Two women, a dog and an epic canoe trip that traverses a 2,000 km historic route. This was great on audio narrated by the author and perfect for fans of Cheryl Strayed or Bill Bryson! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!!

This one was an interesting one, but ultimately not a memorable one. It is an interesting adventure they found themselves on, but not unremarkable. Neither character was super likeable, and it get a bit environmentally preach-y at times, but I imagine that is part of the point of the book. It felt like every ill-fated decision was of their own making and that made for a very frustrating book. This isn't one I would really recommend and I can't imagine I'll remember it even shortly after I've finished.

Thank you NetGalley for this book. I had never heard of this before so it was educational to learn more about the journey of these two women. Their relentless spirit really shone through this book and Natalie's straightforward nature made it all the more real. The ecological devastation, weather issues, and isolation that they both faced really were difficult parts to read. But their connection with water and its properties was very well written and was the soul of the book. Great inspiring read!

Recreating the historic 2000 mile trip of Eric Sevareid in his classic 1935 novel, these 2 women encounter much more than they had thought possible in this test of friendship, strength, self-reliance and reaching deep into themselves for one more paddle stroke in their canoe. Mesmerizing reading!

I really enjoyed reading this adventure. The author does a wonderful job of bringing the reader along, from getting ready for the trip and the challenges they faced until they arrive at their destination. The book was very well written and easy to read. Enjoy the armchair adventure with a keg of Bud Lime

After graduating from Minnesota’s St. Olaf College, Natalie Warren and Ann Raiho decided to paddle the 2000 miles from Minneapolis to Hudson Bay, Canada, becoming the first women to complete the trip. They were recreating Eric Sevareid and Walter Port’s 1930 route to Hudson Bay.

The duo left Fort Snelling State Park on June 2, 2011 , on a heavily flooded Minnesota River, determined to reach Hudson Bay 3 months later. Along the way they encountered the ecological devastation wrought by agricultural practices which resulted in the dirty, polluted water of Minnesota River (aka “the river of chocolate milk”). Their route passed through Indigenous reservations of Dakota people at New Ulm where they took the opportunity to stop and learn about the regional history.

They traveled north, passing Canadian border through the Red River, facing bad weather and rough water. At the Lake Winnipeg, the eleventh largest lake in the world, they were forced to face the unrelenting isolation and unpredictable weather. It’s also the test of their physical endurance and friendship.During their visit with Cree people at Norway House and Oxford House they learned about the injustices to the indigenous people and their history and struggle. At Norway House they accidentally took a new companion, Myhan, the wolf dog.

I liked the author’s straightforwardness and sassy attitude. They struggled through many obstacles: strong winds, isolation, snakes ,floodwaters, bear etc., and finally achieved their feat in 85 days. It offers a captivating combination of personal narrative, history, environmentalism, camaraderie and feminist idiosyncrasies. Overall, a fascinating read. Highly recommended.

* 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧, 𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙈𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙩𝙖 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚-𝘼𝙧𝙘 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬.

I enjoyed this book (for the most part). It was a fast-paced read and kept me entertained. Be aware it gets a little "environmentally preachy" at times. But I am guessing that was a major part for writing it in the first place!

Natalie was an engaging narrator. However, I also found her (and Ann) not the most likable of people. It annoyed me that every time someone questioned them, offered advice, or tried to help, they would get an attitude and wonder "if we were men, would they be doing/asking the same?" 99% of the time I thought to myself "Yeah, Natalie, they probably would have!" I also didn't like a few times when people would give them gifts and they acted like they were a hassle. They both just came across...ungrateful at times, I guess.

That said, I enjoyed reading about the places and people that they met along their journey. Especially the Canadian leg and their visits to the First Nations. So, a bit of a mixed bag with this one. But overall it was an interesting read and gets a thumbs up from yours truly.

Thank you to Netgalley & University of Minnesota Press for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
As someone who loves canoeing and going on canoe trips, I was very intrigued by the premise of this book. The longest trip I've done is 14 days and sticks to well travelled routes. So I was so impressed by the description of this trip. The writing was exciting, and very readable. I loved reading about the changing landscapes, and about the connections between the water and the human and non-human communities that call them home. The book took some digressions that gave extra info about the river, but didn't get too out of the story. If you are interested in a memoir about a long canoe trip, then I would definitely suggest checking this out.
This is only a 4-star read for me because I would have appreciated some more reflection on the author and her trip partner's white privilege on this trip. The challenges that they discuss facing as women in the outdoors space were valid, but I would have liked to see that extended to how the challenges would have been even more present if they weren't white.

I look forward to finishing this book in physical book form once I can obtain it from my library.
This area of the country is some of my favorite, and I am looking forward to reading about their adventures enroute to Hudson Bay.
Will update star rating on completion of book. Too difficult to read on my computer screen.

