Into the Great Solitude: An Arctic Journey

The nature of the voyage that Perkins set out on is extremely unique and interesting making for a captivating story. He ventured into an area of the great northern wilderness where few people have ever been, and he described what he found with wonderful detail and thought. At first, I was annoyed with the personal stories embedded as flashbacks into the adventure, but soon I was drawn in to the psyche of Perkins as he canoed the Back River. My imagination and wonder soared at the thought that there are still places where a person could find utter solitude for such an extended period of time. I suppose the fact that it didn't take any "special" skills, other than an adventurous soul, bravery and an ability with canoes, intrigued me. I ended up purchasing the video, an excellent companion to the book.

Having undertaken a number of Northern canoe trips, I was very pleasantly surprised to read Robert Perkins account of his 1987 trip down the Back River. I found that Mr. Perkins' descriptions accurately capture to daily routine of paddling down a wilderness river. Many times, in reading his descriptions, I was transported back to my own recollections of life on a canoe trip. I was also struck my Mr. Perkins' sharp eye for detail and often lyrical description of everyday events. Moreover, I found Mr. Perkins' reflections on the events of his own life, which invariable arise in the mind of anyone undertaking such a long canoe trip, provided rewarding insights into the character of the author. All told, this is a very enjoyable book that I would recommend without reservation.