Campfires and Loon Calls: Travels in the Boundary Waters

by Jerry Apps, Steve Apps (Photographer)

During his twenty-five years of canoeing in the wild, Jerry Apps has experienced it all—wicked thunderstorms, inquisitive bears, swamping a canoe, night skies filled with more stars than imaginable, falling asleep to the lullaby of water lapping at the water's edge.

In his latest book, Campfires and Loon Calls, Apps generously shares his seasoned advice, from how to set up camp and protect food from hungry bears to minimalist cooking and appreciating a rainy day, all the while weaving in the incredible history of the Boundary Waters region.

Through beautiful prose and photos from award-winning photographer Steve Apps, Jerry also reflects on how the Boundary Waters is a place to connect with nature.

Jerry Apps writes novels and nonfiction books about the outdoors, country life, and rural living. He received the 2008 First Place Nature Writing Award from the Midwest Independent Publishers Association and the 2007 Major Achievement Award from the Council for Wisconsin Writers. He and his wife live in Madison, Wisconsin.

Steve Apps is an award-winning photojournalist with twenty-five years in the newspaper industry. As a Wisconsin State Journal staff photographer he has covered a wide range of assignments, including the Green Bay Packers and University of Wisconsin–Madison sports.

Genres: Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Jerold W. Apps, born and raised on a Wisconsin farm, is Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the author of more than 30 books, many of them on rural history and country life. His nonfiction books include: Living a Country Year, Every Farm Tells a Story, When Chores Were Done, Humor from the Country, Country Ways and Country Days, One-Room Schools, Cheese, Breweries of Wisconsin, Ringlingville USA (History of Ringling Brothers circus), Old Farm: A History, Barns of Wisconsin, Horse Drawn Days: A Century of Farming With Horses, and Campfires and Loon Calls. His children's books include: Stormy, Eat Rutabagas, Tents, Tigers and the Ringling Brothers, and Casper Jaggi: Master Swiss Cheese Maker. He has an audio book, The Back Porch and Other Stories. Jerry has published four novels, The Travels of Increase Joseph, In a Pickle: A Family Farm Story, Blue Shadows Farm and Cranberry Red. Jerry is a former publications editor for UW-Extension, an acquisitions editor for the McGraw-Hill Book Company, and editor of a national professional journal.

Jerry has won awards for his writing from the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Library Association (the 2007 Notable Authors Award), American Library Association, Foreword Magazine, Midwest Independent Publishers Association, Robert E. Gard Foundation, The Wisconsin Council for Writers (the 2007 Major Achievement Award), Upper Midwest Booksellers, and Barnes and Noble Bookstores, among others. In 2010 he received the Distinguished Service Award from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Check www.jerryapps.com for more information.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stories from Jerry Apps trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, mostly taken with his son but a few are with the rest of his family. Lots of good information on what kind of equipment to take and reviews on where to go. Makes me want to go canoeing & camping.

[Jereme · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good anecdotes about father-son trips to the BWCAW, and the writing is easy and enjoyable. If you're looking for trip planning advice, you'll need more than this one book, but it's a good supplement to someone studying up for his/her first trip.

[Rhonda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worth a read if you like the BWCA but it's mostly about a couple of old guys base camping. He briefly goes back to his younger days of tripping around the BWCA, those parts are good.

[Nicole Jošavac · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun read! I’m an admirer of the Boundary Waters from afar- that is I’d love to go, but I’m too scared to go alone (it’s not really a solo thing anyways) and want to go with others who have more experience. I’ve also never canoed. I digress. This book reignited my desire to pull the trigger and make a BWAC trip happen in the next few years. From funny personal stories and quips to useful tips, the book was a great read for anyone interested in the Boundary Waters :)

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quick page-through, although told of the Boundary Waters experience very well.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book for the novice canoe camper, but with 25 years of trips to the BWCA not much new for me. Although I always enjoy reading about other people's experiences and comparing them to my own.

[Binky Bowberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting look at canoe camping in the Boundary Waters. Loved it!