.png)
Join us for our inaugural Wilderness Book Club as we discuss The Golden Spruce - A True Story of Myth, Madness and Greed by John Vaillant.
The book club is being run by member Emara and we'll be meeting for a casual discussion at the Duke of York pub in Yorkville (arguably the best gastropub in the city). Drinks and Dinner are available!
There is no cost to attend - membership of Wilderness Book Club is included in your WU membership.
Book description
On a winter night in 1997, a British Columbia timber scout named Grant Hadwin committed an act of shocking violence in the mythic Queen Charlotte Islands. His victim was legendary: a unique 300-year-old Sitka spruce tree, fifty metres tall and covered with luminous golden needles. In a bizarre environmental protest, Hadwin attacked the tree with a chainsaw. Two days later, it fell, horrifying an entire community.
Not only was the golden spruce a scientific marvel and a tourist attraction, it was sacred to the Haida people and beloved by local loggers. Shortly after confessing to the crime, Hadwin disappeared under suspicious circumstances and is missing to this day. As John Vaillant deftly braids together the strands of this thrilling mystery, he brings to life the ancient beauty of the coastal wilderness, the historical collision of Europeans and the Haida, and the harrowing world of logging—the most dangerous land-based job in North America.
Join us for our inaugural Wilderness Book Club as we discuss The Golden Spruce - A True Story of Myth, Madness and Greed by John Vaillant.
The book club is being run by member Emara and we'll be meeting for a casual discussion at the Duke of York pub in Yorkville (arguably the best gastropub in the city). Drinks and Dinner are available!
There is no cost to attend - membership of Wilderness Book Club is included in your WU membership.
Book description
On a winter night in 1997, a British Columbia timber scout named Grant Hadwin committed an act of shocking violence in the mythic Queen Charlotte Islands. His victim was legendary: a unique 300-year-old Sitka spruce tree, fifty metres tall and covered with luminous golden needles. In a bizarre environmental protest, Hadwin attacked the tree with a chainsaw. Two days later, it fell, horrifying an entire community.
Not only was the golden spruce a scientific marvel and a tourist attraction, it was sacred to the Haida people and beloved by local loggers. Shortly after confessing to the crime, Hadwin disappeared under suspicious circumstances and is missing to this day. As John Vaillant deftly braids together the strands of this thrilling mystery, he brings to life the ancient beauty of the coastal wilderness, the historical collision of Europeans and the Haida, and the harrowing world of logging—the most dangerous land-based job in North America.
19:00 - Meet at the Duke of York pub at 39 Prince Arthur Avenue
To join this adventure, you'll first need to become a member of Wilderness Union. We're an Outdoor Adventure Community of 20-40 year olds dedicated to helping you get out of the city, explore more and find your outdoor friend group.
Membership gives you access to over 100 unique adventures a year, regular socials, outdoor education and our private discord all at unmatched pricing.
Sign up for a one month free trial and $25 in trip credit towards your first adventure and start seeing more of the wild.
Members Attending
Members on Waitlist
Adventure Cancellations
Trip Updates
Apply for Membership or log-in to sign up for this adventure
