Granny's Country Store > Wilderness Survival > Canoeing | Search | View Cart

Cradle to Canoe
Camping an Canoeing with Children
by Rolf and Debra Kraiker
Reviewed by Thomas J. Elpel

      Renee and I started canoeing after we became the adoptive parents of three wonderful children. We wanted to get them out into the wilderness for some extended backcountry experiences, but we couldn't begin to imagine putting packs on their backs and making them do a forced march into the outback. Canoeing was the obvious choice, because it would allow us to carry lots of gear, and we could move along the "trail" whether the kids were paddling or not--even while they were sleeping.

      We were fortunate to be able to go with experienced friends who also had kids. We spent two weeks together, canoeing and camping along the Green River in southern Utah. After that we felt confident to go out on our own, and we've since been on numerous other extended canoe trips with our family.

      Rolf and Debra Kraiker's book Cradle to Canoe is the next best thing to having friends to guide you on your first family canoe trip. They have practiced what they preach, canoeing and camping when their children were still infants--and continuing every year as they grew up. By the ages of 9 and 12 (when the book was written) their sons, Kyle and Brendan, had logged more wilderness miles than most adults three times their ages.

      In this compilation of practical advice and personal anecdotes, the Kraikers, both certified canoeing instructors, provide expert guidance on such topics as introducing children to the wilderness, selecting and packing sufficient food supplies, preparing formula in the bush, selecting the right camping gear and clothing, purchasing the right canoe, training young paddlers, ensuring safety in all situations, and campsite activities to keep young campers, from infant to teenager, occupied and entertained. Their valuable checklists will help you get on your way with confidence! The Boston Mills Press. 167 pages. 1999.

-Please scroll down the page for the "Add to Order" button.-

Twentieth -Anniversary Edition
Expedition Canoeing
A Guide to Canoeing Wild Rivers in North America
by Cliff Jacobson
Reviewed by Thomas J. Elpel

      Whether you are a beginning canoeist or an experienced tripper looking for a greater challenge, Cliff Jacobson's Expedition Canoeing is loaded with insightful wilderness canoeing lore. I was personally attracted to this book--after paddling my first five hundred miles on some of the West's tamest rivers--in the interest of bumping up my skill level a bit for some more challenging backcountry experiences. What I found is a wealth of new ideas and sensible approaches to everything from researching a river, choosing the right canoe, customizing and outfitting it appropriately, choosing and installing covers to keep your gear dry, how to pack smart for a trip and how to stow it securely in the canoe, as well as navigating with maps, compass, and GPS, tips on portaging, solo canoeing, how to get shuttled in and out of remote locations, hazards and rescue information, and making repairs.

      Although Expedition Canoeing is in many ways oriented towards preparing the canoeist for extended trips through the remote Canadian backcountry--even to the Arctic if you want--the information and preparation is useful for canoeing trips anywhere.

      And this isn't a book that merely tells you what kind of modern gear to buy. While Jacobson takes advantages of modern gear, his personal experience goes back to a time before GPS and satellite phones were available. He developed his skills starting in the 1950s, when canoes didn't bounce back, and clothing and gear had to be kept dry. In other words, Jacobson is more than just the gear he carries. Expedition Canoeing brings real woodslore to the art of canoeing. First published in 1984, this updated twentieth-anniversary edition of Expedition Canoeing is still the premier guide to canoeing and exploring North America's wilderness rivers. The book includes black-and-white as well as color photos, plus how-to illustrations, source charts, and a chapter full of hard-won advice from more than twenty-five of Jacobson's fellow canoeing experts. Falcon Press. ISBN: 0-7627-3809-X. 304 pages. 2005.

-Please scroll down the page for the "Add to Order" button.-

Paddling Montana
32 Great Rivers under the Big Sky
by Hank & Carol Fischer
Reviewed by Thomas J. Elpel

      The next best thing to paddling down a river and discovering what is around the next bend, is dreaming and planning to your next trip to do just that. Paddling Montana is the book we use when planning our next great Montana canoeing adventure. Through the pages of this book you can get an overview of each of Montana's primary floating rivers, including essential information detailing access points, river miles between them, optimal flow levels, potential hazards and where to portage, plus sources for more detailed maps and information.

      Through this book the history buff can follow the routes of Lewis and Clark along the Missouri, the Jefferson, and the Beaverhead rivers and experience others that the explores named-- the Marias, the Judith, the Gallatin, the Madison, the Dearborn, the Smith. The paddler looking for awesome whitewater finds it on the Gallatin, in the Madison's Beartrap Canyon, and the Clark Fork's Alberton Gorge. The Red Rock, the Swan, and other streams provide opportunities for birders, photographers, and wildlife watchers. Anglers can cast from a boat into the pools and riffles of Rock Creek, the Big Hole River, and many more.

      In this updated guide to Montana's rivers, Hank and Carol Fischer even provide details about where and when to go to avoid the crowds, and who to call for up-to-the-minute information on floating conditions. Paddling Montana makes the information easily accessible and can help you plan your next Montana river trip. 2nd Edition, 2008. Falcon Press. ISBN: 978-0762743520. 224 pages.

-Please scroll down the page for the "Add to Order" button.-

The Complete Paddler
A Guidebook for Paddling the Missouri River from the Headwaters to St. Louis, Missouri
By David Miller

      The Complete Paddler is a no-nonsense manual written for paddlers of all skill and experience levels with an interest in discovering the Missouri River. Kayaker and map-maker David Miller spent three summers solo-paddling the mighty Missouri from its headwaters at Three Forks, Montana all the way to Saint Louis. From the seat of his sea kayak he mapped the entire route with the use of his GPS system.

      An experienced paddler, Miller offers up vital information for anyone seeking to float even the shortest stretch of the Missouri's storied waters. This comprehensive guidebook offers excellent information on every stretch of the river, including river hazards, campgrounds, potable water, and attractions, as well as historic sites. Miller offers essential advice on planning, and scouting ahead, as well as using local knowledge to revise or improve your plans, both before you go and along the way. Chapters discuss necessary equipment, risks and hazards, shoreline descriptions, currents and prevailing winds, portages, river-mile marks, and historical sites to be seen. Miller also tells personal anecdotes of his adventure. Greatly recommended for explorer's with an interest in experiencing the great Missouri River for themselves. Farcountry Press. ISBN: 1-56037-325-3. 384 Pages. 2005..

See also
Build Your Own Canoe!