Canoelit

Toward Magnetic North
The Oberholtzer-Magee 1912 Canoe Journey to Hudson Bay
The Oberholtzer Foundation, 2000
128pp. $50US.
ISBN: 0-9703138-0-2

The name of Ernest Oberholtzer has popped up numerous times over the years. The leading American naturalist was a large figure in the wars over conserving the Boundary Waters area of northern Minnesota. A contemporary of Sig Olson, Ober, as he was called, was best known to canoeists for his legendary 1912 trip in Canada's north.

Investment banker, Jack Wadsworth, a northern paddler of some note, and former camper at the same summer camp as Ober, had heard of the legendary 1912 trip for decades. When visiting Camp Kooh-i-ching for a 75th reunion in 1999, he was amazed to find the negative from that long-ago trip still carefully stored in Ober's cabin. As he says in the book-"A project was born."

Now thanks to Jean Replinger and the diligent work of the Oberholtzer Society we have a glimpse into that remarkable trip 89 years ago. Like fellow 1912 traveller George Douglas, Ober also carried a good quality camera into the field and developed the pictures there. The large format negatives produced a fine image that has held up well over the years.

This book reprints his photos and accompanied by Ober's journal entries bring this journey back to life. Travelling with Minnesota Ojibwe guide Billy Magee, the pair travelled from northern Saskatchewan to Hudson Bay and back in one long summer.

While essentially a great photo book, it also features chapters on the historical importance of the trip as well as interesting information on the camera he used and how the photos were brought to life for a 21st century book. Toward Magnetic North is a unique gem from another age.

A warning - this book is hard to find - very hard. Here's how; contact; The Oberholtzer Foundation, c/o Jean Replinger, 300 N. Hill Street, Marshall, MN USA 56258.Cost is $50 American plus $6 postage and handling in U.S. or plus $9 postage and handling in Canada. To save time, send an appropriate cheque/money order payable to the Oberholtzer Fdn.



Gone Canoeing
Weekend Wilderness Adventures in Southern Ontario
By Kevin Callan
Boston Mills Press, Toronto
168pp $19.95 US$13.95

Kevin Callan must be a publisher's dream. The prolific canoeing author steadily produces one solid book after another. And he's done it again with Gone Canoeing in which Kevin continues his theme of canoe routes in southern Ontario and Quebec with a look a easy and quick summer paddles. While Callan's efforts are essentially guide books, his easygoing writing style, quick wit and self-deprecating humour make them so much more.

Having a solid narrative to a canoe route - whatever its length - makes a big difference in paddling it. Kevin's been there and done that and that means so much more than route info, miles and portage numbers you might get in some other guides.

He also thoughtfully includes some trip recipes (which we will try on this summer's outing, Kevin).