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QUOTE OF THE MONTH:

"The storms come and go, the waves crash overhead, the big fish
eat the little fish, and I keep on paddling."
George R. R. Martin


NEWS:

Kicking back after one of the craziest, best seasons yet. So much fun
work and play. The only thing I missed this year was doing a big race, but
you can't do everything all at once, just ask me, I try! Did manage to
finish off some certification goals, including PC Sea Kayak Level 2
Skills Instructor, SKGABC Guide Examiner and RCABC Day and Expedition
Canoe Guide Instructor Trainer. This year it was nice to see some of my
photos in use again on the S & K Expeditions website, featuring a northern
BC canoe trip down the Rabbit River via Netson Creek. One of the things I am
working on this winter is planning a personal adventure, an expedition
down the west coast of Haida Gwaii and then around Cape St. James and
back up to Rose Harbour if weather and tides permit! It's one of the most
difficult sea kayaking adventures around, a long stretch of Class 4
coastline I have always dreamed of exploring. It's happening in 2019, so exciting!



2019 Spring/ Summer WORK SCHEDULE to September:

Teaching TRU SKGABC AOG/PC Level 2 Skills course
March 14 - 22, Circumnavigation of Quadra Island

Examining SKGABC Level 2 Guide Exam
March 30 - 31, Surge Narrows and area

Teaching SKILS SKGABC Level 1 Day Guide course
April 18 - 22, Ucluelet

Teaching SKILS SKGABC AOG/ PC Level 2 Skills course
April 27 - May 5, Clayoquot Sound

Teaching COLT Whitewater Kayak 1 course
May 6 - 9, Campbell and Gold rivers

Teaching SKILS SKGABC AOG/PC Level 2 Skills course
May 11 - 19, Clayoquot Sound

Leading Kingfisher Wilderness Adventure's Staff Training
May 22 - 24, Surge Narrows and area

Teaching COLT Whitewater Kayak 2 course
May 31 - June 2, Gold River

Teaching COLT Surf Kayak course
June 5 - 8, Long Beach and Tofino area

Teaching COLT Whitewater Canoe course
June 10 - 12, Campbell and Gold rivers

Teaching COLT Whitewater 3/ Nimpkish River Expedition
June 13 - 15, Nimpkish River

Teaching Wild Women Expeditions Sea Kayak Skills Course
June 17 - 21, Broken Group Islands

Guiding Kingfisher Haida Gwaii sea kayak expedition
June 23 - July 1, Tanu to Burnaby Narrows

Guiding Kingfisher Haida Gwaii sea kayak expedition
June July 1 - July 9, Burnaby Narrows to Rose Harbour

Guiding WWE Great Bear Rainforest sea kayak expedition
July 14 - 23, Central Coast, BC

West Coast Haida Gwaii sea kayak expedition
July 30 - August 15, Sandspit to Rose Harbour

Guiding two WWE Haida Gwaii sea kayak expeditions
August 18 - Sept.7, Rose Harbour to Tanu

Johnstone Strait sea kayak day trips
Sept. 9 - 11, Telegraph Cove, BC

Teaching SKILS SKGABC AOG/PC Level 2 Skills course
Sept. 13 - 23, Clayoquot Sound



PRESS and REVIEWS: Northern British Columbia Canoe Trips: Volume One and Volume Two

Conor Mihell, Canoe and Kayak -- Archer's latest guidebook, Northern British Columbia Canoe
Trips: Volume Two
, resonates with passion and experience. This chunky 370-page book covers seven river
trips in exhaustive detail. See Reading the River for the complete interview and review.

The Port Hole, The Canadian Power and Sail Squadron's official publication -- A can't-put-down series
of books. Click here to read the entire review.

April Link, RCABC Newsletter, Summer 2009 -- This is an enthusiastic guidebook that manages to speak
to the trained paddler and still include options and necessary information for novices...both easy to
navigate and explicit in details. Click here to read the entire review.

Larry Pynn, The Vancouver Sun -- This is the most detailed paddling guidebook I've ever
seen....The book contains information on the natural and human history of the areas paddled
and meticulous rapid-by-rapid accounts of what to expect on the rivers, complete with grid
reference coordinates that can be plotted on topographic maps or GPS units.

Heather Kerr, Outpost -- ...have resulted in field guides that literally bring to life what was
previously uncharted territory.

Barbara Braidwood, canada.com -- Laurel Archer's book, Northern B.C. Canoe Trips: Volume One, is like
having a 20-year veteran canoeing buddy along but without the quirks and foibles. With this book you
don't have to sit downwind of off-key humming all day or put up with sardine and onion sandwiches just
to have the company of someone with knowledge of the river. Click here to read the entire review .

Lori Henry, Suite 101.com -- Laurel Archer takes a stab at the limitless canoeing trips in the province
in this first volume. I love the detailed information, maps and "Trip Notes" that are scattered throughout
the book. Northern BC can be a remote place for first timers and this is a great guide to follow when
planning canoeing trips in the area. I don't think there's another book like it.

Alan Thomson, Victoria Canoe and Kayak Club Newsletter, February 2009 -- ...I liked the layout, beginning
with the general environment of Northern BC....The language is direct and flows well - no hyperbole or
dramatics. Click here to read the entire review.


PRESS and REVIEWS: Northern Saskatchewan Canoe Trips: A Guide to 15 Wilderness Rivers

The Globe and Mail -- "...and obviously knows her turf. This guide is filled
with route descriptions and practical details such as required topographic maps,
best time to go, special equipment needed, nature of rapids, hazards and best
campsites. Best of all, Archer references her descriptions to map coordinates."

The Winnipeg Free Press -- "Archer also has a keen sense of what real-life
paddlers -- as opposed to macho endurance heroes -- want out of a wilderness trip:
she rates all her rivers for solitude, historical significance and wildlife-
viewing and fishing opportunities, as opposed to merely length and difficulty."

The Star Phoenix -- "The result is a highly detailed guide-book, written in a
personal, conversational style. Like a friend sharing a well-kept secret,
along with plenty of good advice...."

Nastawgan -- "Archer's writing style is engaging and personal; she has produced
a fine book that's not only packed with wonderful things, but a pleasure to read too. It
sets a good example of what other guidebooks to wilderness canoe tripping should look
like. A lovely book to have, to use, and also to dream with."

Che-mun -- "This Boston Mills effort follows the format and produces a clean,
well-written and well-illustrated river guide on 15 rivers....Laurel Archer is a very
accomplished paddler who has been many places in her 39 years and written for many
leading outdoor mags. We look forward to another of her fine well-written and researched
books."

Kanawa -- "The book speaks of an author who really knows canoeing. The important
information paddlers look for is all there, in a text that is compelling written and
attractively presented."

Rapid Mag's Canoeroots -- "This book is 240 pages of secrets. You'd be a fool
not to read it and crazy not to go."

Rural Roots -- "This book is primarily designed for the active canoeist but
the dreamer or couch potato will find it a good read, too. The author's writing style
and her personal experience with the rivers allow your imagination to take you down
some of the wildest rivers in Saskatchewan without getting wet.... This book in format,
content and style has a lot going for it, even if you never brave the Wathaman or
Geikie."

Virtual Saskatchewan


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