Description
Unrelenting winds, carnivorous polar bears, snake nests, sweltering heat, and constant hunger. Paddling from Minneapolis to Hudson Bay, following the 2,000-mile route made famous by Eric Sevareid in his 1935 classic Canoeing with the Cree, Natalie Warren and Ann Raiho faced unexpected trials, some harrowing, some simply odd. But for the two friends–the first women to make this expedition–there was one timeless challenge: the occasional pitfalls that test character and friendship. Warren’s spellbinding account retraces the women’s journey from inspiration to Arctic waters, giving readers an insider view from the practicalities of planning a three-month canoe expedition to the successful accomplishment of the adventure of a lifetime.
Along the route we meet the people who live and work on the waterways, including denizens of a resort who supply much-needed sustenance; a solitary resident in the wilderness who helps plug a leak; and the people of the Cree First Nation at Norway House, where the canoeists acquire a furry companion. Describing the tensions that erupt between the women (who at one point communicate with each other only by note) and the natural and human-made phenomena they encounter–from islands of trash to waterfalls and a wolf pack–Warren brings us into her experience, and we join these modern women (and their dog) as they recreate this historic trip, including the pleasures and perils, the sexism, the social and environmental implications, and the enduring wonder of the wilderness.
Review
“Ann and Natalie would be heralded for showing that adventure can still be had in a changing environment, and that women have not only a place in the landscape of adventure, but an important voice that needs to be heard. [Their] journey illuminates the physical landscapes, hardships, and human encounters; it also uncovers the heart of any good journey, the human spirit.”—Ann Bancroft, from the Foreword
“Hudson Bay Bound is a story of friendship forged on the river as two young women paddle 2,000 miles to the Arctic. With the candor and enthusiasm of a first grand adventure, Natalie Warren shares the joys and trials of living by water, propelled northward by muscle power and the belief that anything is possible.”—Caroline Van Hemert, author of The Sun is a Compass: A 4,000–Mile Journey into the Alaskan Wilds
“Natalie Warren’s Hudson Bay Bound is part adventure-memoir, part nontraditional love story. Her adoration for the water and deep respect for the history of the land it weaves through is clear throughout the journey. Complemented by the intimacy of a friendship cultivated in motion, this is a refreshing, fun, and thoughtful read.”—Gale Straub, author of She Explores: Stories of Life-Changing Adventures on the Road and in the Wild
“Natalie and Ann’s story is classic example of how the exuberance of youth and a healthy dose of grit make any dream possible. From the foggy swirl of excitement as they launched their canoe into the flooded Minnesota River to their final paddle strokes down the Hayes River, Hudson Bay Bound provides a vivid account of an awesome adventure that we couldn’t put down.”—Amy and Dave Freeman, authors of A Year in the Wilderness: Bearing Witness in the Boundary Waters
“A friendly, educational quest story for readers of everyone from Rachel Carson to Edward Abbey.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Hudson Bay Bound exudes female strength and resilience, and shares the obstacles women still face in the outdoors industry.”—Rochester Post-Bulletin
“An inspiration for young people everywhere to chart their own course.”—The Christian Science Monitor
“A delightful journey.”—International Falls Daily Journal
“Written in a storytelling style by Natalie, it’s about adventure, danger, fierce storms, winds, portages, running rapids, wild animals, friendship, humour and a window into the people and communities living along the urban and wilderness waterways.”—Northern Wilds
“In Hudson Bay Bound, Warren is spreading the gospel of outdoor adventure for teenage girls who feel like they don’t fit in.”—Outside
“This book is for anyone who wants to reminisce about their own past adventures, wants to understand why their own loved ones have gone or want to go on a nature expedition, and most importantly, to whet the palate of those who desire to set out on their own but are held back by other obligations.”—Tower-Soudan Timberjay
“You will be inspired as you paddle along with them on their adventure into the wild.”—Northeaster
“Sometimes that flow is filled with lightning storms, high winds, bears, and other tests of stamina, as Natalie Warren describes in Hudson Bay Bound.”—Minnesota Women’s Press
“The story takes readers on an engaging, fast-paced journey through both a physical space of interest and the lives of its young adventurers.”—Anchorage Daily News
“From planning the three-month expedition to completing the adventure of a lifetime, the author gives the reader an insider view of the perils and pleasures of wilderness tripping.”—Ely Summer Times
About the Author
Natalie Warren is a Minneapolis-based author, scholar, and public speaker on environmental issues. A lifelong paddler and river lover, she canoed the length of the Mississippi River and won first place in the Yukon River Quest in the women’s voyageur division, paddling 450 miles in fifty-three hours. A contributing writer to outdoor publications, she has worked with Bancroft Arnesen Explore, St. Croix River Association, and River Management Society, and she started a nonprofit to present urban rivers as natural, dynamic classrooms for youth.
Ann Bancroft is one of the world’s preeminent polar explorers and an internationally recognized educator, speaker, and philanthropist. With Liv Arnesen, she is author of No Horizon Is So Far: Two Women and Their Historic Journey across Antarctica (Minnesota, 2019).
Details
- Publisher : Univ Of Minnesota Press (April 12, 2022)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 248 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1517913748
- ISBN-13 : 978-1517913748
- Item Weight : 11.9 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.87 x 8.25 inches
K. Gorten –
What a fun ride this one was! It’s equal parts adventure story, a journey of self discovery, an examination of the pollution and abuse of our beautiful rivers, a declaration of the horrible injustices done to Canada’s Indigenous People, and hey – throw in a cute dog too! Thank you Natalie an Ann for taking me along on your historic journey. You allowed me to escape for awhile. It was wonderful! Anyone reading this book will feel the same way.Kudos!!
