book reviews

Fall 2007

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
To download a pdf copy of the magazine click here: > DOWNLOAD

by Diana Mumford

Canoe Atlas of the Little North
By Jonathan Berger and Thomas Terry
The Boston Mills Press, 2007
ISBN 978-1-55046-496-2
$95, 144 pp
hardcover, maps, index, bibliography
www.fireflybooks.com

This annotated collection of 50 topographical maps and canoe routes covers more than 1.3 million square kilometres of land and waterways in Manitoba and Ontario, providing detailed information about one of the last remaining great wilderness areas of North America. Little North, the area referred to as Le Petit Nord by early fur traders, lies north of Lake Superior, east of Lake Winnipeg and south of Hudson Bay, and encompasses more than twenty major lake and river systems—a wealth of potential exploration for paddlers. The atlas is a large, hardcover book, designed to be used at home as an aid to planning a trip, rather than a take-along field guide. Leafing through its pages, you will be amazed at how much water there is in this area, and how endless are the possibilities for expeditions. Each map (scale of 1:427,807) is matched with a page of text outlining routes, portages, rapids, etc., and giving advice about hazards, possible campsites and other useful information. The maps are prefaced by general geological, botanical and cultural information about the area. The Canoe Atlas of the Little North would be a great gift for anyone who has aspirations to explore this vast and beautiful landscape.

Bird Songs:
250 North American Birds in Song
by Les Belestsky
Chronicle Books, 2006
ISBN 1-932855-41-6
$45, 368 pp, index, color illustrations
www.chroniclebooks.com

This very beautiful and useful hardcover book has a place in every birder’s library, especially those who have not yet perfected the ability to identify a bird by the sounds it makes. Each of 250 notable birds is featured on a full page or two-page spread with color illustration and text describing physiology and behaviors, with special attention given to the sounds it makes. To the right is an audio device with which you can easily select any bird, and with a push of a button, listen to its song or call (batteries are included). The birds are grouped according to habitat: Seabirds, Shorebirds and Waterbirds; Forest Birds; Woodland Birds; and Open-Country Birds, representing about one-third of North American bird species. Most were included because they are common and widespread, but there are a few rare and especially interesting birds as well. Written by a renowned bird biologist, and drawn from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, this is an authoritative resource, and will be enjoyed by both active and armchair birders.

BC Coastal Recreation Kayaking
and Small Boat Atlas Series
by John Kimantas
Whitecap Books, 2007
Volume One: British Columbia’s South
Coast and East Vancouver Island
ISBN 1-55285-864-2, 57 pp
Volume Two: British Columbia’s West
Vancouver Island
ISBN 1-55285-865-0, 51 pp
$40 each, color maps and photos
large format, laminated
www.whitecap.ca

Perfect for fueling the fire of wintertime dreams of summertime paddling or cruising, these atlases have found a permanent home on our coffee table (until we’re able to get back on the water). Large, clear, colorful and full of tidbits of information, the maps comprise a fascinating guide to BC’s coastline. Natural landmarks are noted with icons (e.g., rocks, nesting areas, sea mammal haul outs) as well as manmade additions to the landscape (e.g., lighthouses, trails, ferry terminals, shipwrecks). The locations of campsites, anchorages, fish farms and other important details are also marked. Short notes call attention to interesting natural and cultural history and provide cautionary advice. The pages are laminated for “splashproofness” in the field (helps keep them free of coffee stains at home, too). These atlases are the result of years of kayak exploration by John Kimantas, and are companions to The Wild Coast series of recreation guides which he also authored. Any mariner with an interest in exploring the coast of BC will find these atlases indispensable for planning the next trip. (Available in the WaveLength Bookstore. See p. 51)

151 Dives in the Protected Waters of Washington State and British Columbia
by Betty Pratt-Johnson
The Mountaineers Books, 2007
ISBN 978-1-59485-043-1
$29.95, 432 pp, b/w photos, maps, index
www.mountaineersbooks.org

For those WaveLength readers who love to paddle and dive or snorkel, here is a great resource with information about the best dives in the Pacific Northwest. The coasts of Washington and BC are a diver’s paradise because they are largely protected from surf and are teeming with colorful and interesting life. Here there are shipwrecks, artificial reefs and locations where nature provides all you need for an amazing underwater adventure. Betty Pratt-Johnson has spent 33 years diving in these waters and has now updated and expanded the book that has long been considered the diving bible for this area (141 Dives in the Protected Waters of Washington State and British Columbia). Along with descriptions of great dive locations and their suitability for different skill levels, this guide supplies important safety information, nautical chart numbers, GPS data, contact information for dive shops, charter boats and resorts, maps and photographs. Also included is useful introductory information about conservation, underwater photography and night diving.

Strip Built Canoe:
How to build a beautiful, lightweight cedar strip canoe
By Randy Folsom
BookSurge Publishing, 2007
ISBN 1-4196-6078-0
$18.99, 158 pp, b/w photos
www.anyonecanprojects.com

If you are interested in a winter project that will leave you with a handsome, 15.5 foot canoe, suitable for family flatwater outings, this book is a good resource to help you. With step-by-step instructions, diagrams, photos and tables, all the necessary information for even a first-time builder is provided. You’ll also need a few commonly available wood working tools, a garage or other workspace and the building materials for a cedar strip boat that the author calls a Town Laker. He describes it as “a beautiful boat with smooth flowing lines and nicely upswept bow and stern. The sides have a classic look with gentle inward slanting called tumblehome.” He says that the only other requirements are time, patience and determination. Detailed information for every step of the process is outlined in twelve chapters, drawing from the author’s experience with building canoes and kayaks. In this guide he pulls together both traditional and innovative strategies for solving the problems inherent in a boat building project, making it a comprehensive and thorough source of information.

Beach and Coastal
Camping in the Southeast
by Johnny Molloy
University Press of Florida, 2006
ISBN 0-8130-3000-5
$18.95, 196 pp, b/w photos
www.upf.com

This guidebook is all about camping on the beach—not written specifically for paddlers—and provides information about public park campgrounds on the southeast US coastline from Texas, around the Gulf of Mexico and up the Atlantic coast to Maryland. Details about 43 of the author’s favorite coastal camping spots, gleaned from years of outdoors experience, are organized under common subheads: The Beach/Coast, The Campground, Human and Natural History, What To Do, What’s Nearby, Information. Listed campsites are varied in what they offer in terms of landscape and amenities, and include remote sandy beaches, tropical Florida keys, historic sites and lighthouses. The best places for swimming, harvesting seafood, snorkeling, hiking, etc., are identified as well as nearby tourist attractions and shopping. This would be a great resource to use as a guide for a driving holiday along the coast, with your kayaks on the roof of the car, of course. Visit the author’s website for stories about paddling in Florida (www.johnnymolloy.com).