An outdoorsmen must read

[pophouseman]

I just finished reading "North to Cree Lake" by A.L Karras

http://www.amazon.ca/North-Cree-Lake.../dp/1894856198

I was wondering if anyone else on here has ever read it.

It is a fantastic book about two 20 year olds in the 1930's who leave southern SK and head north to cree lake to become trappers. It is a 100% true story and the lives these boy's lead is unreal. I reccomend it to anyone who loves they outdoors.

They trap mink,wolves,otters,foxes and even snare a moose

They hunt Moose, Deer and caribou

They fish 30 lb pike and even a 100lb lake trout

The thing that I guess surprised me the most is from Big River to Cree lake SK took 25 days.....!

[huntinstuff]

I will get that book

Thanks for letting us know about it

[walleyechaser]

Sounds like a must read. will be purchasing it.

thanks for posting

[saskbooknut]

Now you have to read his other books

Face the North Wind - About Fred Derbyshire and Ed Theriau - two N. Sask trappers adventures, also published by Fifth House

and Northern Rover, The Life Story of Olaf Hanson, N. Sask trapper, fur buyer and mining exploration

They sure made men tougher in those days.

[Bushmaster]

My brother and I hiked into the falls on the Haultain river a few years back. He was telling me about a book written of the area....I wonder if this is it?

[pophouseman]

Originally Posted by saskbooknut

Now you have to read his other books

Face the North Wind - About Fred Derbyshire and Ed Theriau - two N. Sask trappers adventures, also published by Fifth House

and Northern Rover, The Life Story of Olaf Hanson, N. Sask trapper, fur buyer and mining exploration

They sure made men tougher in those days.

I will for surely read anything else written by him

It is amazing how men back them lived. Building a wood hut and several outposts to man their traplines.....it is incredible

[mooseslayer]

I have all of these books and have read and re-read them each countless times. We have a cabin up in the area that this all takes places and the thought off them fellows paddling along a creek or lake that we cruise down in an aluminum boat is pretty cool. We have been to all the old cabin sites over the years and there is not much to be found. We have been on alot of the lakes and river systems that these guys used to travel in the fur trading days. We have got to know some of the trappers that have taken over the trapping blocks directly from these old timers. Pretty surreal country.

The area is still my favorite place in the world to be.

A must read for all outdoorsman is right.

[mooseslayer]

I have all of these books and have read and re-read them each countless times. We have a cabin up in the area that this all takes places and the thought off them fellows paddling along a creek or lake that we cruise down in an aluminum boat is pretty cool. We have been to all the old cabin sites over the years and there is not much to be found. We have been on alot of the lakes and river systems that these guys used to travel in the fur trading days. We have got to know some of the trappers that have taken over the trapping blocks directly from these old timers. Pretty surreal country.

The area is still my favorite place in the world to be.

A must read for all outdoorsman is right.

[fish gunner]

must find and read ! may I suggest the pallacer expodition. some what earlier.

[Bushmaster]

Moose, where's your cabin? I have a friend who has one on Holiday Lake......

[pophouseman]

off the website


Originally published in 1970, North to Cree Lake is the true story of two brothers who embark on the adventure of a lifetime. The onset of the Great Depression meant there were few opportunities for young men on the prairies, so the pair decided to pursue their dream of trapping in the North.



This is a vividly recounted tale of life in the northern Saskatchewan
wilderness, "the old North, land of mystery and deep silences" only accessible by canoe in summer, by dog team in winter, or by aircraft. The young men embrace the challenges of travelling in the North, and not only survive, but thrive. North to Cree Lake is full of fascinating details about everyday life in the North - what they ate, how they travelled, how to prepare moose nose - and offers insights into the men who chose to live in such an isolated and perilous region. Karras wrote North to Cree Lake many years after he left northern Saskatchewan, but the clarity of his memories is remarkable, as is his deep love of the North.


A farmer's assistant for $2 a day, a grain buyer, and ultimately a school administrator, Arthur Karras no longer hunted when he returned to civilization but continued to fish. The writing of North to Cree Lake occupied his thoughts for many years. Karras lived in Indian Head, Saskatchewan, with his wife and two sons, and wrote one other non-fiction book.

[Pharmer]

I traveled into Saskatchewan for the last 45 years. Early in those visits north I was honored to run into A. Karras who had just published "North to Cree Lake" which included a visit to Mirond Lake. Karras was again visiting Mirond while we were camped there. I was fortunate to have him autograph a paperback copy of "North to Cree Lake" which I loaned out too many times until it was well worn. To prevent further damage I bought a second copy from Amazon and gave the autographed copy to my son who was just 6 months old on our first trip to Mirond. In 2015, 45 years after our first visit we made our last trek to the area as my wife's health no longer permits us to travel. During that time the area went from "primitive" to modern - so sad...

[Stinky Buffalo]

Whoa, necrothread!

That being said, thanks for resurrecting it. Definitely going to order this book. This is the kind I love to read.

[Maxwell78]

just ordered it.

Thanks for resurrecting this thread

["No Choke"Lord Walsingham]

I too wish to Thank You for bringing these books to my attention!

I am always looking for a good historical novel. Also love anything outdoors so this should be a great read for me.

[Tfng]

Thanks for reminding me about this book. It's a great read.

I read it online here
http://www.jkcc.com/north.html

[Masterchief]

thx for the post... just ordered the book

[David Henry]

Just ordered a copy and stumbled across a couple of other titles that are coming my way as well, I enjoy a good read by the fire this dreary time of year. D.H.

[Black Feather]

I've become recently invigorated with interest in the fur trade era, as well as the early 1900's and first nations peoples on their traplines. I will be ordering this book and others mentioned in the thread. Thank you!!!!

[husky hunter]

The Alberta Library System has that book.

[grizz 700]

Trap Lines North is another great read.

[Huntsman]

ordered a copy
thx for the post

[rokman]

A.L. Karras used to live in my hometown of Yellow Grass, SK. I recall it mentions YG on page 13 or something... very early in the book. My grandpa was good friends with him when they were young. We have one of Arthur's paddles hanging in our living room wall, and the book is on a display shelf underneath it.
It's a great outdoors book and when I saw this post, I figured I'd better say the things I said.

[xrem597x1977]

ordered a copy! thank you!

[Big Grey Wolf]

I read it about 10 years ago, bought it at the airport in Saskatoon, excellent book on early day trapping.

[chad66]

Originally Posted by pophouseman

I just finished reading "North to Cree Lake" by A.L Karras

http://www.amazon.ca/North-Cree-Lake.../dp/1894856198

I was wondering if anyone else on here has ever read it.

It is a fantastic book about two 20 year olds in the 1930's who leave southern SK and head north to cree lake to become trappers. It is a 100% true story and the lives these boy's lead is unreal. I reccomend it to anyone who loves they outdoors.

They trap mink,wolves,otters,foxes and even snare a moose

They hunt Moose, Deer and caribou

They fish 30 lb pike and even a 100lb lake trout

The thing that I guess surprised me the most is from Big River to Cree lake SK took 25 days.....!

I have this book in my collection, an excellent read.
Chad

[ACM]

also try Big Bear by Rudy wiebe different but a great story of a remarkable man

[sinawalli]

Are there any books on trapping/ living in the foothills of Alberta?

[Y2K]

just ordered it just took 45 min to get signed onto amazon lol

[creighton]

I attempted to order this book 2 months ago from Amazon. Now they are telling me they cant find it, and they are asking me if i would like to cancel my order. Has anybody else had this experience? Or does anybody know how I could get ahold of this book? Thanks!