Navigation
Google Earth - http://earth.google.com
A great supplement to topographical maps for trip planning.
On line topographical maps ftp://ftp2.cits.rncan.gc.ca/pub/canmatrix/
Safety
Canoeing can be one of the most relaxing, peaceful activities imaginable but what you don't know can hurt you and it's difficult for beginners to imagine some hazards that veterans have learned about from experience. The best approach is take a few trips with experienced, knowledgeable paddlers.
Lowhead Dams: The Drowning Machine - http://www.sailingbreezes.com/sailing_breezes_current/articles/march06/damm.htm
Canoeists continue to die needlessly in low head dam accidents. Here's an article that could save your life!
Have you seen this person?
Water levels
http://www.wateroffice.ec.gc.ca/text_search/search_e.html
Real time hygrometric data: so you'll know the water levels for your next canoe trip
Books
Great Heart: The History of a Labrador Adventure by James West Davidson, John Rugge -- One of the best adventure stories ever written!
The Woman Who Mapped Labrador by Roberta Buchanan, Anne Hart and Bryan Greene: The life and expedition diary of Mina Hubbard.
The Lure of the Labrador Wild by Dillon Wallace
Letters to the Granddaughter The story of Dillon Wallace of the Labrador Wild by Philip Schubert
The Lost Canoe by Lawrence W. Coady
Spoiler alert: they didn't find it but that gives the rest of us another excuse for a Labrador canoe trip
Path of the Paddle by Bill Mason
Song of the Paddle by Bill Mason
- Both Mason books have been around for a while but the information on the art of canoeing is timeless.
Bill Mason wilderness artist, by film maker Ken Buck a friend and co-worker for many years. Beautiful illustrations and a warm account of the life of Canada's most famous canoeist
Surviving a Wilderness Emergency by Peter Kummerfeldt
As Kummefeldt says in his book "most people believe it will be someone else," who needs these life saving tips
River Safety Anthology by Charlie Walbridge and Jody Tinsley: Accounts of Rescue and Tradgedy on North American Rivers
Must reading: You might give up paddling after reading this but then again the lessons learned could save your life
Canoeing Safety & Rescue by Doug McKown
Canoeing a Continent On the trail of Alexander Mackenzie Well-known Ottawa area paddler Max Finkelstein's highly personal account of his cross Canada canoe trip
Paddling the Boreal Forest Rediscovering A.P. Low by Max Finkelstein & James Stone
Any of Kevin Callan's books like Up the Creek and Further Up the creek
- A writer and avid canoeist who doesn't take himself too seriously
Hap Wilson's guidebooks are essential for anyone planning to paddle rivers lke the Missinaibi and follow any of the Temagami canoe routes
Guide des parcours canotables du Quebec: Detailed canoe routes of Quebec
Canoe Routes of Ontario: An out-of-print book published by the Ontario government, detailing more than 100 historic canoe routes
Bark Canoes by John Jennings a beautifully illustrated history of canoes
I Never Knowed it Was Hard Memoirs of a Labrador Trapper by Louie Montague
Louie is a friend, a Labrador Trapper and retired provincial government forestry and wildlife employee. He is one of the most interesting and knowledgeable people I have met. The book was edited by his close friend Elizabeth Dawson
Woman of Labrador by Elizabeth Goudie An account of a Labrador trapper's wife in the early 1900s.
Most of us who canoe in Labrador know a member of this legendary family.
Labrador Adventures by Raymond Zinc
A 1950s RCMP officer's account of his 26-years serving in Labrador
Videos
Path of the Paddle, Solo and Doubles Whitewater by Bill Mason
Waterwalker by Bill Mason
Song of the Paddle by Bill Mason
All of the above and more are available from VKH canoeists. Why not host a movie night at your house?
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