Northern Rover: The Life Story of Olaf Hanson

by A.L. Karras

From 1919 to 1970, Olaf Hanson was a trapper, trader, prospector, game guardian, fisherman, and road blasting expert in northeastern Saskatchewan. He told his life story to popular Saskatchewan author A. L. Karras, who wrote this memoir in the 1980s.

224 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2008

Reviews

[Marvin Bjornstad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Art Karras's rendering of the life story of Olaf Hanson whom the Hanson Lake Road in NE Saskatchewan is named for. Olaf and his partners worked first in trapping in the 1930s and he later moved to prospecting and proving up mineral claims in the area. It details his amazing ability to live in the bush on very little revealing the ordinary working man's ability to keep pursing his fortune from the land in spite of adversity he runs into. Olf managed to have a family life yet was often away doing low paying but very challenging jobs. Some of his prospecting and road finding trips were grueling affairs described in very matter of fact ways.

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

The most interesting and enjoyable parts of the book are at the beginning and end, learned how to make a lantern using a candle and syrup tin and how some of the early all-weather roads were made.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read about Northern Saskatchewan and the man they named the Hansen Lake Road for.

[Linda Carmel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking for a book to get a better understanding of life on the
prairies as a trapper /fur trader. This booked fit the bill.