1 comments about Caribou and the Barren Lands.

1. Written by a scientist, in the language of a poet, with the illustrations of a professional photographer - remarkably, all the same man. Highly recommended story, history, and life of the caribou and the environment within which it survives.

5 comments about Northern Lights and Shadows: Sixteen Years in the Alaska Bush.

1. A great book. The descriptions of the wildlife and landscape are insightful and accurate - I was informed as well as entertained. The book captures the feel of wild Alaska and allowed me to experience life in the bush along with the author and his wife. I felt as if I was in the plane when he was lost during a snow storm. I stood beside him and felt the excitement and fear when wolf or grizzly was encountered at close range. The book gives us an environmental message as well. Wilderness is ours not only to experience, but also to protect. The author's insights into how to live with the land and appreciate its beauty and harshness make this a valuable read.



2. Wow! Captivating from the beginning digging your way out of the cabin. Excellent imagery. Made me want to go there before it is all gone, to breath the air, to see the landscape, to feel the rush of the wind, the chill of the frozen tundra, to taste food that is fresh and wild, free from man's processing. To hear the sounds that nature sings.
   This descriptive account of life in Alaska is an eye opener of the fortitude it takes to make it in the Last Frontier. The extreme conditions and the extreme rewards.
   This book opens your eyes to the hardships and the little things a tenderfoot wouldn't think of in your survival in the Alaskan wilds. Dotted with humor, sprinkled with love and support of a life mate, along with the daily challenges of self-sufficiency. Here you will find many helpful hints if your dream is to live in the wilds of Alaska. And if it has been your dream it will open your eye to the reality of such a challenge. A marvelous read and an excellent way to experience the wilds vicariously in the comfort and safety of your own armchair, from wildlife survival, to the Elmer's, natures Christening, the antics of the wilds, this books is fascinating, one to read and re-read.
   I can only say thank you Lee for writing your experience out in such vivid details.



3. From earliest childhood Lee Basnar loved nature. Basnar was born in Vermont in 1938. Stories of Alaska created a fascination for Lee. He wanted to experience the last frontier.
   
   Lee's father had plans for him to graduate from college. Instead Lee married his high school sweetheart, Joan. He worked for his father as an apprentice carpenter. It was seasonal work. Tired of menial jobs and unemployment checks during the winter months, Lee again disappointed his father. He joined the army in 1961.
   
   Lee's service career took him to Germany and France. In 1968 he was transferred to Viet Nam where he served as advisor to the South Vietnamese infantry division and later as an infantry company commander.
   
   In October of 1971 Lee was assigned duty at Fort Richardson. His dream of seeing Alaska had finally come true. However, in 1974 he was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia. Soon Lee was seeking reassignment to duty in Alaska. An opportunity opened and Basner became senior advisor to the 207th Infantry Group of the Alaska National Guard, near Anchorage, for the remainder of his Army career.
   
   As time drew near for his army enlistment to end, Lee began to plan his retirement. Together, with Joan, he looked for a site that would accommodate a cabin home. They both were ready to take on the challenge of the Alaskan frontier by living in the bush.
   
   Lee is a gifted story teller. His descriptions of animal life, nature trails, mountains, and rivers in the vast Alaska wilds are spectacular. In breathtaking word pictures Basner creates new vistas for the reader. "Snow sprinkled the mountains like powdered sugar on cupcakes, and each new snowfall frosted the slopes a little lower." Each chapter includes a photo which depicts something of its contents.
   
   Narrow escapes and life threatening experiences mount up as one after another Basner chronicles his story. He tells of a smoke filled cockpit in his small Taylor Craft airplane. After an emergency landing and repairs he had to battle river rapids for a dangerous take off at 2:30 AM to return home. After landing, securing the plane in a blinding snowstorm, having had no sleep for 24 hours, Lee, the master of understatement put it this way, "For some reason I felt a little tired."
   
