Below are some reading materials you may find interesting, useful and informative.
Please let me know if there are works you find help capture the essence
of the Boundary Waters. I'll list them here. (Note: many, if
not all, of these can be purchased through such on-line book services as
Amazon.com. I haven't check each title, but you'll find most books
listed here and many others by just using a simple search for Boundary
Waters. Also, please understand that I receive absolutely no compensation
for this. Information on the web like this should be free and available
to all--like the sky, trees, rocks and water of the BWCA. )
Woman of
the Boundary Waters by Justine
Kerfoot
This is the autobiography of the grand lady of the Boundary Waters. At
ninety, Justine can still be found driving with friends in search of wildlife
on the logging roads near her home on Gunflint Lake (if she's not taken
off to the South Seas to watch a comet or to Hawaii to view a volcano!)
This is a must read for anyone who wants to imagine what the Gunflint Trail
was like when it was truly a trail.
The Singing Wilderness by Sigurd
Olson
For those wintry days when you can only sit by the fire and dream of your
next trip to the Northwoods, Sigurd Olson's words can help transport you
there. Black and white illustrations by Francis Lee Jaques are also fine.
(Also check out the following titles by Mr. Olson: Listening Point,
The Lonely Land, Runes of the North, and Open Horizons.)
Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Vol. 1 & 2
by Robert Beymer
Volume 1 covers the western portion of the BWCA and volume 2 the eastern
region. These books are terrific for their listings of routes throughout
the region. Entry points, portage lengths and degree of difficulty, and
commentary make these volumes invaluable for trip planning.
Curious Visitor's Guide to the Wildlife of
the North Woods
Illustrations by Jose Manuel Ocana
Have you ever wanted a consise, lightweight guide that covers the flora
and fauna of the northwoods? This book, illustrated with over 100 line
drawings, contains guide information about many plants, animals and natural
phenomena associated with the northwoods. Pack it along next trip as part
of your required reading.
Superior National Forest by
Robert Beymer
This is a good all-around guide for hikers, bikers, skiers and paddlers
wanting to visit the area. Good fishing info, too.
Roughing It Elegantly: A Practical Guide
to Canoe Camping
By Pat Bell (Cat's Paw Press, 1987
This is a guide for the novice and experienced canoe-country
traveler alike. Pat blends solid, basic information needed to make
for a safe, well-equipped but comfortable trip in a casual, over-a-cup-of-coffee
manner. Pat is very proud of the fact this is the first book of its
kind written by a woman.
the
Boundary Waters Journal Michele and Stuart Osthoff,
publishers
This quarterly magazine is terrific, with stories of trips, nature articles,
and great photos. Another must have.
Cook County News-Herald
This is the weekly newspaper from Grand Marais. We've subscribed
to it for years and read it cover-to-cover.
Root Beer Lady "The Story of Dorothy Molter"
by Bob Cary
This is the story of a woman who lived in her cabin in the midst of the
BWCA from 1930 to 1986. She became known as the "Root Beer Lady" because...well,
you'll have to read the book to find out why. Another great figure in northwoods
lore.
A Wilderness Within: The Life of Sigurd F.
Olson by David Backes, University of Minnesota Press
Check out the Sigurd Olson web site referenced on the Reflections page
for more information about this great conservationist and northwoods sage.
The Well-Fed Backpacker
by June Fleming
(Random House, 1986 rev.)
Kathy has tried numerous recipes in the past for
granola bars, but let me tell you--none can compare with the ones she made
following June's recipe. We took them on our last trip, and enjoyed
every last bite. Don't pass on this book.
Canoe Country by Florence Page
Jaques, illustrated by Francis Lee Jaques.
Think the northwoods are pretty rugged? With our ultralight kevlar canoes,
no-see-um proof netting, gore-tex garments, etc.? Read this nicely illustrated
narrative of a 1930's trip to the Boundary Waters. Now those were the days...
(Thanks to Teri Reynolds for suggesting this selection, as well
as the following which, though not truly dealing with the BWCA, still reflect
the spirit of the Boundary Waters:
The Survival of the Bark Canoe by John McPhee and The Maine Woods
by Henry David Thoreau.)
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by
Donald R.Grossnickle and Mark D.
Crawford