2 comments about Alaska: A Climbing Guide.

1. just blindly flip the pages and put your finger down. there's your next climbing trip. great hike in and route info. the best ak climbing guide i have ever seen



2. This book is a concise, yet surprisingly complete, guide to all the great climbing regions in Alaska. I cannot praise it enough. Having climbed one of the routes described, I know this book is on target for that climb. The pictures combine well with the text to recreate the Alaskan climbing experience.

4 comments about Alaska at Your Own Pace: Traveling by RV Caravan.

1. My second book by Bernice Beard in my quest to gather all the information possible before buying my first motor home this is one of the easiest reading books that I have read. It contains information that is valuable to me in making a choice of whether to buy an RV for full time living and travel plus some of the pleasant and unpleasant things to look forward to when I do decide to make the big step. Overall a good book that was easy for me to read.



2. Though this book "reads" like a diary, it contains within its pages very interesting information if you're considering RV caravaning to Alaska. From the bone jarring perma-frost damaged highways, to the beautiful scenery making it all worth while.

   I highly recommend this book to anyone considering caravaning to Alaska. You can read the book and decide for yourself if this is how you'd want to travel.

   Also, the book has tips and tidbits that enlightens the readers as they take us on their wonderful journey.




3. This is a book to read if you want a story and not to get any information. I really could care less what she eat for breakfast. I was expecting it to be more informative and intelligent. Ms. Beard should stick to writing children's stories.



4. Although the book gives a lot of very interesting and good information for the Alaska bound RV'er, Mrs. Beard uses far too much verbage. The roughly 300 pages could give a reader the same information in about a third of the pages if verbage such as "Good morning I said to Scott through the screen of the small window above the kitchen sink in our motorhome"

   The travel information and routing arranged by the caravan company is of great help if you can muddle your way through all the extra words.

1 comments about Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Alaska.

1. A nice layout of Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau, Alaska which will come in handy on our next cruise to Alaska. A must if you rent a car.

No comments about Our Alaska: Personal Stories about Living in the North.

No comments about Winter Music: Composing the North.

4 comments about The Last Light Breaking: Living Among Alaska's Inupiat Eskimos.

1. A great descreption of what life is like in the Alaskan Bush



2. This collection of essays are the author's descriptions and reflections on aspects of life in rural Alaska. It's not a story of pioneering or stone age lifestyles, as the title "living among the eskimos" might suggest. Rather, Jans gives a vivid picture of how the lives of rural Alaskans are like a collision of the old and new worlds. It is a world of snowmachines, TV, and basketball, and caribou hunting. Nick Jans lived in the villages of northwest Alaska for decades. The reader benefits from his sense of the most striking or moving experiences he has collected and his perfect, crystal clear prose. I came away with the sense that Jans loves Alaska and when you read the book you can feel it yourself. I also highly..HIGHLY recommend his more recent book that incorporates stunning photography with essays.



3. This February, I was sitting in the library at the Selawik school -- just above the Arctic Circle, population 700; I was there as part of a program that sent authors to the Alaskan bush -- and I asked the librarian for a book recommendation. She went straight to THE LAST LIGHT BREAKING. I leafed through it and then bought it when I got home.

   My favorite piece in this collection is "Beat the Qaaviks," Jans' account of an Arctic basketball game, but they're all excellent. I'm hoping to return to Selawik, and to take a friend with me. I gave him THE LAST LIGHT BREAKING to whet his appetite.

   If you're reading this, you're already thinking about buying the book. Just buy it. It's great.




4. When I first ordered this book, I was looking for an ethnography of the Inupiat. I didn't look that closely at the description of the book, but since it had a five star rating, I still bought it. The day it arrived, I started reading it and found at that what I received was not what I was expecting...however I still couldn't put it down. Jans' stories of life with the Inupiat, are amazing.

   While it isn't a traditional ethnography, Jans still gives some amazing insight into the lives of the Inupiat. His descriptions are colorful and entertaining while still giving a sense of the seriousness of the intrusion of mining and modern culture on the traditional subsistence of the Inupiat. There is a degree of fear as to what will happen to them as society marches onward into the remote regions of Alaska and provides a sense of urgency of protection for these people.