   Adventure stories of trapping, hunting, fishing, and photographing moose, wolves, bears, and other wildlife fill the chapters of this rapid paced narrative. The unpredictability of grizzly bears, a midwinter chimney fire, and other narrow escapes will keep you turning the pages of this fascinating account of the Basner's life in the bush.
   
   Lee related how after surviving his tour of duty in Viet Nam, he was plagued by survivor guilt. He hoped to exchange combat nightmares from Vietnam for a new sense of freedom peace and contentment by living in the bush. After some years of roughing it, Lee wrote: "Vietnam intruded less frequently as the years accumulated...the demands of bush living shoved Viet Nam aside, leaving room for healing. The nightmares, less frequent now, retreated to a hidden place, emerging rarely. Drifting and pondering gave me time to realize that I had truly survived and shouldn't feel guilty because of it".
   
   This is a book for everyone who ever had a dream of adventure on the last frontier. It is a book for Veterans, who experienced the ravages of war. Every school library should have a copy. It is for the sportsman, the hunter, and the environmentalist.
   
   This is an incredible read.



4. Reviewed by Joanne Benham for Reader Views (08/06)
   
   Ever since I read Jack London's Call of the Wild when I was a child, I have been enamored of anything to do with Alaska. If a book is set in Alaska, I'll buy it, more for the background and how people live than for the storyline.
   
   Lee Basner was born in Vermont and in his early childhood developed a fascination with the Alaska Territory. It took him thirty years, but he finally achieved his dream of living in the far North. Sick with guilt over the men under his command who never came home from the Vietnam War while he made it through, Lee retired from the U.S. Army as a major at the age of forty-two and he and his wife Joan built a log home 200 miles from Anchorage. They moved in during a March blizzard and lived there for the next sixteen years, pitting themselves against the worst Alaska could throw at them and surviving to tell the tale.
   
   They had no indoor plumbing, self-generated power and no telephone for the first years. Clothes were washed in a wringer washer and hung outside to freeze, after which they were brought inside to thaw in front of the wood-burning stove, the only source of heat.
   
   Balanced against these inconveniences was wildlife at the door, breathtaking scenery and the chance to really live their own lives as they wished, with no one to tell them what to do.
   
   Filled with anecdotes of their daily life from the mundane, like digging a trail to the outhouse, to the poignant such as a herd of caribou caught in an avalanche, many of them killed and injured while Lee was unable to reach them to at least put them out of their misery, I was unable to put the book down. I even took it with me to read while I waited in line at the bank. I loved this book. It's a real keeper.



5. ... I have met the author. It is certainly true that I have met Lee. Indeed I've known him for several years. The fact is though, I like Lee's writing style. I have read his newspaper columns. I own his earlier book on Vietnam too. Lee has the ability to bring a full range of emotions to the surface in the reader. From sadness to anger to a feeling of smallness in awe of the power of nature, I can't help but be involved with his writing. Moving among the lights and shadows of this book is entirely pleasant, amusing and fulfilling.

No comments about Alaska Review.

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.

2 comments about The Greenpeace to Amchitka: An Environmental Odyssey.

1. Robert Hunter died May 2nd, 2005, shortly after this book was published. I have every book he ever published; every damn one of them is a trip to read, like you're sitting in a bar with this great storyteller and he cannot stop talking - and you don't want him to! Bob was a great storyteller, and this one about the first-ever Greenpeace voyage (indeed, before there even was a Greenpeace!) is as good as anything he ever wrote. Bob was as alive as any man who walked the earth. An incredibly insightful writer who knew how important "getting the story out" was to the cause. It has been said that without Bob Hunter there never would have been a Greenpeace. I agree totally. He wrote with an intensity and with great humor, but never as an outsider. He was totally engulfed in the great causes of early Greenpeace: the whales and seals, the nuclear testing. And the last book he wrote (2030, written in 2002) was all about global warming, also a great read. Bob will be missed! I was lucky to have met and worked with Bob back in the early Greenpeace days. We shared a sixpack of beer and talked about big-picture ecology, life, love - everything we really care about. That was Bob Hunter. With his passing I rededicate my life to what Bob was all about. A great guy, a great writer. I recommend all his books - most of which you'll have to find used by now. I treasure his books on my shelf much like I treasure my collection of Edward Abbey books. Those two guys go great together. Peace Bob! Godspeed!



