Thrill of the Paddle: The Art of Whitewater Canoeing

Patricia Morley is professor emerita of English and Canadian Studies at
Concordia University and an avid outdoor recreationist. She is the
author of several books, including The Mountain Is Moving: Japanese
Women’s Lives, Kurlek and Margaret Laurence: T

The subtitle says it all. This is a book for the post-graduate paddler
who is prepared not merely to run rapids but to shoot sizable falls.
Fourteen pages of color photographs show a single paddler shooting high
falls such as Hog’s Back Falls on the Rideau River near Ottawa. The
idea of shooting this and other falls, such as Fowlerville Falls on the
Moose River in New York, will boggle the minds of even experienced
paddlers. The spectacular color photography is supplemented by more than
400 black-and-white action shots capturing maneuvers and their intricate
subtleties. The strokes required for survival in such waters are
described and illustrated in detail. The chapters proceed from the
basics to expert moves. The substantial text includes detailed advice on
equipment such as the personal flotation device (PFD), rescue systems,
footwear, winter wear, first-aid kits, and duct tape (essential for
repairing wet suits).

Paul Mason is the son and former paddling partner of Bill Mason, one of
Canada’s most respected canoeists, artists, and conservationists. Mark
Scriver has been teaching whitewater canoeing and guiding river trips
since 1980. For brave souls prepared to follow where these experts have
gone, Thrill of the Paddle is the book. It should also interest more
amateur paddlers with its great photographs.