THE COMPLETE WILDERNESS PADDLER: The First Full-Scale Guide to the Techniques and Tactics of Canoe Camping and Wilderness Cruising

In spite of some rather heavy ballast in the form of joshing, this field guide to wilderness canoeing should be useful for both beginners and intermediates. The solid how-to's and what-for's are contained throughout the account of the trip Davidson, Rugge and two others took on the Moise River in Labrador. Among the many elements considered for a well-planned and outfitted expedition are such matters as locating a ""wilderness"" (not easy), using maps, selecting supplies, clothing, etc. There's a good deal about gear--the authors like canoes of aluminum, fiberglass or ABS foam. They consider the rare birchbark canoe ""too fragile"" for whitewater--which would bring Henri Vaillancourt (hero of McPhee's The Survival of the Bark Canoe, p. 1097) to a boiling rage. The authors cover every aspect of the art of the paddle, and the fine points of maneuvering in all kinds of waters, wind and weather. There are chapters on camping experiences, pleasant and unpleasant happenstances and bug problems--including a horrific but satisfying method of executing a mosquito. Read with McPhee's delightful monograph this should supply just about everything you might want to know before paddling your own canoe.