In 1903 Leonidas Hubbard set out to cross the Ungava-Labrador Peninsula, and to forge a name for himself as an adventure writer. He took a friend, a guide, a canoe, a ton of equipment, and scads of naive hope. Months later, the friend and guide staggered out of the snow, and Hubbard starved to death in his tent, too weak to attempt the 30-mile trek to safety. And that’s just Part I. James West Davidson and John Rugge narrate with simple dignity, making vividly tangible the wretchedness of mosquitoes, the panic of no food, and the rocky tangle of the Labrador wilderness.
This book recounts the intertwined fates of three expeditions to Labrador at the turn of the century. In 1903 Leonidas Hubbard, Dillon Wallace, and George Easton mounted an overland trek that was eventually defeated by weather, terrain, and poor preparation. Hubbard perished. Seeking to vindicate her husband, Minna Hubbard set out to replicate the failed journey with the help of Easton, even as Wallace planned a similar attempt. The authors reconstruct the stories of the first expedition and its vying successors from the participants’ journals and diaries, and use some fictional devices. An unusual tale based on historical fact, this should enjoy a wide audience. Jerry Maioli, Western Lib. Network, Olympia, Wash.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
In 1903 Leonidas Hubbard was commissioned by an outdoors magazine to explore Labrador by canoe. Joined by his best friend, Dillon Wallace, and a Scots-Cree guide, George Elson, Hubbard hoped to make a name for himself as an adventurer. But plagued by poor judgment and bad luck, his party turned back and Hubbard died of starvation just thirty miles from camp. Two years later, Hubbard’s widow, Mina, and Wallace returned to Labrador, leading rival expeditions to complete the original trek and fix blame for the earlier failure. Their race made headlines from New York to Nova Scotia-and it makes fascinating reading today in this widely acclaimed reconstruction of the epic saga. The authors draw on contemporary accounts and their own journeys in Labrador to evoke the intense drama to men and women pushed beyond the limits of endurance in one of the great true adventures of our century.
In 1903 Leonidas Hubbard set out to cross the Ungava-Labrador Peninsula, and to forge a name for himself as an adventure writer. He took a friend, a guide, a canoe, a ton of equipment, and scads of naive hope. Months later, the friend and guide staggered out of the snow, and Hubbard starved to death in his tent, too weak to attempt the 30-mile trek to safety. And that’s just Part I. James West Davidson and John Rugge narrate with simple dignity, making vividly tangible the wretchedness of mosquitoes, the panic of no food, and the rocky tangle of the Labrador wilderness.
Great Heart: The History of a Labrador Adventure (Kodansha Globe)
This Water Goes North
“For a fine story about the dreams, resilience, and joys of youthand youth rememberedThis Water Goes North is a trip well worth taking.” Canoeing.com
“Delightful . . . beautifully written. More than just a travelogue, it is about living life to the fullest, jumping in despite the fear, and taking each moment as it comes. Every library should own a copy.” Wendy Wendt: 2008 president, Minnesota Library Association
From the tranquil farmland waters of Minnesota to the treacherous wilderness rapids of Manitoba, four young men in two old canoes experience an adventure that every kid talks about, but few take. With leaky tents, little experience, and no TV cameras or big-time sponsors, the lads set out in 1979 to paddle 1,400 miles north to Hudson Bay. Why? Why not! Driven by a youthful sense of adventure, they took the chance of a lifetime just to see what lay around the next turn. Sit in their canoe as they glide through smooth waters and survive rushing rivers. Experience with them the desolation of true wilderness and go on humorous escapades with local characters. With graceful storytelling, Dennis Weidemann weaves this richly diverse tale of near disasters, splendid sunsets, bootleggers, Mounties, polar bears, and the indomitable spirit of youth. Share the dream that still lives, and that will surely inspire others.
This Water Goes North
