[.ca] Paddle to the Arctic: The Incredible Story of a Kayak ... (ISBN 0771082657)

From Amazon.com:
Don Starkell has a thing about paddling. In 1980, he won a place in the Guinness Book of World Records by paddling a canoe 12,000 miles from Winnipeg, Canada, to the mouth of the Amazon in Belém, Brazil. Ten years later, he decided instead to head north across the top of the world; this time he took a kayak. Paddle to the Arctic is the account of his journey, presented in diary form and illustrated with 24 pages of photographs and 12 maps. Starkell's window of opportunity was small; he had only the months between June and September to cover the 3,000 miles from Churchill to Tuktoyaktuk before the winter freeze set in. In all, he made three attempts before finally reaching his goal. The challenges were extreme: terrible storms, ice, capsizes, even polar bears. At times, he was forced to drag his kayak over impassable ice flows; at others, he nearly died from starvation. In the end, however, he achieved what seemed impossible: conquering the Northwest Passage in an Inuit kayak, a feat never before accomplished. Paddle to the Arctic is a hair-raising chronicle of one man's epic quest and eventual triumph.

Exciting True Life Adventure Story:
Although I would never dare attempt such a treacherous journey fraught with so many dangers, by reading this book, I got an insight in the minds of Don and his companions as they attempted to paddle up to the Northwest passage by kayak. The book is a must read for people who love true outdoor adventure as played out under extremely adverse conditions. It shows what the human spirit can accomplish when guided by a vision, sheer determination and a "never say die" attitude. Once you start reading this book it is almost impossible to put down. I would highly recommend it.

Incompetence and egomania in the Arctic:
When I first read this book, some of the adventures seemed so implausibly stupid that I suspected that the story was a hoax. Rest assured, the events described - however improbable - really did take place. The book is a must read for anyone contemplating solo adventures in the Artic, if for no other reason then to dissuade them. However, Starkell is hardly a suitable role model; those who are familiar with his adventure have described him as "a danger to himself and everybody around him". Nor can much be said for his character; he almost killed his partner by forcing her on when she was seriously ill, yet in his account of the episode, he talks about nothing but how frustrating it was to be behind schedule. For a truly heroic account of this and other adventures, I highly recommend the account of the late Victoria Jason, who accompanied him on his first two trips. Her book, Kabloona in the Yellow Kayak: One Woman's Journey through the North West Passage, is an inspiring account of courage and generosity made all the more remarkable by the fact that all the while she was battling what turned out to be a terminal illness. Despite all obstacles, she nonetheless succeeded where Starkell failed -- and kept all her fingers and toes to boot.

A "Journal of Stupidity", but...:
On first getting into this book, it occurred to me that "Journal of Stupidity" might be a more apt title for this personal account of poor planning, false ambition and misplaced energies. I regret to report that continued reading only reinforces this judgement. On reflection though, it must be said that the book conveys an honest and gripping first person portrayal of the man with all his faults and the expedition that never should have happened (hence my 4-star rating). This book is a MUST READ for any would be, modern day Franklins. Finally, I must express my empathy for the author's sometime paddling partner, Victoria Jason, whose shortened voyage will probably not warrant a book of her own, but whose measured sense of adventure and rational mind earns 5 stars from me. (REVIEWER'S CORRECTION: Victoria Jason did indeed write her book - see above review)

This guy has incredible determination:
He was so determined to get to his goal that he was willing to risk death. And it is not hard to die in the artic. It was truly enjoyable to read about someone's harrowing experiences in the unforgivable artic from my warm couch. Although he had a few breaks, like finding cabins just when he needed too, (I don't think that early adventurers had that option or GPS, and they died for it)he still faced the natural elements without wining and worked hard when others would have quit. This was a great adventure story.

Respect for what he achieved, but at what cost?:
Well, I hope that when I'm nearing 60, I have the strength and energy of Don Starkell. That said, I sure hope I also have more common sense and less arrogance. I found this journey tediously frustrating, full of ego and "conquer the earth" mentality. Survival mentality? Yes of course. I realize he had to try three times, and that he had to push hard to get through because of ice, but I didn't see a whole lot of knowledge of the land, nor respect for his paddling mates when they accompanied him. And, preparation seemed questionable, as in these two examples: refusing to take a gun into bear-infested territory; refusing a radio because it could lead to an easy bailout if the going got tough. I found myself wondering what took Victoria Jason so long to decide to do her own journey. I found her book a lot more enjoyable, because she seemed a lot less caught up in telling the reader how tough she is, and she told me more about the land through which she passes. Book is reasonably edited, and the pictures are a welcome addition.