Temagami: A Wilderness Paradise - Canoeing - Kayaking - Hiking

by Hap Wilson

Distributed in the United States by Firefly Books (U.S.) Inc.--T.p. verso.

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 23, 2012

About the author

Hap Wilson is one of Canada's most well known wilderness guides and has traveled more than 60,000 km across Canada by canoe. Author of 14 books and numerous feature articles about nature and the outdoors, Wilson taught Pearce Brosnan how to paddle a canoe and throw a knife for the Attenborough movie "Grey Owl". Wilson's illustrated book "Voyages - Canada's Heritage Rivers" won the Natural Resources Council of America Award for best environmental book. Recipient of the Bill Mason Award for Lifetime Achievement in River Conservation, Wilson is also co-founder of the environment group Earthroots. Hap Wilson is an International Fellow of the prestigious Explores Club & the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, and a member of the Writers Union of Canada. Wilson is also an award winning artist and photographer.

Reviews

[Anthony Meaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Temagami is a great sprawling wilderness of parks and crown lands that is one of the busiest canoeing areas in North America.

Hap Wilson has been more or less the patron saint of the area and has written several books on canoeing and other aspects.

This book is a fairly in-depth look at some of the best canoe routes in the park and surrounding areas and is pretty much the bible of paddlers for this region.

My only complaint - the maps are not as clear as they could be. They are in an odd colour combination of red and black that makes it hard to distinguish the lakes from the land. Wilson hand drew the maps which is quite a feat but the colour detract from the visual impact and canoe routes above all else should be easy to read. Kevin Callan's books excel in this area but this shouldn't dissuade anyone from picking up this valuable resource.

[Patrick Burd · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Hap Wilson is very knowledgeable in the areas of canoeing and the Temagami routes. He gives a good overview of what he considers best practices for preparing for a canoe trip. He is extremely thorough in mapping out many routes within the region and rates them according to difficulty and skill level required. The maps themselves are hand-drawn and labeled and could use a graphic designer's touch and typographical update.

His coverage of the indigenous history and the story of Grey Owl could use a fresh perspective from actual indigenous people, or should simply be removed from his book.

Otherwise, a good primer for someone looking to explore the Temagami area by canoe or kayak.

[Mike Parkes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven’t got up to Temagami yet, but this looks to be a comprehensive description of good hiking and paddling routes in the area, with nice hand-drawn maps, and written in a personalized, idiosyncratic style by a true original who is well known in Canadian canoeing culture.