The Happy Camper: A Review of Frank Wolf’s New Book
When I was asked to write a back cover review for Frank Wolf’s latest book Two Springs, One Summer, I jumped at the chance. Frank’s wilderness journeys are legendary, and I thoroughly enjoyed his first book Lines On A Map.
His first book was good—it gave a good overview of some of his amazing adventures. His second book, however, was beyond good. The three trips he completes in one year are fascinating, but how he scribes the details is fluid, captivating, compelling and of a deep thinking style. He hooked me in at the first sentence and had me wanting more after reading the last.
The three back-to-back trips include: A 230-kilometre ski traverse of Baffin Island, a 1750-kilometre canoe trip across Nunavut and an attempt to retrace the 550-kilometre overland ski route of John Rae to the Northwest Passage. My favourite trip was the summer canoe trip, but to be fair, I am an avid canoe tripper.
Mixed in with the three adventures is riveting subject matter. For example, Frank’s process of choosing a partner to tag along on his trips is notable, including the weed-smoking millennial Ryan who joins him on the canoe trip across Nunavut. It was more than interesting how Frank dealt with Ryan’s pre-meal and then his post-oatmeal joint, as well as Ryan’s forgotten sunglasses, a rain hat made out of a large plastic Ziploc bag and losing their third paddle.
“Frank Wolf’s storytelling in Two Spring, One Summer flows like a portage-free river canoe trip. His words are eloquent, descriptive, and to the point. More importantly, the book itself contains the philosophy of a life well lived.”
Kevin Callan’s Backcover review
Frank writes in detail about his passion for being on such elongated wilderness journeys. The guy just can’t sit still. Here’s a bit from his river canoe trip:
“I envision a fast-flowing river pushing us along the whole way. But there could be ice, could be long portages, could be lots of bad wind. And even if there isn’t, I’ll be driven on by eternal wandering lust for the movement that makes my mind and body twitch when time on trip feels idle.”
Frank remains a funny guy, in a bizarre and quirky way. I adore that about him. At one point in the book, he claims eating a black-fly by accident is a “real meal,” tasting like a dwarf blueberry as they pop in your mouth. And yet eating a mosquito tastes like nothing at all, at best just providing the wispy texture of a very small blade of grass.
I truly enjoyed reading and analyzing Frank’s Two Springs, One Summer when his publisher sent it to me for a back-cover review. But I must say, I enjoyed it even more when I picked up a fresh print copy at the local bookstore to add to my bookshelf. Two Springs, One Summer is an amazing read.
“What seems rational in a room full of maps becomes the opposite when you’re immersed in the reality of wilderness.” Frank, how true a statement!
