Built in a northern wilderness location in 2003, this spruce bark canoe was the ultimate challenge. Four of us backpacked five miles from the trail-head to the lake with our stone tools. The design was similar to the elm bark canoe, but larger -- it transported four of us. The process was documented in the magazine "Primitive Technology," No. 26, Fall 2003.
- Finished spruce bark canoe and paddles
- Tweaking crimps with makeshift tool
- Stitching the bow with spruce root
- Driving the spruce sapling ribs into place. Note striped maple gunwales and thwarts.
- Good hull design... Dead-rise at bow, sheer at stern.
- Proud canoe builders!
- The christening
- Jim puts the spruce bark canoe through its paces.