In the 1970s, I loved reading a novel (I don’t believe it was a true story) about two young men who embarked on what was supposed to be a two (?) week canoeing adventure into the Canadian wilderness. Things started off well but, of course, their canoe capsized in rapids. They almost drowned. They lost virtually everything they had packed to survive. What little wasn’t lost was wet including matches. In assessing their situation, I believe one of the characters says, “…grub box couldn’t swim.” However, they survived that day, that night, and even the winter… then finally escaped and/or were rescued. In 2000s, someone asked me if I’d read “Into The Wild” and just by the title I thought he was talking about this book (he wasn’t). Years later, I saw that something similar happened in real life and I want to say, “Sounds like ____” but I still cannot locate any sign of the old book. It was a great story! Possibly had been some sort of award winner.
Stump the Bookseller
New format, same book stumper solving.
Lost in the Barrens, by Farley Mowat.
Im here b/c I remember the book as well and cant find a copy or reference anywhere on the internet
It was a true story
My memory was they made it all the way to Hudson Bay. One of the guys lived w/Crees for the winter until they could resume canoeing again in spring. They ultimately made it to Hudson Bay. The guy who lived w/Crees went back to suburban NJ with plans to relocate to Cree territory permanently. Never made . Sadly..committed suicide
The brainchild of the trip had attended a state University iin one of the Dakotas or Iowa..cant recall precisely. Stumbled on the maps showing the routes the voyagers took as they traveled Canada pre railroad. Despite being a suburban kid , he was determined to relive the journey. The caveat -no transportation outside of canoe and foot travel. He convinced a buddy to join him until they capsized and lost everything. He rebuilt and a seasoned National Geographic photographer joined him. Together they pilled it off and made it Hudson Bay from where he capsized in NW Canada
I remember the pictures in the book. Especially the one where right at the end of the trip they are celebrating by drinking Molson Goldens in the canoe as they move across a lake with a makeshift sail they made from a tarp.
“The grub box couldn’t swim” is from Lost in the Barrens. But the story of following the voyageurs does not match that book. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_in_the_Barrens