3 comments about The Alaska Highway: An Insider's Guide.

1. "The Alaskan Highway: An Insiders Guide" Is the most complete book that covers what to take , how to take it, where to stop, what to see, and over all how to survive the sometimes hazardous highway......I know it is what I used to start my journey to Eagle River, Alaska......I'll never forget the experience......I recommend this book and the Journey to anyone who needs a new out look on life; because the book will pave the path to the journey that will surely change your life!!!!! It did mine



2. Mr. Dalby has captured the spirit and reality of this "dream" trip. His advice, observations, and anecdotes are worth the purchase of this book, even if you don't plan to travel the Alaska Highway. His descriptions are great and the common sense approach is refreshing. We plan to take this trip in the summer of '99. Once we read the book, we were convinced that this trip was for us.



3. The scale of the map between pages xii and 1 can either be 0 - 160 miles or 0 -100 km. It cannot be both since 1 statute mile is appr. 1.6 km. Consequently, it should be 0 - 100 miles (0 - ~160 km) or 0 - 100 km (0 - ~60 miles). Which is it? Thank you.

1 comments about Anchorage (Alaska Geographic,).

1. If you want to learn about Anchorage, this is a good place to start. This book is very interesting and contains some wonderful photographs. I love it and recommend it to everyone.

No comments about Frommer's Alaska 2009 (Frommer's Complete).

2 comments about Rowing to Alaska: And Other True Stories.

1. During those inbetween times when I am unable to travel myself (woe is me), then I travel on a vehicle of words - and oh, how satisfactory is this one! McLennan is new to writing, or so he claims at the opening of this book, but I struggle to believe it. He tells of moving to Estonia with his Dutch wife (she surely has courage to marry such a wanderlusting man), a writer, and when he struggles with boredom, she encourages him to put his snappy stories to the written page - and this is the result.
   
   If he's not practiced, he certainly is gifted. A comparison made by a Granta reviewer (under the publisher's umbrella, but I'm not arguing) to Hemingway is not unwarranted. McLennan's travel stories are filled to bursting with male bravado, much like Papa's, and he knows how to write spare when needed, spiced when it serves, lavish when the story requires it. "Rowing" is nearly impossible to put down, if only to eye the road oneself.
   
   McLennan comes from Australia, but calls the world, the road, his home. The title story is probably my personal favorite, if only because good-sized chunks of my own wanderlusting heart still reside in Alaska, haunted by my own memories which he so well brought to life again. It is a tale of two men rowing 1,000 miles from Seattle to Alaska, and if the author wasn't sworn to lifelong adventure seeking before then, he was by the time he completed this journey.
   
   McLennan writes (in no particular order, in 15 travel essays) about a long list of improbable jobs (bank clerk, gold panner, boat skipper, bartender, wild pig hunter) and places he has experienced by full immersion: Australia, Costa Rica, Pacific Northwest, Nicarauga, London, France, Spain, Estonia. His rich language brings to life great adventure without arrogance (well, maybe a little, in his belt notching adventures with the opposite gender), not sparing himself or anyone else in his path an honest and colorful appraisal. He takes on dangerous expeditions as if it never occurred to him not to do so, not a question or hesitancy in his mind, and travel becomes his rites of passage into finding purpose outside the routine everyday too many rest of us accept.
   
   "Rowing to Alaska" itches beneath the skin and hammers in the heart for anyone who wants something more out of life - in either the living of it or even just the reading about it.



2. I truly enjoyed this book. Althoughthe subject matter is definately masculine, there is a soft, gentle, beguiling thread running through all of the stories. The decsriptive images will stay with me for many years. I never thought of seeing a 'splash of dust' but I understood exactly what was happening.
   
   I read it in 2 days.. I conclude how boring the 9-5 world really is. This man has live a passionate, scary and fullfilling if not fruitful life. Very enjoyable.

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.

5 comments about Arctic Son: Fulfilling the Dream (Expedition Series).

1. I first heard of Jean Aspen when a condensed version of her first book, Arctic Daughter, appeared in a Reader's Digest. I have since acquired, with difficulty, my own copy of that book. I later located Arctic Son in a used bookstore. I felt the point of both books was not to elevate the art of literature, but rather to convey the life-shaping experiences of her years in the arctic, using literature as the medium. I understand Jean and Tom filmed portions of their time in Alaska during the "Arctic Son" period, and I would love to locate a copy of that, if possible. Any help out there???? At any rate, both books are great to curl up with and dream about during a long winter.



