This Month's Books

Dreamspeaker Cruising Guides by by Anne and Laurence Yeadon-Jones

Raincoast, 1998 - 2003 colour photos and illustrations $49.94 Cdn, $36.95 US each

Vancouver, Howe Sound & the Sunshine Coast ISBN 1-55192-467-6

Gulf Islands & Vancouver Island ISBN 1-55192-150-2

Desolation Sound & the Discovery Islands ISBN 1-55192-272-x

The authors of the Dreamspeaker Cruising Guides have spent the past 15 years exploring and photographing the coastal waters of British Columbia aboard their 36 foot sailboat, Dreamspeaker. The result of their recorded observations of the waterways, anchorages and ports of call within this protected cruising paradise is a trilogy of cruising guides. Each guide focuses on one area of the coast, providing useful information for the marine oriented, whether aboard a yacht or a kayak.

Narrative descriptions of each point of interest are accompanied by references to appropriate charts, tide and current tables, weather stations, available facilities and best anchorages. Colour photographs and hand drawn charts illustrate topographical features to help the mariner become oriented (but are not to be relied upon for navigation). These guides are well laid out and attractive. They'll help boaters of every ilk plan their trips and find the best anchoring spots, etc. Kayakers may choose to leave the large format books at home once they've done their research but cruising boaters will definitely want them aboard.

2003 Waggoner Cruising Guide by Robert Hale

WeatherlyPress, 342 pp, softcover, large format, b/w, maps, index

$31.95 Cdn, $19.95 US 1-800-733-5330 ISBN 0-935727-20-5

This is the 10th anniversary issue of the annual Waggoner Guide which is aimed at power and sailboaters, but packed with information for all who explore the Pacific Northwest coast, from Puget Sound, Washington, up the coast to Prince Rupert, BC. Robert and Marilyn Hale cruise these waters each year and keep up with developments all along the way, so their Guide is personal, comprehensive, and about as up-to-date as you could hope. It's full of extensive local knowledge about the Inside Passage's complex waterways, hazards, safe havens, and hightlights.

The Guide is available at marine supply stores, as well as nautical bookstores.

Complete Folding Kayaker (2nd Edition) by Ralph Diaz

Ragged Mountain Press, 2003. 244 pp. Softcover, b/w photos

$28.95 Cdn, $17.95 US ISBN 0-07-140809-6

As editor of the Folding Kayaker newsletter for more than ten years, Ralph Diaz has paddled all the major models of folding kayaks, heard from nearly 1,000 folding boat owners, and talked to manufacturers about the construction and care of their boats. This second editon of his book is organized into three parts. Part One, "What You should Know" explains the history and advantages of folding kayaks, how to choose one and basic equipment. Part Two covers "Handling Skills for Foldables." Part Three deals with "Using and Enjoying" your folding kayak. This edition includes dozens of proven tips for assembling, transporting, and disassembling. It includes expanded reviews on the latest models, manufacturers and materials; updated information on repair and maintenance; and an expanded chapter on modifying and customizing kayaks. As the title says, this is an indispensable guide for anyone contemplating the purchase of a folding kayak.

Building the Greenland Kayak: A Manual for Its Construction and Use

by Christopher Cunningham.

Ragged Mountain Press, 2003 ISBN 0-07-139237-8 softcover, 203 pp, b/w illus. & photos

$31.95 Cdn, $19.95 US

This manual describes the low, narrow Greenland kayak, designed for speed and maneuverability by people who historically relied on the kayak for hunting in the waters of Greenland.

Author Chris Cunningham, Editor of Seakayaker magazine and afficionado of Greenland kayaks, provides meticulous instructions for how to customize the kayak to fit the paddler's individual shape and size. Drawing on design and construction techniques from other boat builders, Cunningham adds his own "technical solutions" to help even novice woodworkers achieve success with their project. He estimates that most builders can complete a kayak with a $300 investment in materials and up to 80 hours of work time.

Building the Greenland Kayak is for the serious (but not necessarily experienced) boat builder with a workshop equipped with a good set of tools, and a love for the particular characteristics of a Greenland kayak. Chris writes from the experience of paddling and building Greenland kayaks for over twenty years.

Fortress of the Grizzlies: the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary

by Dan Wakeman and Wendy Shymanski

Heritage House, 2003 ISBN 1-894384-33-4 www.heritagehouse.ca softcover, col. photos,

96pp., $24.95 Cdn.

