CANOE TRIP: North To Athabasca, by David Curran. In June 2002, Dave Curran and his friend, Walter, set out to descend by canoe a rarely traveled and extremely remote wilderness river in northern Saskatchewan - the Mac Farlane River - and eventually arrive at pristine Lake Athabasca. From encounters with bears and black flies to some of the most challenging conditions imaginable, David Curran manages to survive his first foray into true wilderness and writes about his adventure with humor, awe and an adventurer's appreciation for all things wild. In addition, the book explores the natural and human history of the region and describes the choosing, planning and carrying out of a wilderness canoe trip. Paperback. 132 pages. $17.95. N4509