This Water Goes North

Overview

Four boys and two canoes set out toward the northern frontier

From the pleasant lakes of Minnesota to the frigid inland ocean of Lake Winnipeg, this engaging story of dodging rapids, bears, moose, bootleggers, floods, and Mounties is a classic tale of reckless youth. In 1979 four young Iowans with little money, antiquated gear, and no experience set out to paddle 1,400 miles from the farm country of Minnesota to the polar bears of Hudson Bay. Driven by a simple desire to see what lay beyond the prairie, the foursome launched beat-up canoes from a tiny park, and two and a half months later stepped onto permafrost at the remote York Factory outpost of fur trading lore.

Reviews

"For a fine story about the dreams, resilience, and joys of youth—and youth remembered—This 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

Author Biography

Dennis Weidemann is a canoeist, an educator, and the director of communications for a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving quiet places. He lives in Madison, Wisconsin.