The working life of the distinguished surveyor Guy Blanchet reflects the
story of northern Canada in the first half of the twentieth century.
Beginning his career in the boreal forests of Alberta and Saskatchewan,
using pack horses and dog teams, Blanchet went north to map large areas
of the Barrens by canoe, and soon became caught up in pioneer northern
aviation. His story encompasses the Great Depression and the Second
World War, which in turn led to his work finding the routes for oil
pipelines. His life was rich in contacts with First Nations people, and
his friendships included most of the well-known northern travellers of
the time. While Blanchet did not seek adventure, adventure often found
him and he had many narrow escapes. While Blanchet published a number of
articles about his experiences, this is the first time his fascinating
life story has been told in book form.