Beyond the Trees Book
Book Review
Beyond the Trees Book
Beyond the Trees by Adam Shoalts is an enthralling account of the author’s solo journey across the Canadian Arctic. In the spring of 2017, Shoalts embarked on a five-month expedition, starting from the west side of the Mackenzie River in Yukon and traveling all the way to Baker Lake in Nunavut. This journey took him through some of the most remote and untouched areas of Canada, where it is possible to travel for months without meeting another human being.
For those unfamiliar with this environment, early in the book Shoalts reflects on the challenge:
‘It wasn’t just that I was attempting to do it alone:
it was also that I had over a hundred and seventy pounds
of dead weight to transport in the canoe –
two barrels crammed with food rations and a backpack holding my tent,
camping gear, camera equipment, and miscellaneous other things –
all of which have to be propelled upriver
against a powerful current still swollen with the recent ice melt.’
The author, an experienced explorer, faced many challenges during his journey. He navigated rivers using a combination of poling and a small sail, undertook difficult portages, and dealt with harsh weather conditions. The journey was not only a test of his physical endurance but also a profound exploration of solitude and the connection between humanity and the wild.
His feeling and experiences are recorded throughout the book’s many striking statements:
‘The grizzly remained standing on its hind legs for what seemed an amazingly long time –
until, that is, it spotted me, a lone figure on a long, empty stretch of gravel.’
‘When Morris saw me arrive, somewhat wearied from my hike,
he looked me up and down and asked,
“What kind of drugs are you smoking?”’
‘Here I happened upon an unexpected sight –
a pile of abandoned gear….
From what I could tell,
the stuff looked as though it had been sitting there for years….
The only alternative that seemed possible
was that something had gone badly wrong,
and the party had needed to an emergency evacuation,
abandoning their gear in haste.’
Shoalts also provides vivid descriptions of the breathtaking landscapes and wildlife he encountered. He reflects on the transformative power of nature and the importance of embracing the uncertainties of life. The book is a testament to the spirit of adventure and the resilience needed to undertake such a demanding expedition. The intensity of this extreme adventure is expertly captured by the following:
‘Nowhere makes you feel as small and insignificant
as wandering alone across ancient lava flows
that were already a billion years old
before the first dinosaurs ever walked the earth.’
The centre of the book includes a range of glossy photos of Shoalts’s journey which complement the ‘mind pictures’ you create through reading the text. Although, I would have liked the inclusion of more photos.
If you have an interest in the wild landscapes of northern Canada or like to explore the strength of the human spirit when confronted by extreme challenges, then this book is for you.
Chapters
Contents
Preface
- Plans
- Land of the Midnight Sun
- Through the Mountains
- Up the Mackenzie
- Eastward Bound
- Into the Swamp
- Across an Inland Sea
- The Icy Labyrinth
- Ghosts of the Past
- Crossing the Divide
- Through the Dismal Lakes
- The Serpent’s Coil
- Gifts from Above
- Lakes Beyond the Count
- On the Rocky Shores
- Of Wind and Waves
- In the Land of the Muskox
- Canyon Country
- Down the Thelon
- The Storms of September
- Journey’s End
Afterword
Acknowledgements
We Like
- Vivid pictures painted with words
- The way in which the journey unfolds
- Retelling of the conversations with people encountered along the way
We Don't Like
- There are great images in the centre of the book but I would have liked more
Buy One
You can purchase Beyond the Trees from Amazon Australia
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Investment
AUD $38.99 RRP (paperback version)
Beyond the Trees book cover
The journey ‘before’ pic of the author
And the ‘after’ pic
‘Camping on the windswept coast of the world’s eighth largest lake, Great Bear’
Disclaimer
This review was done with product purchased by Australian Hiker
Last updated
1 January 2025