   If you are remotely interested in what life is like above the arctic circle, get this book. Don't think about it, just get it.

5 comments about The World-Famous Alaska Highway: A Guide to the Alcan & Other Wilderness Roads of the North.

1. Handy, practical, and refreshing describe this guide to the Alcan Highway and other roads of the North. Tricia Brown's friendly voice and personal insights bring the adventure to life for me. Although I've driven the Alcan many times over the years, there's much to see and much to learn. I plan to pack this Guide along with my gear for my next trip.



2. Handy, practical, and refreshing describe this guide to the Alcan Highway and other roads of the North. Tricia Brown's friendly voice and personal insights bring the adventure to life for me. Although I've driven the Alcan many times over the years, there's much to see and much to learn. I plan to pack this Guide along with my gear for my next trip.



3. The World-Famous Alaska Highway is the ideal guide for anyone traveling up and down the Alaskan Highway. This compendium of historic sites, roadside attractions, dramatic views, wildlife sighting sites, recreational resources (hiking, biking, fishing, rafting, canoeing, cruising, flying, festivals, rodeos, parades, races, museums, theme parks) will ensure the success of any excursion from day trips to full-fledged vacations. The World-Famous Alaska Highway also offers practical money-saving, comfort enhancing advice on preparing your vehicle, roadway considerations and routes, as well as up-to-date contact numbers and websites for cities throughout the region and serviced by the Alaskan Highway. If you are planning just such a journey for business or pleasure, begin with a thorough reading of Tricia Brown's The World-Famous Alaska Highway!



4. I will be driving to Alaska this summer with my dog and I wanted guidance on local parks on the way where we could take breaks and go hiking. I purchased the book since it claims to provide information about hiking trails. No such thing; I found nothing of any value to me and returned it. In fact, if you delete the pictures and the lists of motels and restaurants... there would be little left to read.



5. Not sure why the last reviewer bought a driving guide instead of a hiking guide, but I found this book to be incredibly helpful and entertaining. It contained the right balance of text with history and don't-miss places to visit for each community, along with listings of restaurants and places to stay. She tell you the miles (and kilometers) between major towns and includes lots of great pictures. Highly recommended for preparing for the trip, and a great resource once you're on the road.

3 comments about Adventure Guide to the Alaska Highway.

1. I took this book with the AAA guidebook on my trip to Alaska, read the AAA intro on the plane there and read only this book for the rest of the trip. We traveled more than 2,000 miles on the Alaska Highway. This book has been a great companion and guide book wherever we go. I even did some more reading on the plane back home because the writing was interesting. It may be partly because Alaska is such an interesting subject; but the book is definitely fun to read.



2. While the Milepost will give you every pullout and scenic view on the highway, this book is great reading about what to do, and what to see on your way. The information is very accurate and intresting. In this book, when you look up a certain place you end up reading on and on.



3. I recently rode my motorcycle up the Alaska Highway and space was pretty limited. I photocopied pages out of various other books, but brought this one along intact.
   
   It stayed in my tankbag every day, was brought out at every meal, and was pored over in hotel rooms at night. I'm also a writer, and my Adventure Guide to the Alaska Highway became my de facto notebook on the trip -- post-it notes of every color peek out from its pages; notes line the margins.
   
   There are a finite number of places to stop along the Alaska Highway; most guidebooks will give you pretty much all of them. What makes this one different is its tone. The authors obvious enjoy both the road and writing about it. Personal anecdotes are lightly sprinkled into the text, giving the impression that yes, the authors know what they're talking about. I learned little bits of history about the areas I rode through; not so much that it weighed down the book, but just enough to pique my interest and send me scampering to the library once I got back.
   
   Also, the book is laid out very well. The font is easy on the eyes; bold section headers made it easy to find what I was looking for, even while balancing the book on my tankbag after pulling to the side of some gravelly road in the middle of nowhere.

2 comments about Denali/Mount McKinley: Summit of North America (Rucksack Pocket Summits).

