Canoeing with the Cree

Imagine letting your 17 and 19 year old son and friend, with no experience, paddle a canoe 2,250 miles through two countries to Hudson Bay. That’s exactly what Sevareid chronicles.

The writing is simple and direct. Dialogue is interspersed with narration in just the right proportion to illuminate the team dynamics.

Don’t read this as an instructional guide! Here’s the passage that made me cringe the most:

“The stern man, who must assume the greatest responsibility, would rise to his feet as we drifted swiftly toward the leaping white water. He would choose the best route among the rocks, the best line of kicking riffles to follow. He would give his directions and then, paddling with all our might, to get up more speed than the show more current itself, we would drive the Sans Souci [their canoe] . . . straight at the dashing foam. . . . Your speed must be greater than that of the current, or you will have no leverage to twist and throw the canoe from one angle to another.” (157-8, 159)

I’ve run rapids under full load—it pays to drop in slower than the current for more control. It’s a wonder these boys made it the whole way! Even thought their inexperience shows through it doesn’t detract from the narrative. In fact, their trial-by-fire reminded me of some of the mistakes I’ve made on earlier trips. I applaud these boys for their effort.

The climax of the book is a juxtaposition of the most difficult and isolated part of the river with the most depressed mental state of two river-weary travelers. Sevareid narrated their “great test” with an endearing honesty.

This is a great book to read while you’re waiting for your own next trip. show less

Canoeing with the Cree by Eric Sevareid

My February Non-Fiction Challenge book. This is the story of two boys, Eric Sevareid and Walter Port, aged 17 and 19, who decide that it would be a fun adventure to canoe from Minneapolis, Minnesota to York Factory on Hudson Bay. The book is relatively short and I found it to be gripping as I read it in a single sitting.

I have spent a decent amount of time canoeing and consider myself fairly good at it. So with that foundation, what these kids did was insane and borderline suicidal in my opinion and I am in awe of their endurance. I also have serious questions about where these kids parents were because I would lock my child up before they tried something like this.

Fortified with $50 from a show more Minneapolis paper, they conceive of this idea of starting from Minneapolis, proceeding southwest to the Minnesota river, canoeing northwest until they get to the Red River and then following that river all the way to Winnipeg. From there they crossed Lake Winnipeg (a huge body of water) and then following a series of smaller rivers and lakes back northeast to York Factory on Hudson Bay. Basically, this sort of journey is akin to what the original Voyageurs were doing when they were collecting beaver pelts for Europe (think The Revenant but a little further north and east. To do it, they paddle from eight to ten hours straight every day and when they aren't paddling they are portaging their canoe and supplies over some very rough terrain.

They do the whole trip in an d18 foot canoe. The boys do stop for provisions along the way and manage to get some necessary help like when one has infection and is treated by a kindly doctor. They also do "cheat" on Lake Winnipeg, when after encountering a constant, contrary wind they book a short passage on a lake steamer to complete their trip across Lake Winnipeg. Keep in mind that "Lake" Winnipeg is the size of some small seas being the 11th largest lake on the planet and extending 258 miles north to south. Having paddled on a few larger lakes in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area I can say that the idea that you would even think of venturing on to a lake of that size in an 18 foot canoe is crazy. Did I mention that by the time the boys made it this far north they were in a race against time as everyone they met told them that the waterways were going to freeze over before they made it to Hudson Bay?

By the time the boys depart Lake Winnipeg they are moving into largely uninhabited territory. They encounter a few Cree and the occasional Mountie but mostly they are alone. They are trying to navigate simply by compass and maps (I have done this too and it is really hard). Basically, when they leave the last community for the trip to the Bay they are vanishing into the wilderness with winter starting at any time. A different version of this story would have been that the boys disappear down the river to never be seen again. Certainly no search party would have found them. Shockingly, the boys make it to Hudson Bay alive and in one piece. It is an amazing accomplishment.

There are some portions of the book that sound off to modern ears. The depictions of the Cree are clearly tinged by ideas of the "noble savage" and there are frequent references to "half-breeds." However, there is little racial animus expressed. Mostly there is admiration for the people living in such a harsh and isolated area.

Canoeing with the Cree was a fun read and an engaging adventure. show less

Arnold, who became known during his journalism career as Eric, Sevareid was stirred to adventure during a high school reading of Rudyard Kipling's poem The Feet of the Young Men. His best friend, Walter Porter, also longed to see the world. Together they decided that as soon as high school ended and they graduated they would buy a canoe and paddle from Minneapolis to the Hudson Bay.

It didn't bother them that they didn't have a canoe or experience, or that this particular trip had never been done before.

As the forward says:
"Without benefit of motor or radio, and indeed with little in the way of good maps or background information, the young men launched an eighteen-foot canvas canoe at Fort Snelling. .... 2250 miles, sixty portage and show more fourteen weeks ... Delayed by accidents and weather, they raced against time. ....(as they must arrive) before fall freeze up” (Slightly edited to avoid spoilers)

Woot – if you enjoy stories of wilderness and youthful derring-do adventures, this is a great read. I enjoyed the descriptions of the First Nations and the Metis, although the casual prejudices of the time do show. The book carried me onward to the end. A short book, a quick read and highly recommended. show less

A quick and easy read about two teenagers who canoe from Minneapolis, MN to Hudson Bay. Very interesting facts about the culture, nature, and experiences they have while traveling. Great book for anyone who enjoys the outdoors or is familiar with the area.

This book is a quick read, but very interesting. It held some personal meaning to me as I went through Minnesota Outward Bound School, and paddled a canoe in the Boundary Waters area. The story of two high schools students who paddle a broken down 18' canoe from Minneapolis to Hudson Bay (2,250 miles), something that had never been done before, is an inspiring reminder that you can do what you set out to do. I would especially recommend this to young readers who wonder what there is beyond Wii and iPod.

Terrific adventure tale. Remarkable to think two 18 year old boys undertook a 2500 mile canoe voyage right out of high school.

A remarkable journey by canoe during the Great Depression by two teenage boys from Minneapolis to Hudson Bay. This journey is NOT recommended for typical teenagers.