An inspiring read a canoe trip by two women from Minnesota to Hudson Bay 2,000 miles. An adventure from the planning to the trip full of excitement moments to take a deep breath interesting people.A book hard to put down once you join these brave women’s trip.#netgalley #uofminnesotapress

It gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “senior send-off.” Following their 2011 graduation from Minnesota’s St. Olaf College, Natalie Warren and Ann Raiho paddled the 2,000 miles from Minneapolis to Hudson Bay in Manitoba, Canada, becoming the first women to complete the trip. They were inspired by the 1935 book “Canoeing with the Cree,” in which author and journalist Eric Sevareid detailed his 1930 trip along the same route. In “Hudson Bay Bound: Two Women, One Dog, Two Thousand Miles to the Arctic,” adventure nonfiction meets a coming-of-age story as Warren recounts the duo’s expedition.

Warren and Raiho are longtime friends from paddling camp who had enough experience – and faith in each other – to attempt the demanding, three-month-long trip.

For the most part, Warren allows her post-graduation troubles to melt away early in the trip, since, as she notes, “Anything that wasn’t a basic need or a life-threatening issue wasn’t worth a worried thought.” Still, her thoughts inevitably wander to her future. Concerned that the trip will create a gap in her résumé that would put her at a disadvantage in the job market, and that her post-trip plans were unsettled, she both anticipates and fears crossing the finish line.

The trip, however, proves to be an education of the experiential kind. Much of their route passes through Indigenous reservations; the pair takes the opportunity to stop and hear about pieces of regional history. They also witness firsthand the gradual northward shift of climate zones due to climate change, and the growing ecological problems in waterways adjacent to farmland.

No element of the trip – not even entering polar bear country – is as demanding as the water itself. Each day, the pair negotiates the eddies, rapids, and currents of the route. Warren describes the appeal of the water as a magnetic force that keeps them pushing forward. Each new body of water they encounter has its own distinct character, and if they don’t quickly adapt their paddling style, the results could be disastrous. The ability to respond to changing conditions becomes an apt metaphor for facing the uncertainties of the future.

As they travel north, facing bad weather, rough waters, and frightening encounters with wildlife, they’re forced to use every tool in their arsenal – namely quick problem-solving skills and a staggering amount of physical endurance. The strength of their resolve (and also their friendship) is repeatedly tested, but by the end, they stand ready to take on the world.

It’s no surprise that Warren and Raiho reach their destination, given their skill, their bond, and their determination. Nor is it unexpected that the trip had a profound effect on both women. At the end of the narrative, an engaging dialogue between the women allows Raiho a chance to share her perspective and establishes the trip as a watershed moment in their lives. The story of their impressive accomplishment, retold by Warren with affection, is an inspiration for young people everywhere to chart their own course.

If you want to know what it's like to canoe to Canada, just ask Natalie Warren. She and her friend Ann Raiho paddled from Minneapolis to Hudson Bay — the first two women to ever make that 2,000-mile trip.

Now, Warren is celebrating the trip with the publication of her book "Hudson Bay Bound." It's about a lot more than just paddling.

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.

*I received an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The following opinions are purely my own. Hudson Bay Bound was published on 2/2/2021.*

Summary: The true story of two best friends that decided, right after their college graduation, to canoe from Minneapolis to Hudson Bay-- a 2000 mile grueling wilderness journey only successfully completed/documented three times before them (and all by men).

Okay, I knew before reading that Hudson Bay Bound had all the right ingredients for me as a reader: nature writing, environmentalism and ecotourism discussions, travel memoir, female friendships, women in sports, and a rescued-stray-dog-turned-adventure-pup just for good measure. But just because you have the right ingredients, does not necessarily a cake bake. SOO I'm excited to say that Hudson Bay Bound is actually an excellent cake of a book. I don't know what recipe Natalie Warren was following, per se, but oh boy it's a good one. All the elements work so harmoniously together; ecotourism and a big canoe trip, female friendships and being isolated with one person for months, two young women disproving sexist assumptions about their age/sport/capabilities/ambition/preparedness, lush nature writing with thoughtful and well-researched land acknowledgements of the Indigenous peoples who lovingly cared for the rivers (and were ripped from their rivers and land without consent), long before any colonizer canoed them for sport.

Two young women-- best friends brought together in youth by their mutual love for canoeing and the outdoors-- learn to lean on each other, trust each other, address conflict with each other, grow with each other, and love each other more deeply. I thoroughly enjoyed this quiet, reflective, love letter to rivers and canoeing and female friendships and doing hard things. I loved the discussion weaved throughout about environmental politics, including which parties have historically had a voice at these discussions and which have not.

One of my favorite parts of this book is the afterward, where both Ann and Natalie weigh in on their present day reflections and circumstances, a decade after they completed their historic trip.

Overall, if you're attracted to the "ingredients" I listed that this book contains, I'd be willing to bet you'll enjoy this read. I can't wait to get a hard copy of this to add to my shelf.

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.

