of the bald eagle, then relates stories of the author’s encounters with eagles as a young graduate student in the 60s. It tells of the challenges the eagle has faced in maintaining its presence in its wilderness home and how it is faring today, and describes some of the best eagle viewing areas along the northwest coast. This is a highly personal and entertaining look at a truly magnificent creature. |
Wild Flowers of the Sea Coast in the Pacific Northwestby Dr. Lewis Clark, edited by John G. Trelawny Harbour Publishing, 2004 ISBN 1-55017-307-3 80 pp, color photos, index, $12.95 Cdn, This is one of a series of Lewis Clark’s field guides of the Pacific Northwest redesigned and updated by Clark’s collaborator, John Trelawny, after the prominent botanist’s death. (Other titles: Wildflowers of Forest and Woodland, Wildflowers of Field and Slope, Wildflowers of the Mountains). These field guides are ideal companions for your exploration of the corresponding regions of the Pacific Northwest. Each plant is identified by both common and scientific names with a brief written description of the identifying features, and depicted in a large color photograph. The handy size (5.5 x 8.5 in.) and the clarity of the photographs take the guesswork out of on-the-spot identification of the wild flowers you discover. |
Sea Turtles of the WorldText and Photography by Doug Perrine Voyageur Press, Inc, 2003, 2003 ISBN 0-89658-555-7 144 pp, colour photos, $29.95 US This gorgeous large format book is illustrated with remarkable photographs and useful locator maps. It takes you inside the world of the sea turtle, conveying an understanding of the ancient origins as well as the challenging conservation issues faced today due to human encroachment. The author, a photographer and naturalist, offers guidelines for responsible viewing in turtles’ natural environment, and gives distinctive features, habitat, migration, life cycle, hibernation, adaptation, diet, behavior, and conservation status. Note: Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Vancouver Marine Science Centre seek your assistance in tracking leatherback sea turtles in BC. Reports of turtle and cetacean sightings can be made by phone (1-866-I-SAW-ONE / 1-866-472-9663), on the web (www.vanaqua.org/sightings), or by maintaining a logbook. Logbooks are available by contacting the Vancouver Aquarium (604-659-3414). |
Dolphins,Whales, and Manatees of Florida: A Guide to Sharing Their Worldby John E. Reynolds III and Randall S. Wells University Press of Florida, 2003 ISBN 0-8130-2687-3 162 pp, b/w photos, index, $14.96 US, Authored by two authorities on marine biology, Dolphins,Whales, and Manatees of Florida was written to inform people about marine mammals and to identify ways people can observe and interact with them while minimizing harm to the animals and their habitats. A description of mammals commonly encountered in Florida’s waterways is accompanied by notes about their distribution and ranging patterns, numbers of each species thought to exist, feeding and social behaviors, and threats to survival. Black and white photos help the reader become acquainted with the size and shape of these creatures, which, even when sighted, are seldom seen in their entirety. A chapter is devoted to guidelines for human interactions with Florida’s marine mammals and information is included for concerned citizens who are interested in helping to protect species and habitats. This guide is an interesting introduction to Florida’s marine mammals and a helpful reference for all those who want to enjoy being on the water without disturbing the natural balance of the non-human inhabitants of the ecosystem. |
Kayaking & Camping in Prince William Soundby Paul Twardock Prince William Sound Books, 2004 ISBN 1-877900-14-1 214 pp, b/w maps and photos, $18.95 US, While the rewards of paddling in Alaska’s relatively remote Prince William Sound are great—protected water, abundant wildlife, snowcapped mountains, cascading waterfalls, shore side glaciers—careful planning is required to avoid mishaps and to minimize impact. Kayaking & Camping in Prince William Sound is a great resource for visitors to use to tap into local knowledge in order to plan a safe and enjoyable wilderness adventure. Chapters deal with the history, geography and weather conditions of the area, general camping and paddling tips, as well as information for specific day long, multi-day and longer expeditions. Paddlers at every skill level will find helpful advice and inspiration for venturing into this pristine country where they will experience an exhilarating, awe-inspiring encounter with nature. Paul Twardock teaches expedition kayaking at Alaska Pacific University, is senior kayak instructor for NOLS and has 18 years experience paddling in the area. |