Patricia A. Schulz –
Excellent story of a great adventure. Two amazing women, brave and goal driven, along with the story of rivers, land, history, human interaction with nature and animals. Many quotable insights. Canoeing details will inspire any hobbyist. I looked forward to reading each day. What are Natalie and Anne doing today? An inspiring story for young and mature adults.
Douglas Beyerlein –
Natalie Warren in her book, Hudson Bay Bound, vividly demonstrates that adventure is not dead. Two college-age women set out from Minneapolis, Minnesota, in a canoe and paddle 2,000 miles to Hudson Bay, Canada. Natalie and her co-canoeist, Ann Raiho, faced strong headwinds and potential failure right from the start. Yet they persevered and overcame obstacle after obstacle on their paddle to the sea. Along the way they met wonderful people (and a few not-so-wonderful) and it is the description of these encounters that gives the book life.My only disappointment with the book (and it is not the author’s fault) is the lack of maps. The only map showing the route from Minneapolis to York Factory on Hudson Bay is at the beginning of the story. Maps showing individual sections described in the text would have been a great aid in following their journey. At times I had to resort to using Google Earth to get a sense of just where they were at various points in their adventure.An interesting contrast to this book is Colin Fletcher’s River, the story of his rafting trip down the Colorado River. Natalie writes Hudson Bay Bound from the perspective of a 20-some year old woman with most of her life still in front of her; Colin writes as a 67-year old man with many flashbacks to what brought him to his adventure. The two books are an interesting contrast and both are well worth reading.
Avid Reader in Northern Wisconsin –
It’s been a couple of days since I finished reading the book. This has provided me the time space to process some of the messages that Natalie wanted to share. The environmental impact of common farming practices being used was eye opening. For them to view the impact of these as they are literally traveling in the midst of the algae blooms and pollution caused by fertilizers and pesticides is scary (and this trip was 10 years ago and has certainly gotten worse). Natalie’s comments on page 225 summed up the crisis very well.I agree with previous reviewers that additional maps would have been helpful. Or even a website link to additional maps at the very beginning would have been nice.If I could have given more than 5 stars, I would! This book is so much more than the written history of an ambitious and at times, a very dangerous trip. It’s an environmental study.
Amazon Customer –
Inspirational story. Rooting for Ann and Natalie’s success the whole book. Loved the episodes of extreme events interspersed with calm and peaceful days. So glad they shared this experience in this book. Important to look at rivers and lakes in a new light in the fight to save the planet.
Carol A. –
This book was so much more interesting than I thought it would be. I learned so much about rivers, lakes, farming communities and First Nation people. I didn’t know that the Minnesota river was once the most polluted river in the US. Farming is dumping tons of harsh chemicals directly into the river. Our politicians don’t seem to care about water pollution. As water becomes more and more precious and climate change is happening faster and faster our country and world will soon face a water crisis. This book really opened my eyes.
Amazon customer –
Sometimes, I just want to be entertained… Frivolously entertained. I get enough angst on the evening news, social media, and even most TV programs. I read to get away from all of that.This title had all the makings of a great adventure book. Two young women paddling a canoe all the way to Hudson’s Bay, on a variety of rivers and lakes, retracing the travels of previous adventure seekers. most notably Eric Sevareid and Walter Port in “Canoeing with the Cree.” It was extremely well written, for the most part. It also provided some of that adventure. The key word being “some.”But, alas, as with far too many other forms of entertainment today, this book came with a heavy dose of virtue signaling and chastisement about myriad issues plaguing the world. Pollution, the environment, the plight of indigenous people, how all the evils of the world can be blamed on white men, and how taking a three-month long, well-sponsored, well-publicized, canoe trip is somehow symbolic of “strong women.” For example, too many interactions in the book are sprinkled with phrases like, “I wonder if he would say that if he were talking to two males.” As if a misogynist is hiding behind every tree.Beyond that, about two-thirds or more of the book was spent chronicling the portions of the trip that could hardly be classified as “wilderness.” The Minnesota River to lower Lake Winnipeg, is well-populated. This was evident by the number of people’s homes the canoeists stayed in and the amount of meals they ate “in town.” I wanted to hear about the really dicey parts once they crossed over to the true wilderness. There was some of that, but it felt sped-up and rushed with fewer details. This is a pattern I see with a lot of books today. It’s almost as if the author(s) are either coming up on a tight deadline or just kind of get bored with writing and want to get it over with.I’m sure Sevareid and Port would have loved to have eaten a cheeseburger at the local greasy spoon while on their epic canoe trip. If the author wanted to relive the experiences of “Canoeing with the Cree,” perhaps she and her partner should have resisted the temptations of the very indulgences and modern comforts she criticizes throughout the book and stuck to the tent and provisions they brought with them. Overall, this isn’t a bad book, just not as exciting as I would have hoped.
Wanda McConnell –
A great read that covers lots of ground – literally and figuratively!
Natalie Warren is a beautiful writer who brought her adventure to life with vivid descriptions of, and observations about, the environment and the people she and Ann met along the way. It made me think about what we are doing to the environment, gave me an insight into life in Canada’s northern Indigenous communities, and took me on a sometimes wild ride down the Minnesota River, Red River, across Lake Winnipeg and eventually into the Hayes River, with lots of lakes and tributaries in between. There were nail biting moments, and as a Manitoban, a few incidents of unfriendly treatment in our province. And we’re known as Friendly Manitoba! I liked how the book also examined friendship and the tension that sometimes existed between these two remarkable young women. After I finished the book I was glad a) that they remained friends and b) that they survived!!
Glenda W. –
Good book
Enjoyed the book.