A Boundary Waters History: Canoeing Across Time (MN)

by Stephen Wilbers

Teasing out the history of a place celebrated for timelessness--where countless paddle strokes have disappeared into clear waters--requires a sure and attentive hand. Stephen Wilbers's account reaches back to the glaciers that first carved out the Boundary Waters and to the original inhabitants, as well as to generations of wilderness explorers, both past and present. He does so without losing the personal relationship built through a lifetime of pilgrimages (anchored by almost three decades of trips with his father). This story captures the untold broader narrative of the region as well as a thousand different details sure to be recognized by fellow pilgrims, like the grinding rhythm of a long portage or the loon call that slips into that last moment before sleep.

Genres: Nonfiction

160 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 15, 2011

Reviews

[Carl Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Equal parts natural history, ecology study, and human history framed with a sweet, poignant story of a lifetime of family trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Wilbers has a great eye for the features that make the BWCA special--the waters, the rocks, the forests. His chronicle of many trips gives him perspective over the natural and human-created changes to the area through the years, which allows him to relate larger and longer-term changes with insight and eloquence. He sprinkles his writing with illuminating quotes from naturalists that were obviously chosen to complement his narrative.

Ultimately, this is the story of fathers and sons, and how the love for place and love between generations grow hand in hand. The depth of emotion for Wilbers' last trip with his father comes through clearly, as does his love of the wilderness playground of lakes, forest, and sky on the Minnesota border.

(And shout out to the author, a fellow Vanderbilt graduate and Boy Scout!)

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the perfect balance between a beautiful memoir of a lifetime of BWCA memories with the author’s dad, a lesson on the history of the boundary waters, and a guidebook of the areas near Sawbill they visited. Having visited the BWCA with my dad for as long as I can remember, this book was both a very meaningful gift from him as well as a motivation to make sure we continue to make time for our regular trips up there. It was also fun to read about Brule Lake while camping on Brule Lake or to read of their portages over “the mountain between Brule and Vernon” a day after hiking the portage and deciding we didn’t want to do it with our gear too. The BWCA often feels like an incredibly personal experience, but it is fun to hear how others experience it as well and to be reminded it’s a treasure shared by an incredible community.

[Chris Norbury · Rating 3 out of 5]

A valuable book for at least chronicling some basic history of the Arrowhead Region in general. The personal story between father and son was poignant. I've had a similar experience with my father. He first took me into the BWCAW in 1965 and I was privileged to take him on a Boundary Waters trip for his 75th birthday.

We also used Sawbill as a regular entry point for the early years, and I came to have a personal connection with the Hansen family through a mutual friend.

The most important feature of this book is to echo the sentiments of many of the great environmentalists and advocate the preservation protection of this special place for future generations.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

My cousin wrote this as an intimate history of his and his father's canoe trips over the course of many years. Great read and hope to someday visit this beautiful place.

[Ari Mahonen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the stories easy to read and interesting. I found the information tying back to the Objiwe to be fascinating.

[Heidi Agner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice read

A good mix of the history of the Boundary Waters and the author’s 20+ years of canoe trips into the BWCA lakes with his father and others

[Tyler Howe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining and good information at times, otherwise, meh.

[Sherri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This recounts journaling the author did over 29 years of canoeing trips to the Boudary Waters, in particular trips with his dad.

This book was full of rich comments, observations, and history. It made me tear a few times as I too spend special time on the water with my dad.

[Dustin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this just prior to visiting the Boundary Waters and it helped me gain some perspective regarding the legacy of the region. Fun personal history.