No comments about The Complete Guide to Kenai Fjords National Park.

2 comments about 55 Ways to the Wilderness of Southcentral Alaska (100 Hikes in).

1. First, I should say that "for hikes in the vicinity of Anchorage" is a little misleading. Southcentral Alaska includes thousands of square miles worth of gorgeous trails and hikeable terrain, and this book is probably the best one to help you get out there. It includes maps for all hikes, as well as vital statistics like distance, estimated hiking time (take with a grain of salt!), total elevation gain, and seasons that it's open. Indexes in the back help you look for a hike by season, area, length, or children-suitability.

   After 17 years in Alaska, ten with the same dog-eared copy of 55 Ways, I haven't been disappointed yet.




2. If you want to see wild Alaska, don't skip over Southcentral just because you see cars and tall buildings in Anchorage. The hikes detailed in this book start on or near the road system. But you're far more likely to see moose, bear, dall sheep, and other wildlife on these trails than in the remote bush. Some of the trails are crowded (by Alaska standards--perhaps six hikers per mile) in the sunny season, but others see very little traffic. And, even on the most crowded trails such as McHugh and Bird Ridge, you escape most other hikers after about a thousand feet. By the time you work your way into the high valleys, you're usually the only one up there. The views are astounding, and the weather far, far nicer than SE or SW Alaska. Worth a look, even if you're only in Anchorage for a few days.

No comments about Glacier Bay: A Guide to Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (National Park Service Handbook).

1 comments about Only in Alaska; The adventures of a young family in a young state.

1. This is the story of the Thomas family, who moved to Alaska in 1960, shortly after it became a state. For quite some time, they had been dissatisfied with their lives in New Jersey. They felt pent up by suburbia and they were looking for a place where they felt they could make a real difference in their community. Lowell was a small plane pilot, and wanted to live and fly in an area with wide open skies, not the tight air space of the Northeast. So they packed their bags, their kids, and their dog and drove off to settle in Alaska. This book describes the new life they built for themselves there, with all the natural beauty, the history, and the wonderful people that they found.
   
   Thomas tells us about the challenges of gardening in Anchorage, reassuring us that it is indeed possible to grow vegetables there, but you have to plan carefully. She describes the climate and the changing hours of sunlight. She writes about the quality of the schools, and burgeoning young oil industry. She relates adventures that they had as a family camping in the wilderness or visiting places like Kotzubue the north. She tells us what it was like to be in Fairbanks in August of 1967 during the great flood and how the community came together to house and feed people pushed out of their homes by the floodwaters. The final chapter is a harrowing first-hand account of the 1963 earthquake in Anchorage, in which she and the children barely escaped with their lives and their house was swallowed up by the earth. The text is well-written, and provides a good balance of historical information, description of the scenery and culture, and interesting anecdotes. Also included are several pages of high-quality black-and-white photos of the family and their favorite places in Alaska.

2 comments about Journal of a Voyage with Bering, 1741-1742.

1. 'Journal of a Voyage With Bering 1741-1742' is very impressive because it is an as-close-to and an as-smooth-as possible translation of Steller's original journal of his 'epic' journey with Captian-Commander Bering from the Kamchta peninsula to the Aleutians, Alaska, and their intense voyage back through a hazardous winter (ultimately the vessel was shipwrecked on Bering Island, where the Captain met his untimely fate...). In reading this book you can sense just how ominous that region was for first-time explorers (and still is!), and the fear engendered by such an awesome unknown region is evident in many of the crewmen's comments. Steller himself is quite the opposite- and very focused on his work- what they worked hard for ten years to do- to study the area and peoples and flora and fauna etc. beyond the 60th parallel NE of Russia.

   I gave this account 4 stars instead of 5 because the introduction- while very scholarly and interesting- might be too much at times. One buys this book to read Steller's account of the voyage first and foremost- not to read about all the details of the man's various capacities. Stating he was a masterful botanist, biologist, marine biologist, medic, etc. might have been enough...

   The other problem I have with this book is Steller himself, who more often than not holds gripes against his crew and the Captain- and does not restrain himself from making this known. The problem is, is that often I feel the Captain's wariness is justified, while Steller would rather just go off and study plants and the indigenes, irrespective (oblivious?) of the dangers of the region and the timeframe before the onset of winter. The point is, for anyone who has navigated by ship the Aleutian waters even in our modern era- is that those waters are some of the most, if noit THEE most dangerous waters in the world- and Steller, while at times making good and prudent navigational decisions (which, by the way, were often ignored by Captain Bering), at other times he just wanted to go around and collect plants and artifacts when the rest of the crew and the Captain rightly wanted to lift anchor- and often waited just for Steller to return to the ship for this very purpose.

   Overall, it's a fascinating account of the very earliest Aleutians voyage by 'Europeans.' Read and judge for yourself who was making the best calls. Sometimes it was Steller- but at other times, the Cpatain's prudence was very justified.