Fortress of the Grizzlies is a passionate collaboration between Dan Wakeman, licensed guide, and Wendy Shymanski, photographer. It's designed to educate and inspire those of us who have not witnessed first hand the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary in northwestern BC, and the majestic animal the sanctuary was established to protect.

With an easy-going narrative text and stunning photos, Wakeman and Shymanski introduce individual animals observed over the past twenty-odd years. Through their intimate knowledge of bear behaviour, they show that left in peace, without fear of harm from humans, grizzlies are gentle, inquisitive creatures deserving of their own special place in the world.

Readers can not help being charmed by the authors' obvious respect and affection for both the animals and their habitat, and influenced by the strong message that human encroachment must be kept to a minimum to protect wilderness areas that are home to species that are increasingly in danger of becoming extinct.

Mis*Adventure: Rise to the Challenge! A step by step guide to accident handling

by Anna Christensen

Wilderness Alert, 2003 softcover, 254 pp, b/w www.WildernessAlert.com

ISBN: 0-9730091-5-2 (regular edition)

Any wilderness adventure, be it a hiking, cycling, paddling trip or any other excursion that leaves civilization behind, brings a certain risk of misadventure. Without the experts of the E.R. to come to our assistance, we need to be able to help ourselves and our companions when accidents happen. This guide (or the handy, half-size field edition: ISBN 0-9730091-2-8) is just the thing to have along so that we are better equipped to ensure a potentially dangerous situation has a happy ending.

From being prepared, to assessing the situation, to coping with crises, this guide book covers all the bases, and the detailed Contents pages and Index will quickly help you find relevant information.

The author is an experienced risk management consultant and innovator of many first aid techniques. She has developed simple step-by-step solutions to even the most complicated problems, and authored Wilderness First Aid: A Resource Manual for Outdoor Leaders.

Kayaking Vancouver Island: Great Trips From Port Hardy to Victoria

by Gary Backlund and Paul Grey

Harbour Publishing, 2003 ISBN 1-55017-318-9 Softcover, b/w photos, $24.95 Cdn.

Kayaking Vancouver Island builds on the success of the authors' previous book, Easy Kayaker: A Guide to Laid-back Vancouver Island Paddling. For this second volume, Gary and Paul travelled to some beautiful Vancouver Island destinations not covered in the first book, paddled the waters and interviewed locals to bring both the first hand perspective of the explorer and the intimate knowledge of experienced guides and outfitters to this book. Whether you'd like to get to know the waters around southern Vancouver Island (Sooke Basin, the Gorge, Victoria Harbour, the Pender Islands, Saltspring and Galiano), central Vancouver Island (Bamfield, Ucluelet, Clayoquot, Valdes, Gabriola, Denman and Hornby Islands) or northern Vancouver Island (Nuchatlitz and Esperanza Inlets, KyuquotSound, Marble River Canyon, Quadra and Cortes Islands, and Beaver Harbour) you will find plenty to dream about as you plan your trip.

Starting with a guidebook format and requisite information like relevant charts, launch sites, accommodation, distances, difficulty ratings and warnings, the authors have added photos, personal Travel Notes and Local History entries to add interest. Hand drawn charts help to visualize the paddling areas. This is an excellent addition to your book collection if you are interested in paddling around Vancouver Island and its surrounding waters.

Sea Kayaking Safety Guide

Government of Canada 2003 ISBN 2-89101- 179-1

The Sea Kayaking Safety Guide is a concise and useful resource for Canadian paddlers. Like other such guides for boaters available from the Coast Guard, this guide (a collaborative effort by various governmental agencies), contains valuable information in an easily accessible format. Developed with contributions from some of the leaders of the sport in response to the growing popularity of paddling and the subsequent increase in the number of incidents requiring Coast Guard assistance, the guide is a quick and easy must-read, especially for beginners.

Being aware of and prepared for the risks that paddlers may well encounter, even when embarking on a seemingly easy excursion in optimum conditions, helps to avoid unexpected embarrassment, the need for outside assistance, or even tragedy. The guide covers necessary equipment and basic techniques; potential dangers and regulations; classification of waterways into zones of difficulty; good advice on how to plan an excursion (including a handy checklist); navigation and the ethics of protecting the environment; and helpful advice for safety and rescue, including hypothermia and communications.

Contact information for paddling associations, weather information and Canadian Coast Guard is listed for each region in Canada.

While not designed to replace qualified instruction, supervised experience and local knowledge, you will find sound advice in this guide whether you are considering adding paddling to your enjoyment of the outdoors or wanting to refresh your knowledge before the first paddle of the season