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About Thoreau Maine Woods Canoeing, LLC

Reading about the North Woods for the first time led the founder of TMWC to realize that Henry David Thoreau’s guide, Joe Polis, was not only a master wilderness guide of his time but also that his methods of trip canoeing had passed the test of time as they are largely the safest way of canoeing even today. Today, TMWC carries on Joe Polis’ and Thoreau’s traditions and invites modern visitors to enjoy The Maine Woods and Thoreau’s particular trips. TMWC has published a detailed book of Joe Polis’ work on Henry David Thoreau’s last trip in 1857; Thoreau died in 1862.

The Author

Dave Japikse was born in Reading, PA, on May 2, 1943, and moved to Bexley, OH (near Columbus) in the summer of 1951 at the age of 8. From then until age 22, he spent a total of one year living in the outdoors, hiking, backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, hunting, and sailing. At 19, he led wilderness canoe trips solo in the Canadian wilderness around Temagami, ON. Along the way, he became an Eagle Scout with a gold palm and developed many outdoor hobbies and pursuits. As college approached, decisions had to be made, and a struggling balance between engineering, wilderness sport, and photography ensued.
Background
Dave graduated with a B.Sc. in Engineering Science (essentially mechanical engineering following his dad and grandfather) from the Case Institute of Technology in 1965. That summer, he married L. Ellen Drum, his high school sweetheart. This was followed by an M.Sc. and a Ph.D. from Purdue University in the fall of 1968 on an NDEA Title IV scholarship and then into postdoctoral study as a Fulbright Scholar and an NSF Fellow in Aachen, Germany. His beloved wilderness seemed far away, but weekend travels in the German wilderness nurtured his need to be close to nature. Waking up to the cry of a real cuckoo bird was special.
Up until 2022, he focused on science and technology with considerable success, which was followed by a renewed dedication to guiding in the North Woods. Still, many earlier weekends found him in the wilderness with family, scout units (usually a three-day trip every three weeks and summer trips of about 10 days) as Scout Master and later Post Advisor, plus summer camping with his family. By age 50, he had spent a second year camping in the wilderness in all seasons; afterward, he had lost track of how much time had been spent outside.
Much time has also been spent outdoors receiving and giving training. Aside from the useful experience of running a good scouting program (countless hours, including Wood Badge leadership), many hours have been spent in swimming and lifesaving, resulting in certifications as a Master Scuba Diver and a Rescue Diver, and competing in the 2.5-mile Peaks (Island) to Portland (Harbor, ME). Likewise, many hours have gone into honing his outdoor skills, leading him to receive his certification as an Outdoor Skills Instructor and license and registration as a Maine Guide.
Where It All Started
In 2020, Dave and Ellen began their first annual 10-day trip in the Maine Woods, which was very successful. Ellen suggested that Dave should become a Registered Maine Guide, which he did that winter, passing his exam smoothly on April 12, 2021. At the same time, a passion for Thoreau’s Maine trips blossomed into the book Henry David Thoreau, The Indian. The book; "Henry David Thoreau, the Indian" was released in the summer of 2023, and sold in bookstores along the "Thoreau Trail". Dave traces much of his canoeing and camping practices back to the Temagami First Nation tribe in Canada, who set the style of wilderness living practices used during his teenage years and for decades following. He has led or assisted on 25 to 30 one-week or longer canoe trips, a similar number of hiking trips, and countless shorter 3- to 4-day excursions. His shortest planned trip was one day for one person, while the largest was organizing a weekend camp with 550 people. He has camped in the Rockies, the Alps, the Appalachians, and the Sangre de Christo mountains, throughout the Midwest, Northern Idaho, Ontario and New England while covering many provinces, states, and countries. He has many stories of the beauty and joy that the rivers, lakes, and mountains can bring each person.
Service Area
Northern Maine
Hours of Operation
Monday-Saturday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. EST
Phone
Email
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