A Kayaker's Guide to Lake Champlain: Exploring the New York, Vermont & Quebec Shores [Paperback]

Catherine Frank & Margaret Holden (Author)

Book Description

Series: Kayaker's Guide To... | Publication Date: July 9, 2009

50 different watery paths of adventure divided into eight sections covering the Champlain Islands, the Inland Sea, Missisquoi Bay, Broad Lake North, Malletts Bay, Broad Lake East, Broad Lake West, and South Bay, provide an intimate, cove by cove, island by island exploration of America s other great lake, celebrating the 400th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain s epochal journey of discovery in 1609. The routes are described, paddle stoke by paddle stroke, augmented with maps and photographs and enlivened with essays on early Native Americans, the pivotal naval battles of Plattsburgh and Valcour Island, lighthouses and shipwrecks, the French & Indian wars, the Revolution and the War of 1812, smugglers, the fascinating geology of this fossil-rich one-time arm of the sea, and up-to-date environmental issues like algae bloom, urban and farm runoff, milfoil, zebra mussels, fish hatcheries and endangered species. The result is a well-rounded overview of a remarkable natural resource. Appendices include information on Lake Champlain environmental organizations, museums & historical places, wildlife areas, state parks, and launch sites. Includes 54 maps, 93 photographs, and 9 original drawings.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Certainly not just a guide for paddlers. This is one of the best all-around, multifaceted orientations to the lake I have ever read, and it will be of benefit to any lake student, boater, shoreline explorer, bird watcher, diver, hiker, or anyone with an interest in gaining a better understanding of this wonderful place we call Lake Champlain. ... I can t help but feel that Champlain himself would have reviewed this wonderful, informative and well-written new book and smiled at the effort, commitment and results. --Arthur B. Cohn, Executive Director, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum

This book is the perfect companion for any kayaker, beginner or experienced, exploring the scenic beauty, natural history, and biodiversity of Lake Champlain. It is a gift to all who enjoy Lake Champlain s irreplaceable treasures. --Chris Boget, Executive Director, Lake Champlain Land Trust

What a delightful blend of natural history, lore, conservation and expert trip information about kayaking on Lake Champlain! Written with a paddler s eye view, the book captures the beauty, the mystery, and modern-day conservation challenges of this lovely 6th great lake. After just a few pages, you ll want to head for the lake with your kayak. --Katie Dolan, kayaker and Director of The Nature Conservancy in Eastern New York

About the Author

Cathy Frank is a former, long-time instructor at the Community College of Vermont and currently is an independent computer consultant and Web site designer. She has been a member and chairperson of numerous nonprofit boards on the local and regional level. A long-time summer resident of the Champlain Islands, she is an avid biker, hiker, swimmer, and cross-country skier. She kayaks daily in the summer and has hiked the length of Vermont s Long Trail. Margy Holden has worked for nonprofit and for-profit corporations, and as an organizational development and career consultant. She has chaired and participates in a number of nonprofit boards. She writes occasional articles and coauthored the Women s Job Search Handbook. Happiest when she is outdoors, Margy runs, hikes, bikes, paddles, and swims in the Champlain Islands in the summer and the Bahamas in the winter. Margy s and Cathy s travels on Lake Champlain have been featured as presentation before numerous organizations, on television, and in the local press. Both women are committed to promoting a heightened awareness of Lake Champlain, its strengths, and its issues.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Black Dome Press Corp. (July 9, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1883789656
• ISBN-13: 978-1883789657
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #403,717 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #33 in Books > Science & Math > Nature & Ecology > Lakes & Ponds
  • #96 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Outdoor Recreation > Kayaking

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful Journey, August 10, 2009

By 

Eleanor Garrell Berger - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Kayaker's Guide to Lake Champlain: Exploring the New York, Vermont & Quebec Shores (Paperback)

A Kayaker's Guide to Lake Champlain is beautifully and clearly organized, filled with nuggets of information that even those of us who do not paddle, but love lakes, history, and wildlife, can embrace. Featuring the treasures and history of Lake Champlain as viewed from the water, the book's personal stories and descriptions bring every one of its useful sections to life and make this guide a delightful experience for the reader. I also love the layout, photos, subtitles, and charming sketches. It is obvious that a huge amount of work went into this wonderful book. A major accomplishment in every way.

Eleanor Garrell Berger, Author, Stepping Out: A Tenderfoot's Guide to the Principles, Practices, and Pleasures of Countryside Walking, Tenderfoot Press, LLC, [...]

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than a guide, August 4, 2009

By 

Patricia K. Boyd (Jamaica Plain, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Kayaker's Guide to Lake Champlain: Exploring the New York, Vermont & Quebec Shores (Paperback)

Don't be fooled by the title of this book; it is much more than a "kayaker's guide." It is so much, much, much more. Yes, it gives incredibly helpful information to the kayaker, be she/he beginner or expert; but it also gives to the armchair traveler a wonderfully rich and descriptive account of the history, ecology, geology, flora and fauna, historical sites, amazing diversity, and challenges of this beautiful Lake. Fabulous graphics: the maps and charts are detailed and helpful; the photographs bring the story to life. (I just found myself wishing for more color photos.) This book is honest, engaging, and funny. These two women really came to know and love this lake; after reading this book you will, too. And, the book will make you want to see more, learn more, paddle more. It did that for me.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More Than A Guide, November 8, 2009

By 

KTD - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Kayaker's Guide to Lake Champlain: Exploring the New York, Vermont & Quebec Shores (Paperback)

I live in the Midwest and love to take my kayak on the many lakes in our area. I also have a friend who is planning to write about her achievement of kayaking the 1000 lakes in our county, so I was very curious to see Holden and Frank tell of their journey around the shoreline and islands of Lake Champlain, no small feat. This is a very thorough guide. They begin with a review of equipment and safety precautions. Immediately one knows that such a project can have its moments of danger. They do have some threatening paddles. The two detail all the practical necessities of each leg and then fill in with some compelling narrative. Not being from that area of the country, I was quite surprised by my engagement in the whole project. There is a lot to learn here. Lake Champlain's health is dependent on those who live and work on its shores, and it's a mixed bag. Followers of the early history of Vermont and New York with its various battles with the French and British will enjoy the many sidebars. The book features great maps and black and white photography that conveys a sense of scale, small kayaks against the world.