Hudson Bay Bound: Two Women, One Dog, Two Thousand Miles to the Arctic

This was by far my favorite book this year. It is extremely well written. Having grown up, and still living in Minnesota, I know much of the area personally. It is quite beautiful and extremely challenging in a canoe. I have purchased four copies of this book. One for my self and three for friends and family. I will probably buy and send more as gifts, Sincerely John Gallagher

Great book!! I admire the bravery of these young women. A very realistic and fun read.

This is the most intriguing story of two very brave young women. I envy them the gumption and courage to go forth and follow their dream. I know I never could have done it.

Natalie Warren in her book, Hudson Bay Bound, vividly demonstrates that adventure is not dead. Two college-age women set out from Minneapolis, Minnesota, in a canoe and paddle 2,000 miles to Hudson Bay, Canada. Natalie and her co-canoeist, Ann Raiho, faced strong headwinds and potential failure right from the start. Yet they persevered and overcame obstacle after obstacle on their paddle to the sea. Along the way they met wonderful people (and a few not-so-wonderful) and it is the description of these encounters that gives the book life. My only disappointment with the book (and it is not the author’s fault) is the lack of maps. The only map showing the route from Minneapolis to York Factory on Hudson Bay is at the beginning of the story. Maps showing individual sections described in the text would have been a great aid in following their journey. At times I had to resort to using Google Earth to get a sense of just where they were at various points in their adventure. An interesting contrast to this book is Colin Fletcher’s River, the story of his rafting trip down the Colorado River. Natalie writes Hudson Bay Bound from the perspective of a 20-some year old woman with most of her life still in front of her; Colin writes as a 67-year old man with many flashbacks to what brought him to his adventure. The two books are an interesting contrast and both are well worth reading.

Thanks to Netgalley and the University of Minnesota Press for a free digital copy for my review. I really enjoy female adventure memoirs. And this one did not disappoint. It was full of adrenaline filled recollections, relational reflections, as well as ponderings on the societal effects on them as paddlers and the waterways they explore. The book was a good length and moved quickly. It gave enough space to each event without too much commentary. The afterward was such a sweet wrap-up as we heard from both Natalie and Ann as they reflected now on their journey and the effect it has had on their lives.

What a fun ride this one was! Its equal parts adventure story, a journey of self discovery, an examination of the pollution and abuse of our beautiful rivers, a declaration of the horrible injustices done to Canadas Indigenous People, and hey - throw in a cute dog too! Thank you Natalie an Ann for taking me along on your historic journey. You allowed me to escape for awhile. It was wonderful! Anyone reading this book will feel the same way. Kudos!!

I wish I could take an adventure like this. Two young seasoned paddlers get the bug to “Canoe with the Cree” as Eric Sevareid and Walter Port did in 1930. They paddle over 2000 miles from Minneapolis, MN to York Factory on Hudson Bay. Natalie Warren and Ann Raiho are the first two women to complete a 3-month expedition recreating this historic route. The plan is to start the expedition after college graduation. The trip is not about the clothing, gear, the paddles, the food plans, or the weight of the boat, although, I did learn that the canoe was made of Kevlar and they had an instrument called a “travel” guitar (until it swam). Instead, the narrative focuses on their friendship. Teamwork, and their highly competitive spirit fuels Natalie and Ann for 85 days of paddling, and that is what makes this story a standout. Chapter by chapter, you meet many communities extending hospitality. The facts and personalities come and go quickly. Contemporary and historical issues stand out without bogging the reader down with complex analysis. As the wind and current get physically demanding, conflicting decisions start to erode the teamwork. It is fun to see how they react to “lectures” from naysayers. Or, when crossing the Canadian border with a shotgun. It was unusual to read about crying, which has been associated with weakness. Yes, women do cry out of victory, hurt feelings, and joy. So, get over it. The hardcover book has 224 pages in 20 chapters, a small well-drawn map of the canoe route, and 22 black and white photos.