2. 'Journal of a Voyage With Bering 1741-1742' is very impressive because it is an as-close-to and an as-smooth-as possible translation of Steller's original journal of his 'epic' journey with Captain-Commander Vitus Bering from the Kamchtaka peninsula to the Aleutians, Alaska, and their intense voyage back through a very hazardous winter (ultimately the vessel was shipwrecked on Bering Island, where the Captain met his untimely fate...). In reading this book you can sense just how ominous that region was for first-time explorers (and still is!), and the fear engendered by such an awesome unknown region is evident in many of the crewmen's comments (and ends...). Steller himself is quite the opposite- very steadfast in the journey, and very focused on his work- what the expedition worked hard for ten years to prepare for- to study the area and peoples and flora and fauna etc. beyond the 60th parallel NE of Russia.
   I gave this account 4 stars instead of 5 because the introduction- while very scholarly and interesting- might be too pedantic at times. One buys this book to first and foremost read Steller's account of the voyage - not to read about all the minutae details of the man's various capacities prior to the expedition. Stating he was a masterful botanist, biologist, marine biologist, medic, etc. might have been enough...
   The other problem I have with this book is Steller himself, who more often than not holds gripes against his crew and the Captain- and does not restrain himself from making this known in his writing. The problem is, is that often I feel the Captain's wariness is justified, while Steller would rather just go off and study plants and the indigenes, irrespective (oblivious?) of the dangers of the region and the timeframe before the onset of winter. The point is, for anyone who has navigated by ship the Aleutian waters even in our modern era - those waters are some of the most, if not THEE most dangerous waters in the world- and Steller, while at times making good and prudent navigational decisions (which, by the way, were often ignored by Captain Bering), at other times just wanted to go around and collect plants and artifacts when the rest of the crew and the Captain rightly wanted to lift anchor- and often waited just for Steller to return to the ship for this very purpose. Steller just put the entire crew in undue danger on more than one occasion.
   Overall, though, this is a fascinating account of the very earliest Aleutians Islands voyage by 'Europeans.' Read and judge for yourself who was making the best calls. Sometimes it was Steller- but at other times, the Captain's prudence was very justified.

2 comments about The Kenai Canoe Trails.

1. I've canoed the Swanson Lake system in the Kenai canoe trails for years, and this is by far the most useful guide to this area. I've never met Mr. Quick, but his book offers very detailed information on such matters as the character of each portage trail, the location of campsites on the various lakes, the presence or absence of fish, and so on. The information provided is highly accurate (even if Quick does overlook a campsite or two). One might quibble with some of his recommendations on gear, portaging methods, etc., but such matters tend to be subjective among experienced outdoors people, and this book isn't primarily intended as such a general how-to guide anyway. "The Kenai Canoe Trails" is highly recommended for anyone planning -- or even dreaming of -- a trip into one of the most wild and pristine wilderness canoe systems in North America.



2. Your guide book "The Kenai Canoe Trails" was an invaluable resource on my son's and my canoe trip through the Swan Lakes route and out the Moose River. The detailed maps of the campsites and portages were absolutely accurate and very needed on this route. Other tips like, "hip boots recommended" proved wise advice! Thanks for hleping my son and I have a great Alaskan vacation.

4 comments about Alaska Blues: A Season of Fishing the Inside Passage.

1. Joe Upton has a way with words and pictures that captures the changing, and often savage, beauty of the Southeast Coast of Alaska. Follow the daily adventures of the author, his wife and a dog as they ply the Alaskan salmon trade in a 32' boat from Seattle to Scagway and back. Beautifully illustrated with the authors own photos and maps its a must read for anyone who loves Alaska, the sea, boats or fishing. We had the good fortune of meeting and dining with the author in l998,(he now writes travel books), while on a cruise of the inside passage. We quickly became a fan of Joe and have devoured all three of his books. I just wish that I had read this book before the cruise. It would have made the trip all that more enjoyable.



2. We are preparing to Experience the Inside Passage during the summer of 1999. This will be our first trip. We wanted to read a book that would give us an idea of history, and what to expect on this first trip. This book is excellent on preparing one for a trip to this magestic country. Not only do you learn about the fishing industry, you learn about history, the summer weather, how residents survive in this country, its wildlife and senery. The maps in the book and their description of travel through the many inside passages is great and we now have a much better idea of what to expect when we arrive.

   Certainly worth reading if you have an interest in the coast line from Seattle to Skageway.

   Gary Beach




3. Easy to read and to get 'involved in the story'. I have fished many of the areas described and the author is very accurate. Great reading if you have spent any time in Alaska.



4. What a great account of cruising the Inside Passage from Seattle to Alaska from a fisherman who has been there and done that! It is a book I could not put down. You get an education on the cruising challenges, the weather, the fishing industry and breathtaking beauty of the Area. Joe Upton's experience from a small boat is nature in your face and will keep you on the edge of your seat. The book is full of great pictures and maps showing Joe's cruising routes during his 7 month season of fishing. This book gave me an education on what to expect cruising the Inside Passage which I want to do someday in a small boat. Anyone who wants to know more about the Inland Waters will love this book. Someday a movie will have to be made about this true story. Thank-you Joe for writting this book... it is a classic of history.

1 comments about Denali: The Wild Beauty of Denali National Park.

1. Erwin and Peggy Bauer's Denali provides a stunningly beautiful portrait of the park by two wildlife photographers. An essay describes the park's history but it's the photos which captivate in this small but powerful offering.

1 comments about Exploration of Alaska 1865-1900. (Classic Reprint Series).

1. A well documented description of the pace and extent of Russian and American exploration in Alaska. The book focuses on reason of growth and lack thereof in the region in the 19th century. Sherwood also explains the difference in growth from the American 'western movement.' Alaskan history is very interesting. If you are at all interested in exploration or the American frontier and its writings, visit this book.

No comments about Letters From Alaska (North Coast Books).