Out There

Well it started with Merle's Door. After that wonderful book I wanted to read more about the writer and see what else he had up his sleeve. Well I was not dissappointed with this book. What a joy to read. Every sentence, every word was descriptive. He does not waste words. Very enjoyable and a pleaseure to read. It feels like you are right there with him enjoying the same visual treat, in the canoe, watching the wildlife or lying in the tent while the rain pours from the skys. I love the way this guy writes. I too used to camp and canoe until work and worries kept me with my nose to the computer or exhausted from work stretched out on the couch. He has inspired me to see nature and be apart of it again. I am going to plan another camp/canoe trip soon and enjoy it all over again. If you like nature, being a part of it or just reading about it, this book is for you. It takes you away. Breathes new life into you, inspires you to enjoy what God has given us and to take care of it. And also to realize it is up to us to protect it. This guy is a TRUE nature lover. I want more Ted Kerasote books. Merle's Door is still my favorite, but this book comes in second:)I think his next book will come in third:):):)

This book was the first time I have read Kerasote - I completed it in two sessions. I thought it was brilliantly written. It had an educated style, which means I enjoyed occasionally checking some less common words (but cleverly appropriate)in my dictionary. This was an enthralling account of two basically dissimilar friends undertaking a great canoe trip down the Horton River toward the Arctic Ocean. I just wasn't willing to put the book down until the trip was over - the reader was right there with them. At one stage, I hoped for some photographs to supplement the map in the book - but then again Kerasote's writing was so good that I had a clear word picture of the events. Perhaps this was in keeping with the general theme of making do without everything on a platter? I found the historical notes provided a fascinating context for the modern day adventure. The professionalism of their outdoor skills was evident, and important for such a remote adventure. The potential 'clash' of the satphone was very much secondary to the description of the wonderful river trip itself. Actually, I thought the satphone was skillfully considered from a philosophical viewpoint - it was an issue that is very relevant now to modern mans interaction with serious wilderness adventure. This book was just brilliant stuff.

I must admit, when reading the description on the inside of this book's jacket I was a little nervous about reading this book. It reads "Who hasn't wanted to get away from cell phones, e-mail, roads, and traffic? ... But what if your canoeing partner brings along a satellite phone to use in case of an emergency? And, struck by the novelty of anywhere-on-earth communication, he proceeds to use the phone to check in with his law office, his wife, kids, sisters, father, and friends?" I really didn't want to read a book that lectures one of the merits of getting totally disconnected from civilization. What I found when reading Ted's book was a wonderful story of a great canoe journey through a truly wild landscape. During their journey they encounter grizzly bears, gold and bald eagles, Gyrfalcons (one of my favorite birds), grayling and char fish, musk ox, and many other wild creatures. This book is filled with some historical accounts of artic exploration as well as some of the natural history of the region and its wildlife. We learn both where the river got its name as well as some interesting features about musk ox. And, yes there is some contemplation on the value of detaching from the modern world and getting immersed in the natural world, but this is only one small part of a larger story. All in all, it is a excellent nature adventure book which is both entertaining and informative. I highly recommend it. It inspires me to want to take another Canadian wilderness canoe trip. It has been over 20 years since my first Canadian Wilderness Canoe trip with my father and Boy Scout Troop.

After his earlier books (Bloodties, etc.), one would hardly have thought that he could do it again. But there's an amazingly deep mind and a poetic soul at work here--the words of a man who has traded off some of the more mundane pleasures of life for an honest, strenuous existence. Ted Kerasote's voice rings true and clear, whether he's writing about elk hunting or (as here) white water canoeing. Absolutely not to be missed, if you have even the faintest interest in what "wilderness" means!

Great writing about both his wilderness experience(s) and interesting, poignent comments on life and relationships. I can't imagine anyone would be disappointed with this book.