I recently completed “Hudson Bay Bound: Two Women, One Dog, Two Thousand Miles to the Arctic” by Natalie Warren and I thought I’d post a review. I say “completed.” I should say “devoured” because I completed it in a couple of days, which is a scalding pace for me. The book is simply that good. If you’ve ever read “Canoeing With The Cree,” Eric Sevareid’s timeless account of canoeing the 2,200-mile route from Minneapolis to Hudson Bay, on the Arctic Ocean, with his best friend Walter Port, you must read “Hudson Bay Bound.” Seriously. Go buy it now. The surface level premise of the two books is the same: two young people, fresh out of school, full of heart, and yet to fully enter the so-called adult world, set off for adventure and complete an historic paddle. First published in 1935, “Cree” is the first-ever documented paddling of the route. “Hudson Bay Bound” takes place in 2010 and is the first-ever completion of the route by two women. Both books are profiles in immense courage, worthy adventure fare, musings on the state of the natural environment and, in my opinion, mandatory reading. Where the drama in “Cree” is mostly centered on the physical journey, “Hudson Bay Bound” offers something a little different. While there are indeed polar bears and crashing rapids and snakes (oh my!), the women’s survival, if not the end of the journey, is never truly in doubt. What “Hudson Bay Bound” adds to the genre is an introspection on a relationship between two people. Traditional tandem canoes are sometimes called “divorce boats,” for good reason. Paddling one even a short distance takes a measure of cooperation and trust. Paddling one 2,200 miles into remote wilderness for 85 days would put a noticeable strain on even the best of relationships. In “Hudson Bay Bound,” Warren has the courage to give that challenge its own arc. During the adventure, Warren and her canoeing partner/best friend Dr. Ann Raiho were deliberate about assessing the shortfalls of their relationship and their own character flaws and actively worked to address them. Because their survival, literally, depended on it. They passed not only the physical test of the Hudson Bay route, but their friendship passed the emotional test. The story leaves us to consider: which was the greater challenge? Rest assured, Sevareid and Port had their relationship struggles, too. If it was discussed at all in “Cree,” it was only in passing and I certainly don’t remember it. The truth is most men today don’t possess the courage to truly analyze their friendships, much less talk about them. I can’t imagine men in 1935 were any more courageous on that front than we are now. Whatever challenges they had, they perhaps endured in toxic silence. Sevareid and Port might have plotted the route, but Warren and Raiho showed us what it truly takes. In real life, most people don’t dig in and address their own character flaws so immediately and deliberately. Some do gradually. Some never do. The truth is most of us are never driven by a map and a deadline, much less a physical threat to our survival, to force us to fix our relationships. “Hudson Bay Bound” is brilliant because it dares to ask the question: Wouldn’t we all be better off if we were?

Excellent story of a great adventure. Two amazing women, brave and goal driven, along with the story of rivers, land, history, human interaction with nature and animals. Many quotable insights. Canoeing details will inspire any hobbyist. I looked forward to reading each day. What are Natalie and Anne doing today? An inspiring story for young and mature adults.

It’s a thrill to tag along as Natalie and Ann set out on an epic adventure. Just like them, the reader never knows what’s going to be around the next corner. The duo have overcome numerous obstacles as they make their way from the urban world of the Twin Citites into the deep northern wilderness of Polar Bears and tundra. What’s especially satisfying is that the author shares honestly about the interpersonal and emotional challenges of the journey, which makes the book more relatable and gives an emotional heft to their accomplishment. Also satisfying is the way the two young women refuse to bow to the fears and doubts of some who questioned their abilities and resolve. And finally, the two encounter so many wonderful, kind, helpful people along the way and it’s fun to get glimpses into the lives of farmers, small town folk and Indigenous people. The author also weaves in smart analysis of the threats facing the spectacular waterways, in a way that is informative without taking away from the thrill of it all. Too often in our modern world it’s hard to imagine real-life adventures that can be had, but this book proves they are still there. Highly recommended!