2. I couldn't wait to read this book after having enjoyed Arctic Daughter. The two adventure stories stand alone as exceptional works -- not of literature -- but of true adventure stories. I found Arctic Son to be true to Jean Aspen, the woman and adventurer. It was real in content, description of events, feelings and thoughts, and it allowed me to live out my own dream of building a cabin in Alaska without leaving home. Additionally, Arctic Son proved that even after a family comes along, adventure is still attainable and very rewarding to the soul of all. At the same time, the mental and physical risks and costs of such high adventure are made quite clear. This book was just as good, if not sweeter, than the first book. Also, it isn't necessary to read both books sequentially to understand events or motivation.



3. Arctic Son keeps the reader "involved" and teaches you about surviving the Arctic North. I learned it is not something I would like to do, with months upon months of frozen everything and darkness. This book helps you to appreciate what you have and the warmth of your own home! It is nice for this authro to write about her adventures in the Arctic and share this true life tale with us, the readers.

   I recommend reading this if you are interested in exploring the world around you, especially the wild and frigid Arctic North.




4. i read this book years ago when goin through hard times and i got hope and inspiration from it. in my opinion very personally written.i enjoyed it right from the very first page.



5. I loved Jean Aspen's first book, Arctic Daughter, and have read it several times. So I was eager to read this second book and enjoy this return to the Arctic with her husband Tom and their son Luke. It seemed especially nice that her son would continue the love affair with the Arctic, bringing the family full circle. As a middle aged woman myself, I identified with her worries that she and Tom were too old and soft to succeed.
   
   But my impression throughout the book is that this was HER dream, and her husband and son were just along for the trip. Her son especially was unhappy, lonely, whiny, defiant and argumentative throughout their whole time there. He did backflips of joy when they returned to civilization. Even Tom told her he was ready for her to put her past aside, and that he was tired of living in it.
   
   I rarely felt any affection or closeness between Jean and Tom. She was very concerned when he was sick, but mainly about what she would do if he died. She seems to be a middle aged force of nature, commander of the family, and the font of all knowledge. Even towards the end of the trip, when they had weathered 14 months in the wilderness, it was Jean who looked at the river and commanded "let's go!" as if only her assessment of the river's safety was valid.
   
   I was also somewhat taken aback by Jean's unflattering description of her husband. She describes herself with words like "direct, gray-green eyes", "strong jaw and high cheekbones, full lips and even teeth," "handsome" and even "considered beautiful". Meanwhile she describes Tom as "a bit heavy," asymmetrical face," "nose drifting off to one side," "balding", "unfashionably dressed" and wearing "thick glasses" for his myopic vision.
   
   She also spouted an awful lot of New Age philosophy, especially with Luke, who would have benefited from a firm hand and decisive parenting. I found myself skimming pages to get to the wilderness living, while Jean philosophized about the meaning of life.
   
   But overall, this book is a good read. I loved reading of how they built the cabin, and shot the moose and dried its meat. She's a whiz in the kitchen, turning out great meals with basic staples. She made the long dark winter and extreme cold seem real to her readers.
   
   I gave this book three stars because I didn't care for her personality as much as I liked the adventures and the descriptions of their life in the middle of the Arctic.

2 comments about Compass American Guides: Alaska's Inside Passage, 1st Edition (Compass American Guides).

1. The author describes numerous useful aspects of the cultural and historical attractions of areas along the Inside Passage. My only complaint is that I would like to see more maps with greater detail.



2. Very well prepared, documented, depicted and written book on the inside passage it's towns, histories, culture, people, local establishments, attractions and a lot more. You'll be glad you bought it.

1 comments about Glaciers of Alaska (Alaska Geographic).

1. I recently traveled with Valparaiso University to Alaska to study glaciation and the glaciers of Alaska. This book was required reading prior to arriving in Alaska.
   
   Let me tell you, this publication explains everything about glaciers from conception to melting. It also helps to have someone who is truly passionate about glaciers explain them.
   
   I would suggest this to anyone traveling to Alaska whether amateur or experienced in glaciers. You will truly view and appreciate each glacier more after you read this publication.

No comments about Frommer's Alaska Cruises & Ports of Call 2009 (Frommer's Cruises).

No comments about The Coastal Companion: A Guide for the Alaska-Bound Traveler.