Spirited Waters: Soloing South Through the Inside Passage

by Jennifer Hahn

* Mixes adventure travel with natural history in this solo kayaking adventure

* Includes the author's hand-drawn illustrations



In this insightful account of her solo voyage in a sixteen-foot kayak, Jennifer Hahn vividly relates the ecstatic moments and terrifying predicaments of paddling against the wind through Alaska's Inside Passage. Hahn's adventures include dramatic encounters with animals and heartwarming experiences with coastal characters. Much more than a memoir, Spirited Waters is a remarkable blend of adventure travel, natural history, and personal challenge.

Genres: Nonfiction, Outdoors, Travel, Womens, Memoir, Nature, Canada

268 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2001

Reviews

[Bruce Cline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over the course of two springs and two summers, the author kayaked alone from Ketchikan, Alaska to her home in Bellingham, Alaska. Her book is filled with stories of paddling, eating wild plants and the occasional fish (invariably gifted by new acquaintances), interacting with scores of people, pondering Native’s lives and stories, describing abundant wildlife and plant life, contemplating life’s mysteries, and surviving natural elements. More so than any other account I’ve read of paddling the Inside Passage, Hahn explores and explains the multidimensional wonders of this 750 mile journey. In addition to sometimes lyrical writing, she illustrated this volume with exquisitely detailed drawings of much of what she verbally described. What a talent! This is an adventure account that is less about athletic prowess (though the trip is not for the faint of heart) and more about savoring the passage through nature and time. All in all, Jennifer Hahn is a noteworthy boater, naturalist, and writer.

[In · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jennifer Hahn's descriptions of nature are an art form. Her adventures will make you want to try a solo excursion. Her encounters with people who live off the grid will restore some of your faith in humanity. This is a truly enjoyable read.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book with interest as the author was a childhood friend. Her account of this voyage was a delight - it's a satisfying mix of adventure, nature, fear, history, introspection, art, and humor.

[William D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully written and honest!

This personal odyssey account of a series of solo journeys making up an Inside Passage voyage is very well written. The author is not only informative on many topics relating to long and remote wilderness kayaking, but she is also very honest (at times brutally so) about the highs and lows, the fears and the pleasures, of such a solo journey. For me this was a very enjoyable and engrossing read!

[Andi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a delightful read. Jennifer Hahn's writing is so alive - dreamy, contemplative, hilarious, magically descriptive - you can picture every scenario and live through the moments with her. I am glad I took this journey with her.

[Z Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

No book has spoken to me like this since I finished braiding sweetgrass. If you’re a settler who has too been raised by the waters of the Salish Sea this book will speak to your heart in ways you don’t expect. I’m so thankful to the author for sharing her experience and thoughts.

[Ari Lacenski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jennifer's frank discussion of her spiritual insights along her journey makes this adventure writing precious and unique.

[Stoned nINJA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its very refreshing to read female authors for a change , she does seattle to alaska in 3 parts and its beautifully written .

[Careena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written, the pictures the author paints are incredible, I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptive writing.

[Robbie Munger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poetic prose channeled from a borderland of fear and desire

The solo inside passage kayak journey draws many and there are numerous accounts. Some are Joe Friday just the facts about how and where to go, where to stop. Others are fact and history filled travelogues that will help guide the way. Jennifer's is entirely different. It is not a book to guide you through the myriad details and decisions from here to there. It captures rather the real draw of a trip long and uncertain enough to be a journey of transformation. It is sometimes laugh out loud funny and often heart to heart transmission of wonder and awe. It's not the book to read to plan. It is the one to give you the feeling of being there with currents, winds, storms and whales and inspire, whether one finds the time and will to journey or simply follows along from an armchair.

[Will · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was more of a travel book than an adventure book. I guess I am more interested in the logistics and treacheries of adventure travel than I am of McPhee-ish literary journalistic writings about travel. You would think that the adventure itself would be interesting enough to fill the pages of this book.

Her perspective was very flighty and romanticized also, which probably lead me to some subconscious eye-rolling.

The bright side was that I am more knowledgable of a few issues than I was before reading this book. And her ability to create an image of personnas was valuable. I vividly remember the characters she described. All in all it was a pretty decent read, but I would recommend it to more feminine readers who may relate a bit more.

[Billy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It's the account of a young woman's solo kayaking of the inside passage from Alaska to Bellingham, Washington. At times, it was a little too touchy feely for me, ("Thank the goddess for . . .") but, overall, it was a fascinating account of her journey, the many challenges she faced (good maps), great descriptions of the natural features (She studied under Annie Dillard. It shows!), and the interesting people she meets along the way. Plus, I just got a kayak too!

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book about a woman's solo kayak voyage from Alaska to the San Juan Islands. The dangers she faced, the people and wildlife she met, and the history of each area were all interesting. Although, at times, she did get a bit detailed. The book reminded me of one of my all-time favorite books about the Pacific Northwest, The Good Rain.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

After spending 10 days in and around Glacier Bay, Alaska in May 2008, this book brought back memories and gave me more information about what I saw and did there. Sea kayaking is an amazing way to travel as Hahn describes. My few forays on the water in a kayak pale in comparison.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, we guys are going to find some of the 'womanly' perspective stuff to not quite be a recipe for resonance. That said, this was the book that launched a renewed lust for exploring the world and for doing so at least in part in a kayak. Stirs the wanderlust.

[Liz Springborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cool book. Amazing woman who had the guts to tackle kayaking solo along some amazing coast I hope to one day be able to explore myself (although in a more comfortable fashion...).

[kimberly]

Read while on the plane trip to and returning from Mexico -- loaned to me by a colleague who just bought a kayak herself. This was a quick read.

[Deb Weina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book to read. Gets you motivated to get out there and kayak yourself. Great adventure.

[Curt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book but found myself expressing quiet exasperation at the mystical, hippie wanderings of the author. The subject itself is awe inspiring.