Northern Wilderness: Bushcraft of the Far North

This is a great book, if you have not seen Ray's series Northern Wilderness. It is a GOOD book if you HAVE seen the series because it pretty much repeats what he related in the series. Either way, I recommend owning it. It is definitely a keeper!In this book, Ray covers the great explorers of Canada including my favorite Samuel Hearn. What these great men accomplished opened up not only Canada, but the US as well. The tactics and principles that these men developed were copied by every other backwoodsman and explorer -- and are still being copied today.As one reviewer has said, this is not a book on the techniques of bushcraft, nor was it intended to be. Ray has already written, what is to be written on those subjects. This book is a book on the history of Canadian bushcraft and reiterates the guiding principle of what Ray has always espoused:By adopting aboriginal techniques, technology and knowledge you can survive and even exist in the bush.

I bought this book thinking that in it would be bushcraft and how to handle life in the northern boreal forest.There is little of either of these in the book. It is more of a history of the early settlement northern Canada, particularly that of The Hudson's Bay Company, with some description of flora and fauna thrown.Within its context, it is a well-written entertaining book. Just don't expect much bushcraft if you buy it.

Not a survival/bushcraft book. This is more of a history book about the Hudson Bay Company and the early exploration of Canada. There is a bit of bushcraft knowledge but it is mentioned in passing.

Good companion to the video series, which I wish was available on blu-Ray in the U.S.

Awesome

... this is not a book containing practical information about bushcraft skills or the natural world of the boreal forest. The back cover blurb is quite deceptive in this regard, so please just be aware. It is primarily a history of the exploration of the place that would come to be called Canada by the various agents of the European fur trading companies, and it is not the most compellingly written history to be had. It is an okay book, but not necessarily one worth spending one's hard earned cash on. If this era is of interest to you, consider checking it out from a library, spending a couple hours with is as a survey of the history of the Hudson's Bay Company and North West Company and the search for the Northwest Passage, and then move on to more interesting and well-written accounts of same. There are some nice color photographs throughout. The main underlying thesis of the book -- that wise intelligent newcomers treated the North American continent's indigenous inhabitants with respect and adapted to the new environment by adopting the skills and methods of those who had lived there for centuries -- is a bit of a no-brainer for me. Maybe such a perspective would be a revelation to some folks, and maybe those folks would find this book more useful on a conceptual level than I did. All the same I respect Ray Mears and find him eminently likeable. But this book -- meh.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and it gave me ample information of how to survive in arctic situations. Read it and find out for your self.

im a huge ray mears fan and like the majority of his work however this book is pretty boring for the most part. it mainly centers around the hudson bay company and the beaver trade although important in its own right seems to fill a lot of space which could otherwise be more interesting. the information on the native locals and traditions is excellent and really informative and engaging but takes some work before you get to it. overall not bad but i found the walkabout book far better

This book is unique in that it weaves the stories of the early Canadian explorers with the history and development of the Northern Wilderness. Ray Mears specialist subject of bushcraft is cleverly introduced via the experiences of the successful explorers. The book is well written but the publication style with very large print may not be to everybodys liking. Many references are made to the remote places in Northern Canada some of them too small to be found on the normal home Atlas and I would suggest that for the 2nd Edition the publisher includes some maps showing the routes of the explorers. Then I would give it five Stars.

If you like his style of delivery and admire his depth of knowledge and experience, then this is a great purchase. A perfect accompaniment to the TV series. So if you saw it on TV or even if you own the Boxset, get the book too!!

An excellent book by the legendary Ray Mears, it is a wonderful look into an area of the world that is rarely seen. Highly recommended!

An excellent book well written, Ray's love for this landscape and its people comes across strongly. It's as good as the TV program it accompanies; it just tells the story in a straight-forward and intelligent way. There's plenty to read too. The only flaw is that it doesn't have a good map of Canada which is inexcusable really in a book of this type, otherwise it would be 5-star.

Fantastic book - the history of exploring Canada, easy to read and full of history and a very enjoyable read

Thinking of emigrating to Canada, read Ray Mears before you go. Ray Mears manages to precis how the Northern Wilderness was discovered. He pays homage to the peoples who have learnt to live in the Wilderness and were willing to share their skills with him. A reminder that it is one of the last natural places to be.Northern Wilderness: Bushcraft of the Far North Northern Wilderness: Bushcraft of the Far North

This proved a delightful read with some beautiful illustrations, and I have passed it on with a glowing recommendation to a friend living on the US-Canadian border. The series on TV was excellent and this is a good companion.

Want to learn all the things you don't know about Canada? This is the book for you. His writing style is simple, amusing and instructive, I learned so many things. Excellent.

My son loved this book so much when he borrowed it from the library, that he asked for me to buy him his own copy. As always, Ray Mears has practical content, well presented, compelling to read.

I could not put the book down!Finished it in three days.Excellent for anybody interested in early Canadian history connected with the early trappers and explorers!

exellent

all good

As described