1. First of all, I am the author, so the 5 stars might be a bit subjective :)
   As the information above does not say anything about the book itself and it appears nearly impossible to update that info, I though I'd tell a bit more about the book here, so you can decide if this is useful for you.
   
   At 6194 m (20,320 ft) Denali (Mt McKinley) is the highest mountain in North America. Its arctic latitude makes for extreme weather conditions and its remote location in the Alaskan wilderness means that climbing teams must be self-reliant and experienced. The book focuses on the West Buttress route used by 80-90% of climbers.
   
   The pocket-sized guidebook provides all you need to plan and enjoy your summit attempt:
   
   * concise advice about preparation and planning
   * how to prevent and manage altitude sickness
   * practical tips on load-carrying and, glacier travel and camping
   * an extensive gearlist and advice on the use of sleds
   * fold-out map showing the West Buttress route
   * step-by-step description of the route and campsites
   * 96 waterproof pages with open-flat binding
   * in full colour, with over 60 photographs, some of them full page.
   
   It is the same size as the Aconcagua pocket guide and fits in most pockets, being only 115grams/4oz and 14.5 x 11.5 x 0.8cm in size (5.7 x 4.5 x 0.3 inch). It can handle the snow you will meet on Denali without weakening the pages.
   
   We had some knowledgeable people proofread the book, here are their reactions:
   
   *** Reviewed by seven-summiteer Jake Meyer ***
   This is the ultimate `bible' dedicated to climbing McKinley. What a pleasure to read an up-to-date, comprehensive guidebook for climbing in one of the most beautiful yet inhospitable environments on Earth. The wonderful pictures remind me of the awe-inspiring scale of the Alaska Range and a memorable expedition. It's informative, enjoyable and beautifully presented, and should be top of every Denali adventurer's kit list, to accompany them every step of the way.
   
   The format is snowproof, windproof and probably climberproof. In the military, we use TAMs (Tactical Aide Memoires) to cope with every imaginable situation, and Harry's book is the ultimate TAM for climbing Denali. Whether it guides you to the summit, or merely adds to the library of the armchair adventurer, this book is an essential part of the team.
   
   -- Jake Meyer, who in 2005 became the youngest man to complete the '7 summits'.
   
   *** Reviewed by Daryl R Miller, Denali Park Ranger
   "This book contains lots of good information and advice and it'll help you prepare for your expedition. But to climb Denali you also need patience and hunility"
   
   -- Daryl R Miller, South District Ranger, Denali National Park & Preserve
   
   Mr Miller is absolutely correct, do not underestimate this beautiful mountain. Thanks for your attention, hope this guide will make your climb safer, more enjoyable and more successful.
   As always: Keep climbing, but be safe.



2. Small enough to bring in a stuffed backpack, this excellent guide will make you travel along the trail to the top of Denali before even taking the plane. Perfect to plan your trip, everything is in it: gear check, clear maps, day-by-day detailed itinary, breathtaking pictures...
   
   Since i bought this book in the first time, i ordered some to all my expedition partners as gifts...!
   
   I never saw a guide like this one!
   
   ML

2 comments about Alaska.

1. Whether you live in Alaska or travel across it by cruise ship or air or some other means--this beautiful book is for you. On each glossy page there lies something for every tourist and local. Rich photos of the common cruise ship sights, from the deep blue glaciers of the inside passage to little Skagway sitting on the hillside, all the the cruise ship ports are captured by Fred Hirschmann's lens. Aerial views of Anchorage, Juno, Mt. Denali--it's all here followed by interesting explantions of life in Alsaka. I originally saw this book in a little shop at the Port of Juno and immediately wanted it, but it was only for display--how happy I was to search and find it here on Amazon! I highly recommend this book--large, clear photos and excellent journalism will keep your memories of Alaska in perfect order and will bring your friends into the bountiful beauty of the land with which you fell in love.



2. What a wonderful book!! Anyone who likes Alaska at all should own a copy. Even if you are not interested in Alaska I recommend this book just for the sheer beauty of the photographs. Fred Hirschmann, your photographic brilliance is on full display. Suzan Nightingale, your thoughts and essays couldn't be better. This is Alaska!!