Girls that go to Menogyn are taught something, you can do anything you put their mind to doing. I say this from personal experience. Ann and Natalie learned that too during their time in the BWCA camp in Northern Minnesota. During their last year of college, they got an itch to do something crazy. That’s when they stumbled up Canoeing with the Cree book by Eric Sevareid and Walter Ports. They decided to recreate the 1930 trip from Minneapolis to Hudson Bay.
The book, Hudson Bay Bound is a travel log of the girl’s unthinkable adventure. They helped prove that women can do anything men can do. The 2000-mile journey lasted 85 days. When they realized funding would be an issue, they crowdsourced and got the equipment and funds through sponsorships. On their journey, they found river angles willing to let them sleep in their homes and lawns. They struggled through strong winds, currents, big water, snake pits, floodwaters, moose encounters, and polar bears.
I felt the book was missing the emotional connection I was looking for. I want to get to know the girls a little better and find out what made them tick. What was the real drive for them to make this journey? I also felt they were projecting their own insecurities about being two women on this adventure. Each time someone questioned their intentions, they asked “Would they have said the same things to me if we were men?” In ninety percent of the cases, yes, they would have said the same to two men. What they were doing was crazy.
I did enjoy getting to hear about their impossible journey. I never knew you could head that far north on a canoe. The author, Warren wrote the book as a way to inspire other women adventure seekers and give people an updated look at the river and the conditions. They accomplished those goals. For those that are considering an epic canoe trip, pick up this book.
This review based on ARC obtained via NetGalley from the University of Minnesota Press in return for a candid review.

Eric Sevareid was a respected journalist, an anachronism in today’s world, of my parents generation (and I’m 67). Fresh out of high school he and school buddy undertook a canoe voyage from Minnesota to Hudson Bay. They were young, bullet-proof and clueless, yet survived to make it all the way. He tells the tale delightfully in Canoeing with the Cree. (Sevareid, incidentally, wrote a compelling memoir of his World War 2 experiences, Not So Wild a Dream, including an overland journey through Japanese held Burma after his plane went down.)
Sevareid’s youthful original trek has been repeated several times, indeed it seems to have become a thing amongst canoeists. This book is a travelogue of the first trip undertaken by two women, which speaks to how idiosyncratic the achievements must now be to be a first. But it no less impressive a feat for that. I found the book wanting, though, as it failed as a memoir. Memoirs should bare the soul, or reveal something of the reader’s or, failing that, awe with the language. The author surely makes the attempt, but failed to reach me at a visceral level. Curiously, the most honest and revealing part of the book was its afterward, where the two (now quite accomplished) women engage in a dialogue, 10 years later, on the impact of the journey on their lives.

This review based on ARC obtained via NetGalley from University of Minnesota Press in return for candid review.

An interesting journey as Natalie and Ann decide to canoe from Minneapolis up to Hudson Bay. Quite the feat. A good book to read, although I felt it bogged a bit with background. Wanted to get to the the actual journey first, although can see why the buildup was there. Would highly recommend if you enjoy adventure and travel books. Not sure I would be up to the length and such, but sure would be a fun trip and give a lifetime of memories.

Hudson Bay Bound tells the story of two women in a canoe on a journey of 2,000-mile from Minneapolis to Hudson Bay.
The daily events they endure and the people they meet along the way is told so I felt like I was there with them.
Natalie Warren and Ann Raiho are an inspiration to all who see an adventure and then take all the steps needed to fulfill that vision.
They see things none of us will personally ever see but we now know of these things.
Get this book and go with them on the trip. You will be glad you did.
Thank you NetGalley and University of Minnesota Press for the ARC of Hudson Bay Bound. This is my personal review.

*This book was received as an Advanced Reviewer's Copy from NetGalley.

There's nothing like a good adventure story. Whether it's hiking, canoeing (I read Beyond the Trees by Adam Shoalts earlier this year, another canoeing adventure), or some other kind of trek through the wilderness. I'm in! And this one, also canoeing, was special, in that it was two women who were the first to make the journey for their gender.

I should start off by saying that I'm terrified of canoeing. Owing to some bad experiences in my youth, I can fairly say this probably isn't an adventure I would take. Which made it that much more pleasurable to live vicariously through the two women in this book. Deciding to recreate a journey that had only been done by a few (and none of those women) they traveled over 2k miles by canoe to the Hudson Bay. And along the way, they even picked up a dog!

The dog was actually less a part of the book than I thought it would be since they got it in the latter part of their journey. Still though, it's a cute dog and I greatly enjoyed hearing about her meanderings on the river with them. The narrator and her friend Anne were also engaging people to follow on the journey. From the different personalities they had (and the subsequent arguments that could cause) to their boldness to do this type of journey, they were definitely inspiring.

This book was just the right length; it kept you captivated without being long-winded. It introduced people and locations that were worth knowing about. And it shared why the adventure was important and touched on environmentalism and the effects of humans on the waterways. I have no outright complaints about any of the book. In fact, I think it serves well as an inspiration to those looking to do something different with their life before they are weighed down with the various responsibilities out there. I really wish I had taken some kind of journey before taking on that which keeps me from going and living those adventures now. And until I can, books like this will let me live vicariously!

Review by M. Reynard 2020