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Beyond the Trees: A Journey Alone Across Canada's Arctic by Adam Shoalts - 4.5* - My Review

Adam Shoalts chronicles his ambitious 4,000-kilometer solo journey by canoe and on foot across the Canadian Arctic during the summer of 2017, beginning at Eagle Plains, Yukon Territory, and ending at Baker Lake, Nunavut. Shoalts embarked on his adventure as part of Canada’s sesquicentennial celebration, traveling during the Arctic summer of perpetual daylight. He crossed from west to east, which entailed paddling upstream against the current, portaging through challenging terrain, and navigating vast stretches of tundra. He endured swarms of mosquitoes and blackflies, and encountered many types of wildlife, such as musk ox, bears, wolves, caribou, beavers, weasels, and a huge variety of birds.

He takes the reader through his entire journey from conception to completion. While he travels, he engages in numerous musings on solitude and the psychological impact of spending months alone in one of Earth's most remote regions. He cites the effects on other individuals and groups of the past. His writing captures both the peace and the loneliness of such isolation. It is amazing that he was able to accomplish this journey alone. Each portage involved multiple trips back and forth. So many things could have gone wrong – one misstep or miscalculation could have been disastrous, and help would have been far, far away.

The writing style is journalistic and includes self-deprecating humor. Shoalts references earlier adventurers and indigenous peoples who have traversed these lands, which adds historical depth but never overshadows his own experiences. At times, the daily routines of river travel become repetitive, but this is a minor quibble. The conclusion of the book is particularly memorable, as he races against time to complete the journey before the fall and winter storms. It will appeal to those interested in adventures in the wilderness or slow-paced accounts of impressive physical achievements.

4.5

I'm so glad you like this. This means I definitely want to read it.
i was impressed with his writing and knowledge when I read Where the Falcon Flies: A 3,400 Kilometre Odyssey From My Doorstep to the Arctic.

I know you will like that one as well.

Thanks, I put that one on my TBR.