FFWD Weekly
Copyright © 1997. All Rights Reserved.
Writers unearth hidden treasures
Western Journeys shows and tells of nature's wonders
By Mark SproxtonWestern Canada holds an amazing array of geographic wonders although most have never been seen or heard of by the general population.
Daniel Wood and Beverly Sinclair sought out these sites on their Western Journeys. They relied on handwritten maps, visual directions or guided tours from experts, scientists, naturalists and others obsessed with the wonders of British Columbia, Alberta and Yukon to compile the data for their latest book.
A travel book by easy description, but more an account of the point where mystery, science and nature meet, Woods and Sinclair forego the typical calculated formula for describing their travels and come up with a fascinating written and visual account of some of the most interesting, off-the-beaten-path sites in the country. Each location receives a general explanation of place, but the detailing of personal accounts or stories from people who study or live near the sites takes readers easily along their path. There are no mileage logs or lists of the best places to eat or sleep.
Well written and superbly illustrated, Western Journeys triumphantly succeeds in the authors' desire to share their love and respect for the power and beauty of nature. "We tried to integrate things that normally have been separate; nature, or science, or spirituality," says Wood during the authors' recent visit to Calgary to promote their book. "These are all aspects of the big thing called life."
So to get a true look at all things that make up "life," the authors threw away the travel guides and tourist information booklets before beginning their quest.
"Ninety-five per cent of the places people have not been to or have not heard of," says Wood. "The scientists and naturalists drew us to places that were unheard of, unknown and unusual."
"But, you have to go to places where there aren't enormous crowds to experience nature head-on," Sinclair adds. "You can't be in a big crowd and be inspired the same way you can if you're the only person there. We wanted to go to places where we could have experiences of that sort."
One such place is the Old Woman's Buffalo Jump near Cayley, Alberta. There scientists can detail 2,000 years of use of the site and can determine when tools, such as arrowheads or horses, were first used.
The authors take readers on a circular journey beginning and ending on the northern tip of Vancouver Island. "The circle represents the unity of all things," Sinclair says. "For me, the diversity (in nature) is incredible, mind-boggling and so is the oneness of all things.
"To see things at the end of the spectrums, from the tiniest microbial plant to the huge humpback whale and everything in between you develop an increased appreciation of life and how things fit together."
Six months of interviewing and traveling over 32,000 kilometres provided the raw information and experiences the self-described outdoors-people required for the book.
Venturing to places such as Lowell Lake, Yukon, where glaciers the size of the Saddledome drift by, gave Wood and Sinclair a realistic perspective of humankind.
"You realize how insignificant you are which is often the effect of nature when you get out in nature raw," Wood says. "You realize how small you are. It makes you humble. You are impressed by the awesomeness of everything.
"We tried to get to as many awesome places as possible because this is a book about being in awe of nature both from a scientific perspective and a personal perspective."
Sinclair adds, "We tried to write and present the intersection of nature, science and mystery in a way that would be interesting and lively. It's not an arms-length look at things. We were right in there and talk about our own personal reactions and experiences."
"Sometimes things got a little scary," Wood says. "But that's legitimate. Nature is not discriminating. It just is."
Although there are no immediate plans for a sequel, this book provides the inspiration for many to take western journeys of their own.
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