Flying to Extremes

Flying to Extremes is an exciting recounting of Dominique Prinet’s time as a bush pilot in the Northwest Territories from the late 1960s into the 1970s. The book contains his accounts of perilous takeoffs and landings, treacherous journeys into the frozen North, and tales of local legends. Those tales include the story behind the name “Rapids of the Drowned,” near Thebacha, N.W.T., where five men perished in 1786 due to a miscommunication over the safety of the rapids.

Prinet’s memoir is a kind of time capsule — readers come to understand what life was like in Yellowknife at this time, including all the dangers that came with living in the North. The book also includes vivid details of the people Prinet knew in Yellowknife, such as his landlady, Mrs. Lacombe, who regaled her tenants with stories she had acquired during her tenure.

Flying to Extremes is filled with stunning colour photographs that show the gorgeous vistas and natural beauty to be found in the territory. Those photographs complement the imagery Prinet constructs with his stories, making the book a fascinating and exciting exploration of the period.