Hiya, Eric! Great meeting you guys last month at the BWJ.

I was also glued to my maps while reading these stories. It was interesting to follow along and try to figure out their routes.

This is definitely a great book to read for anyone venturing out into wilderness areas - lots of important lessons here. Just the one lesson alone of staying put when lost would have made such a big difference in both cases, but it's so hard to do. I'm sure the instinct of most people who make these kinds of trips is to try to get yourself out. It simply goes against the grain of otherwise self-sufficient folks to sit around and wait for help.

Having now experienced the Man Chain myself, I agree with you that the author does make it seem more rugged than I found it to be. Then again, as seen through the eyes of inexperienced scouts and their leaders, perhaps it was an accurate perspective.

Nothing like a little bushwhacking to change one's perspective of canoe country, I suppose.  ;D