A Paddler’s Guide to Weekend Wilderness Adventures in Southern Ontarioby Kevin Callan Boston Mills Press, 2004 ISBN 1-55046-415-9 160 pp, color photos, maps, $14.95 Cdn Paddlers in Ontario have almost infinite choices for paddling adventures—the problem is choosing a route from among the possibilities. Three revised paddler’s guides by experienced canoeist and naturalist, Kevin Callan, help in the decision making process (other titles in the series: A Paddler’s Guide to Ontario’s Lost Canoe Routes, A Paddler’s Guide to Algonquin Park). These guides have been re-released in 2004 to give paddlers of all skill levels updated information gleaned from personal experience about short and long paddling routes on Ontario’s lakes and rivers. Each expedition description is accompanied by a map and a quick-reference box stating time needed, difficulty rating, number of portages and length of the longest portage. Information about campsite locations, put-in and take-out recommendations, local outfitters and shuttle services are also included. Although useful because they contain essential details, the appeal of these guides is in the personal accounts of the author’s experiences on the paddling routes, which include color photos, humorous anecdotes and reference to the wildlife encountered en route. |
Canoeing, Kayaking & Hiking Temagamiby Hap Wilson The Boston Mills Press, 2004 ISBN 1-55046-434-5 152 pp, b/w photos & illustrations, 2-color maps, $24.95 Cdn, $19.95 US, www.fireflybooks.com Twenty-five years after the publication of Hap Wilson’s first canoeing guidebook, Temagami Canoe Routes has been revised, restyled and reissued as this silver anniversary edition, entitled Canoeing, Kayaking & Hiking Temagami. To satisfy today’s adventurers, Wilson now includes over 40 hiking trails, treks to Ontario’s highest peaks, and kayaking routes along undeveloped freshwater shorelines as well as classic canoe routes in the well-loved Temagami. The author’s photos and hand-drawn maps and illustrations in this large format, softcover volume add to the detailed trip information derived from Wilson’s 30 years as a wilderness tripper and guide. Other Hap Wilson paddling guides recently released as new editions by Boston Mills Press: Wilderness Rivers of Manitoba, Rivers of the Upper Ottawa Valley, and Missinaibi: Journey to the Nothern Sky. |
Around the Rockby Ken Campbell Little Bay Press, 2004 ISBN 0-9745192-3-5 213 pp, b/w maps, $22.95 Cdn, $17.95 US It’s not surprising that it took Ken Campbell more than two years to begin writing about his circumnavigation of Newfoundland—he needed time to reflect on his remarkable journey and to understand its significance. Even though the reader’s experience can’t possibly compare to Ken’s, the adventure will resonate in our minds and hearts as it does in his. This is the story of one man’s solo paddle in an eighteen foot sea kayak around a remote and sparsely populated island in cold and inhospitable waters. Inspired to do some fund raising for a literacy program at home in Tacoma, he returns to Newfoundland for this adventure, having spent time on “the rock” twice before, because he is drawn by memories of the people and the landscape. Not at all sure that he will complete his plan and not knowing exactly why he has chosen this particular journey, Ken paddles out of St. John’s in May, and returns, an estimated two million paddle strokes later, the following August, entering the harbor from the opposite direction. Along the way he meets old and new friends, experiences all manner of weather and sea conditions and tests his physical and emotional strength. At the end of it all, he reflects that although he is not the first, and probably won’t be the last to paddle around Newfoundland, perhaps he could be the first to go around twice! |
Easykayaking Basics: A Paddling Handbook for the Pacific Northwestby Gary Backlund and Paul Grey Harbour Publishing, 2004 ISBN 1-55017-309-X 160 pp, b/w photos & diagrams, $16.95 Cdn, If you’re thinking about buying a kayak and adopting paddling as a new recreational pursuit, Easykayaking Basics would be a great place to start. The authors are experienced paddlers and bring their combined experience to this guide, designed to answer the many questions that arise when contemplating the purchase of gear from a multitude of choices, and to provide fundamental how-to and safety information. Chapters are devoted to buying a sea kayak and related equipment, transport and care of your new boat, clothing, food, fitness and kayaking skills, safety, navigation and etiquette for the kayaking crowd as well as wildlife watching guidelines. Personal comments from the authors about their own gear provide insight into the advantages and disadvantages of available products. Easykayaking Basics will take some of the mystery out of kayaking and help you enjoy the sport as a day tripper or kayak-camper. |
Paddle Your Own Canoe:
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