Ontario's Lost Canoe Routes

Janet Money is a writer and policy analyst for the Canadian Cystic
Fibrosis Foundation in Toronto.

Kevin Callan’s previous works include Up the Creek, Brook Trout and
Blackflies, and Gone Canoeing. Here he sets out to find canoe routes of
varying degrees of difficulty that share one wonderful feature: they
aren’t overrun with

paddlers.

Why, then, publicize them? Callan admits some discomfort with this
question but goes on to note that canoe routes in obscure locations (not
to mention many new provincial parks) are not being maintained. Drawing
attention to these routes will, he hopes, encourage institutional bodies
to provide some maintenance for these locations.

Callan’s first offering is Wabakimi Provincial Park in Northern
Ontario, a trip that begins by portaging a canoe into Toronto’s Union
Station and right onto a Via Rail train and ends with a mad dash out in
advance of a coming storm. The goal of this lengthy and sometimes risky
journey is to have a look at a settlement by the late (eccentric)
inventor Wendell Beckwith. In contrast, the York River two-day trip that
closes the book is a fairly risk-free jaunt through river, marsh, and
lake near Bancroft.

Callan mixes detailed narrative with interesting anecdote in this
extremely accessible and engaging volume. As usual, there are hand-drawn
maps indicating routes, portages, campsites, and the like, although
official topographical maps are also recommended.