True North: Exploring the Great Canadian Wilderness by Bush Plane

I loved this book! The author not only takes the reader along on a spectacular trip through some of the remotest regions of the continent, he also conveys to the reader his deep respect for science, nature, and humanity. This is a beautiful book and I recommend it highly.

As a retired mechanical engineer and private pilot I thoroughly enjoyed George Erickson's book "True North: exploring the Great Wilderness by Bush Plane".He combines description of the vast and wonderous beauty of the Canadian Wilderness with the adventure of flying alone in a small float plane with the occasional sojourns into the realm of science, such as an explanation as to how as airplane flies. But you won't need an engineering degree or a pilots license to enjoy the book because it's all skillfully presented in layman terms. A good read!

George Erickson has written a wonderful book telling of his travels in Canada aboard his Piper Cub. Along the way he intersperses his travelogue with lessons on science, and some of the history of the area, including what happened with native culture in it's encounters with European explorers and missionairies. Erickson has a wonderful story of exploration and the wonders that knowledge of how the world really works can bring insight and joy to our lives.

As one who has flown the Sub-Arctic North myself I found the book to be not only "aviation" but also a history and cultural lesson. Not many authors have the ability to broaden their primary interest and weave interesting sub-texts without losing their way.

This is a story of travel in the Canadian Arctic, in Nunavut, in the Northwest Territories, in Yukon and Alaska. It is an exciting and informative tale. Erickson is an experienced pilot who has taken many journeys into the far north, where there are few roads, but every lake is an airport for a small seaplane. Every stream and inlet is a fisherman's paradise, and catching a trout or char for lunch is a matter of minutes.Erickson is passionate about flying, and the technology that makes it possible. He introduces us to the sciences of flight, of navigation, of nature's flora and fauna. A truly engaged person, Erickson has much respect for the Inuit. He tells us about their history and present life. The eastern half of northern Canada has become the Nunavut Territory with an Inuit (not Eskimo) legislature and administration, and a constitution similar to other Canadian territories. At 772,000 square miles Nunavut is larger than Alaska or Quebec.We learn a lot about the region. Aside from his own experience, Erickson is very familiar with the history of the land and peoples. He recounts events in the history of the Hudson Bay Company, which was founded in 1670 and is jokingly known as "Here Before Christ." Yet more than any other institution it explored, opened, settled and exploited the region.A discussion about navigation leads Erickson into describing the growth of ancient astronomy and how it was revived by Copernicus and Galileo. An examination of horsetails, ancient plants, leads him into a consideration of Darwin and what he learned on a different journey aboard the Beagle. Flying along a fault scarp brings to mind the story of Alfred Wegener and the beginning of plate tectonics research. Every stop suggests new ideas.This is an enjoyable travel story. It avoids the many qualities of heroic bragging. Rather the author emphasizes the insistent need for care, precision, and experience. The northern woods do not suffer fools gladly. Plane wrecks, graves, and lost limbs testify how easy it is to come to harm. But there is a strong quality of everyman in this book, a feeling that I could do this journey given the time, money, and strong enough desire.