Omnibus New York to Nome (Entry 835.AC2710)
9 snips
Nov 21, 2025 Two Depression-era clerks break free from their mundane jobs to embark on a daring canoe journey from New York to Nome. They share tales of living in remote Nome, including gold dredging and local outdoor cultures. The planning for their trip involved questionable financing and a rather poor-quality canoe. As they navigate through challenging portages and unforgiving rivers, they encounter quirky characters and harsh conditions. Their adventure culminates in a memorable yet uneventful arrival in Nome, leaving them with stories for the ages.
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Drunken Plan Becomes Grand Adventure
- Two bored Depression-era clerks drunkenly decide to canoe from New York to Nome and hope to sell the story for fame and money.
- They fund the trip with Shell Taylor's sister's $400 settlement and hire an agent before they even leave.
Early Aerial Photos Made The Route Feasible
- The trip depended on emerging aerial photography and library maps to plot an otherwise impossible route across lakes and portages.
- That available imagery turned a fanciful idea into a plausible, though still poorly planned, expedition.
Grand Portage: From Civilization To Wilderness
- They traverse the Great Lakes and reach Grand Portage, expecting a bustling fur-trade hub but find mosquitoes and emptiness instead.
- Grand Portage marks the turning point from civilized waterways into remote portages and the real hardship begins.
