Bill’s stories originate from the Canoe Country — today’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Voyageur National Park, and Quetico Provincial Park. But they are not the dry facts of the past. (Some would argue that there are few facts to be found in these stories!) Instead, they are full of the elements that still draw us to this wilderness area today — wolf howls, sparkling water, storms, solitude, stillness, adventurous undertakings, relics of bygone days, campfires and camaraderie.

Take this book on your next canoe trip, and imagine Bill has joined you, spinning tales of lumberjacks and trappers, surveying the border, flying bush planes when flying at all was a novelty, camping before nylon and plastic and freeze-dried food, hunting and fishing when you succeeded or went hungry.

Find stories about the places you visit: Curtain Falls, Prairie Portage, Granite River, Knife Lake, Basswood, Saganaga — and so many more. And know that the spirit of those who have loved this place lives on as today’s paddlers discover what a wonderful country this is.

Awards
Midwest Book Awards Finalist ~ History

The Midwest Book Awards recognize creativity in content and execution, overall book quality, and a book’s unique contribution to its subject area.

Editorial Review

"The irascible Bill Magie offers today's Canoe Country travelers an invaluable and entertaining glimpse into the wilderness of bygone days. Reading Bill's stories makes you wish you could have shared a campfire with him 70 years ago. Thanks to Dave Olesen, you almost can."

--Sam Cook, author of Up North, Camp Sites and Moving Waters.

Author: Dave Olesen
Illustrator: Bill Nelson