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Time-Life American Wilderness Series
Die Wälder Kanadas
Hardcover book.
184 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1986
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 31, 2024
Absolutely delightful.
August 28, 2021
This set of books is one of the best natural history series about the American landscapes. This is no exception. Any of these gems are worth a read and to be treasured parts of any library.
September 4, 2017
1972. Details the route and lives of the voyageurs, from Montreal to Lake Athabasca in northern Alberta, 1500s-1800s. Also habits of beavers, and details of how snow in its various guises affects the plants and animals of the north. Good 1-page bibliography. Good photos, and a map.
Voyageurs: Made one trip per year, in a 2-stage relay: Starting respectively in Lachine near Montreal, and as far northwest as Lake Athabasca, from ice-out in (hopefully) early May, paddling 2 months to meet at Grand Portage on the north shore of L. Superior. Montreal men had hauled trade goods, exchanging for beaver pelts hauled south--or, if ice-out was late in the north, the exchange would be at Rainy Lake. Then back to respective winter homes with each others' cargo before ice-up.
Montreal canoes: 36-foot, 600-lb. birch bark on cedar frame, sewn with spruce roots, caulked with pitch. 6000 lb. of goods in (about 67) 90-lb. bales, plus 8-10 men. 1000 mi. Lachine-Grand Portage, in 6-8 weeks (125-167 mi./wk). Rivers from Lachine to L. Huron. 450 mi. of the trip is along north shore of L. Superior.
Every man has to carry about 8 90-lb. bales every portage: normal load was 180 lb. per trip. Plus the boat. Many voyageurs died of hernias. Portages over .5 mile were done in stages.
North canoes: 25-foot, 300-lb. same construction as larger Montreal canoes. 3000 lb. of goods in (about 33) 90-lb. bales, 5-6 men. Up to 2000 miles, L. Athabasca-Grand Portage, and 2000 miles back, between ice-out and ice-up. There is a 700-foot vertical cliff to negotiate, men, boats, and goods, across the 12-mile Methye portage in western Saskatchewan.
Food: thick pea soup. The men were wage laborers. Hudson Bay Company owners reaped the profit.
By 1870 the life was waning: decimation of beavers, motor boats, beginning of railroads, logging, mining.
Voyageurs: Made one trip per year, in a 2-stage relay: Starting respectively in Lachine near Montreal, and as far northwest as Lake Athabasca, from ice-out in (hopefully) early May, paddling 2 months to meet at Grand Portage on the north shore of L. Superior. Montreal men had hauled trade goods, exchanging for beaver pelts hauled south--or, if ice-out was late in the north, the exchange would be at Rainy Lake. Then back to respective winter homes with each others' cargo before ice-up.
Montreal canoes: 36-foot, 600-lb. birch bark on cedar frame, sewn with spruce roots, caulked with pitch. 6000 lb. of goods in (about 67) 90-lb. bales, plus 8-10 men. 1000 mi. Lachine-Grand Portage, in 6-8 weeks (125-167 mi./wk). Rivers from Lachine to L. Huron. 450 mi. of the trip is along north shore of L. Superior.
Every man has to carry about 8 90-lb. bales every portage: normal load was 180 lb. per trip. Plus the boat. Many voyageurs died of hernias. Portages over .5 mile were done in stages.
North canoes: 25-foot, 300-lb. same construction as larger Montreal canoes. 3000 lb. of goods in (about 33) 90-lb. bales, 5-6 men. Up to 2000 miles, L. Athabasca-Grand Portage, and 2000 miles back, between ice-out and ice-up. There is a 700-foot vertical cliff to negotiate, men, boats, and goods, across the 12-mile Methye portage in western Saskatchewan.
Food: thick pea soup. The men were wage laborers. Hudson Bay Company owners reaped the profit.
By 1870 the life was waning: decimation of beavers, motor boats, beginning of railroads, logging, mining.
October 8, 2015
This book is part of the American Wilderness series on my shelf in my home library. I always enjoyed the pictures, and now I take time to read the text.
I recommend this to all readers.
...we lived like deer or loons, measuring our days by the sun, eating when we were hungry, falling asleep when we were tired, waking up when we had slept enough. There is no better restorative for a mind and body wearied by the pace of civilized living.
I recommend this to all readers.
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January 18, 2015Time-Life American Wilderness Series
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews