Tough to pick a top 5 all time....there are so many "sub-catagories" to attract the wilderness fan. If I I was forced to, however, I would say a good top 5 would include: (in no specific order)
1) Tales of an Empty Cabin (Grey Owl/ArchieBelaney)
"Tales of An Empty Cabin" is the most beloved collection of stories written by Grey Owl. Originally published in 1936, this classic collection harkens to a simpler time, a time when we were closer to the natural world around us. This book is a celebration of the pure delight of storytelling and of the bounty of the land. 2) Goodbye to a River (John Graves)
Goodbye to a River is a book by John Graves, published in 1960.[1] It is a "semi-historical" account of a canoe trip made by the author during the fall of 1957 down a stretch of the Brazos River in North Central Texas, between Possum Kingdom Dam and Lake Whitney. The book presents both the author's account of the trip itself and numerous stories about the history and settlement of the area around the river and of North Central Texas. The title refers to Graves' childhood association with the river and the country surrounding it, and his fear of the "drowning" effect that a proposed series of flood-control dams (most notably, Lake Granbury) would have on the river.3) Great Heart (James West Davidson and John Rugge)
In 1903 Leonidas Hubbard was commissioned by an outdoors magazine to explore Labrador by canoe. Joined by his best friend, Dillon Wallace, and a Scots-Cree guide, George Elson, Hubbard hoped to make a name for himself as an adventurer. But plagued by poor judgment and bad luck, his party turned back and Hubbard died of starvation just thirty miles from camp. Two years later, Hubbard's widow, Mina, and Wallace returned to Labrador, leading rival expeditions to complete the original trek and fix blame for the earlier failure. Their race made headlines from New York to Nova Scotia-and it makes fascinating reading today in this widely acclaimed reconstruction of the epic saga. The authors draw on contemporary accounts and their own journeys in Labrador to evoke the intense drama to men and women pushed beyond the limits of endurance in one of the great true adventures of our century.4) Against Straight Lines (Robert Perkins)
A non-fiction account of a solo canoe odyssey through the Torngat Mountains of Northern Labrador.5) The Singing Wilderness ( Sig Olson)
The Singing Wilderness is to do with the calling of loons, with northern lights, and the great silences of land lying northwest of Lake Superior. It is concerned with the simple joys, the timelessness and perspective found in a way of life which is close to the past. I have heard the singing in many places, but I seem to hear it best in the wilderness lake country of the Quetico-Superior, where travel is still by pack and canoe over the ancient trails of the Indians and voyageurs." Thus the author sets the theme and tone of this enthralling book of discovery about one of the few great primitive areas in our country which have withstood the pressures of civilization. (BWCA and Quetico)I could go on....as many of you know, I am a "book nut"... Any list should include "Sleeping Island" by PG Downes, or "Desert Solitaire" by Edward Abbey ... for more reviews/wilderness reading, try this old post:
http://www.myccr.com/phpbbforum/viewtop ... t=+reviews