George Erickson discovers the 'true north' in many ways

books:

	• True North: Exploring the Great Wilderness by Bush Plane George Erickson The Lyons Press, 2003 - 328 pages average customer review:based on 24 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

George Erickson discovers the 'true north' in many ways

. . . in ways you cannot imagine! He does it all from years and years of journeys in small planes. This is not your ordinary 'how I spent my (fill in the blank)'. He has gotten to know the indigenous cultures, the people who landed here and stayed on -- lots of local color! His sense of place is marvelous. He also ties together culture,history,science,religion - and where to get the best food in what tiny outpost. He clearly loves this Canadian North and it's people.. . . and this shines throughout the book. How much can a writer say about a series of trips to off-beat northern place? You will be quite surprised. Also, it's a peaceful kind of book; just kick back in a cozy place and open the cover . . .

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Very Interesting

Loved the book,,hard to put down. Highly recommed for pilots. Like all the detail in the storys of the people that the author had met along the way. Good book for people interested in bush living and for the history of the North.

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History, fun, camping and flying. Its all here.

This is a wonderful collection of stories about how various parts of Canada, and Alaska were settled. More accurately, how the many companies (from mining, to fur trading, to religion) attempted to move into the Northern regions, either failing or surviving on the bold courage of those sturdy individuals who manned the "forward outposts".
What this book is, is a great collection of little histories of the different regions and micro-communities that dot the "outback" of the Great White North. The reader has the feeling of sitting in a cozy bar next to a fireplace and listening to someone tell stories about "the early days". George Erickson has a gift for writing about these histories, and his camping and fishing stories, in an interesting and captivating way. He obviously has a passion for the history of Canada and Alaska.
But pilots be advised; this is not a deep, personal book about flying. While Mr. Erickson uses a Super Cub on floats to access the many lakes and rivers, he never moves to an emotional level of writing about flying. It lacks the flying emotions of, say, a Steven Coonts or Mariana Gosnell.
But that also means the non-aviator can enjoy the book without getting lost in a world only known to flyers. At times, he begins to develop the image and feel of flying, but it is not the center of the book. One example is his explanation of landing in Juneau, Alaska. He begins to write a description of the "huge blue-green wall" of the Mendenhall Glacier while on final approach. But within one sentence, he is on the water, landing, and within a two short paragraphs, we are done flying and back to more "ground stories". It's all part of it, I understand, but us pilots would enjoy much more of Mr. Erickson's gift of story telling in descriptions of the feel and emotion of the flight over wild Canada.
The book contains a number of little thumbnail sketches of each leg (a-la cocktail napkin quality), and some truely stunning color photoes. But the book could use an overview map in the appendix to give the reader a much better appreciation of the enormous distances the author covers. I made my own to follow George, and was amazed with the extent of his odyssey!!
Mr. Erickson gives a fascinating history of the north, and an enjoyable read of fly-in camping his way across Canada and Alaska.
The book is a fun read, and will make you want to load up your floatplane and strike out into the Canadian wilderness...or just go get another cup of hot cocoa and read another chapter.
Thanks Mr. Erickson, for the fun history lesson.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

"Erickson, a rugged individualist if ever there was one, knows his stuff. Erickson misses little, describing the natural wonders of the region, the people who dwell at the remote outposts where gasoline costs nearly as much as good cognac, and the adventures of the first explorers to the great White North, including trappers, Jesuits and prospectors for gold."
--Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

"A blend of stunning landscapes, wildlife, myths, and experience, True North reveals Erickson's love of nature and his passion for truth."
--The Humanist

Leaving behind the comforts of civilized life and armed with only a few essentials, dentist-turned-bush pilot GEORGE ERICKSON captures the exhilarating thrill of roughing it in the wild, flying his Piper Cub Special seaplane into the far reaches of the north. Nearly losing his life--twice--Erickson sets up camp on unexplored lakes and rivers, fishes for trout, struggles with bad weather, dodges forest fires, and and mingles with polar bears, killer whales, musk oxen, and caribou.

In the spirit of Antoine de Saint-Exupery, Charles Lindbergh, and other great aviators, he is an engaging traveling companion. This is much more than a travelogue, however, as Canada's Reader's Showcase aptly describes: "Erickson applies a rare love to the rough, dangerous, and frankly, really, really far-flung lands of the Canadian sub-Arctic. He proves himself to be an expert and avid pilot, storyteller, philosopher, environmentalist, dreamer, and perhaps most impressively, fashioner of some really cool fishing lures."

Replete with personal detail, scientific observation, and historical facts--the most chilling being the story of a group of explorers who starved to death in the very cabin he is visiting--TRUE NORTH is an extraordinary travel narrative that will appeal to flying enthusiasts and armchair travelers alike.

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