By Liza Morris
Fraser Valley Regional Library
In case you haven’t heard, the Olympics are coming. If you want to take a break from the upcoming television spectacle, while still focusing on our wonderful province, check out some of these recent titles on British Columbia travel, history and adventure.
In Following the Curve of Time: The Legendary M. Wylie Blanchet, author Cathy Converse follows the words and nautical routes of M. Wylie “Capi” Blanchet, who spent much of the 1920s and 30s sailing the British Columbia coast with her five children and her dog and writing about her experiences. According to Converse, while Blanchet wrote a good deal about the scenery of the BC coastline and the demands of coastal cruising, most notably in her book The Curve of Time, she wrote very little about herself. Converse’s interviews with insiders and details of her own travels along Blanchet’s route provide insight into the life of this very private and fascinating woman.
In 26 Feet to the Charlottes: Exploring the Land of the Haida, author June Cameron recounts her experiences sailing in a 26-foot wooden sloop across treacherous Hecate Strait to explore the rugged west coast of Haida Gwaii (formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands) in 1983. Both Cameron and her husband knew the trip would be a challenge, but neither was aware of how much danger they would face. While conveying the joys and challenges of traveling by small boat, Cameron also describes the rugged and remote coastline, uninhabited First Nations villages and sheltered coves they encountered along the way.
Newly revised and updated, A Traveller’s Guide to Historic British Columbia provides ideal winter reading material for armchair travelers and those looking ahead to plan their summer adventures. Taking readers off the beaten track in search of British Columbia’s hidden history, author Rosemary Neering offers a new way to discover the province and learn the stories that have shaped the landscape and its people. Broken into eight regions, this guide can be read cover to cover or just dipped into for information on the places that interest you most.
One hundred years after the publication of Captain John T. Walbran’s British Columbia Coast Names in 1909, author Andrew Scott’s Encyclopedia of Raincoast Place Names offers the first update of this seminal work. Scott’s book also presents the historical background of BC place names added in the 20th century and includes three times as many entries as Walbran’s original work. Including useful maps and illustrations, this book will be enjoyed by anyone interested in BC’s coastal history.
As a tip of the hat to the upcoming Olympics, Only in Whistler: Tales of a Mountain Town, by Stephen Vogler, tells the story of Whistler from the days when it had a mere 500 residents to its current status as an internationally renowned resort and tourist destination. What started out in the 1960s as a coming together of dedicated alpine skiers and a “swarming, partying mass of snow-hippies” has created a uniquely Whistler character which is “equally devoted to serious skiing and unserious living.” Often irreverent and always humorous, this book tells the true stories behind the public façade by a man who grew up in Whistler and now raises his own family there.
Finally, if neither curling up with a good book or watching others strive for gold on television is your thing, why not head outside to get some exercise? There is no better way to honour the spirit of the Olympics than to enjoy the scenic and temperate great outdoors in and around Vancouver. Two revised and updated all-season guidebooks to help you on your way are Easy Hiking Around Vancouver by Jean Cousins and The Whistler Book: An All-Season Outdoor Guide by Jack Christie. Both include suggestions for various ability levels, from novice to more experienced hikers, and provide clear descriptions and maps of hiking routes.
