Welcome!
Here’s my shortlist of favourite books that I’ve read on some of our long distance sea kayaking adventures. This list is limited to books that were highly entertaining and fitting for the occasion, including and extending beyond the topic of sea kayaking.
I think anyone paddling the Pacific Northwest (Washington, British Columbia, Alaska and beyond) or Southeast Alaska will find something enticing in this list to add to their book bag. Having read all of these books while on long distance sea kayaking adventures, I can say that some set the tone; some reflected the tone; and some were downright essential for shedding light on specific details or the big picture. In my opinion, they were all well worth their weight for travelling that required many carries, up and then down the beach, from campsite to campsite.
This page is work in progress.
My Shortlist of Favourite Books for Sea Kayaking
Inspirational Creative Non-Fiction Books
- Tuesdays with Morrie: an old man, a young man and life’s great lesson by Mitch Albom
Wet Coast Creative Non-Fiction Books
- The Golden Spruce: a true story of myth, madness and greed by John Valliant
- Travels in Alaska by John Muir
- The Island Within by Richard Nelson
Extremely Practical Creative Non-Fiction Books for Adventurous Sea Kayakers
All of these authors have the knack for story telling. I aspire to be just like them, only different. You’ll want to pay attention to their books because they are highly entertaining and they provide some of the best practical advice that you’ll find for sea kayaking in B.C. or Alaska, or both (and in the case of John Down, beyond).
- Boat Camping Haida Gwaii: a small-vessel guide to the Queen Charlotte Islands by Neil Frazer
- Kayaking the Inside Passage: a paddler’s guide from Olympia, Washington, to Muir Glacier, Alaska by Robert Miller
- Living with weather along the British Columbia Coast: the veil of chaos by O.S. Lange
- Sea kayaking: a manual for long-distance touring: the classic guide by John Dowd
- Rowing to Latitude: journeys along the arctic’s edge by Jill Fredston.
Bonus: How About a Newspaper for Global Perspective?
The Guardian Weekly, is a “blend of international news, politics, culture and comment, combining articles from the Guardian and selected features from the Observer, the Washington Post and Le Monde.”
This globally relevant, London, England-based newspaper is available by subscription. Like the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) radio, The Guardian Weekly is staple in our family.
Feel free to jump in and help.
Please let me know if you would like to recommend any books that suit the occasion.
As feasible, I have provided web links that are direct to the authour or publisher. When I couldn’t find these, I provided links to Good Reads or Amazon. If you know the authour (or you are the authour), if you could send me contact information or a direct link to them that would be much appreciated.
Happy reading…