2. This is a truly allegorical story, an environmental Moby Dick that continues to define the organization (and perhaps a movement) that was born of this journey. Bob Hunter's intense (and sometimes freakishly funny) style of storytelling enables the reader to better understand the very origin of the philosophy, strategies, and values embodied in Greenpeace (and other similar organizations), a quite unique branch of the global environmental movement. The strategical use of media, the direct and confrontational tactics, the embracement of deep ecology, the mixure of tough internal tensions with a true comaraderie are some of the recurring themes of this legendary sail. Although today's environmental movement is way beyond the 60s, the book still proves to be refreshingly direct and honest in a time when the movement is increasingly becoming a "special interest" and constituency/donor-oriented.

1 comments about Wings Over Denali: A Photographic History of Denali Aviation.

1. Bruce McAllister had done a wonderful job with this new book in his great series of pictorial books. All of his "WINGS " series are a must own for all of us interested in the North and the history of aviation. If your a sudent pilot or an old pro, this and all the books in the series are a must for your bookcase.
   
   I also recommend another great read on northern aviation, FLYING NORTH SOUTH EAST AND WEST, by Captain Terry Reece
   Flying North South East and West: Arctic to the Sahara

5 comments about Birthplace of the Winds (Adventure Press).

1. An honest tale speeds best being plainly told. shakespeare

   Perhaps `plainly' misleads. Birthplace of the Winds: Adventuring in Alaska's Islands of Fire and Ice `speeds' well because of its remarkable clarity and tightly knit narrative structure. Writer and adventurer John Bowermaster's engaging account of a sea-kayaking expedition in one of the more remote and inhospitable regions of the world benefits from the fact that Bowermaster is foremost a writer, and, by his account, only accidentally an adventurer. While ably possessed of the stamina and skills necessary to accomplish the challenge-kayak to all four "Islands of Fire" with a team of three others-it is his gift as a storyteller that sets this book apart from in the adventure travel realm.

   Two elements contribute to the book's success, both of which drive the narrative forward in a smooth and graceful manner. By interweaving well-researched ethnographic and historical information with the daily accounts of his expedition, Bowermaster manages to unite two positions that often clash--the role of the adventurer and the anthropologist. By linking the past of this place with its present, through contemporary locals, and these temporary visitors, one gets a vivid sense of how this brutal and magical landscape shapes those who encounter it. As a result, the reader rides a steady wave of tension, chronic and looming. That very fine line between thrill and danger never lets up. Even during accounts of calm days and quiet seas, the reality of a tempest whipping up from nowhere keeps the reader on edge, turning pages with a combination of trepidation and excitement.

   Many recent adventure travel narratives have tried to rely on exploiting the tragedy that befell the participants. While sensationalism has its base appeals, this account of danger flirted with and averted--by a blend of skill, fortune, and patience--aims higher. It provides, among other things, a welcome model in this increasingly saturated and formulaic genre-a model that provides history, ethnography and adventure with all the humanity, fear and desire intact.

   The added element on top of the harsh environment is a potentially volatile team member. One thinks of those dreadful airline catalogue inspirational posters-"There is no ` I' in team". This is a place where that insipid cliché actually matters, and the threat of pride compromising safety is imminent. Someone once described the proverbial `tipping point' as "imperceptible and ominous-a thing whose identity is revealed always, and only, too late." There is a sense that Bowermaster is mapping out the anatomy of a disaster, a priori, and this gives us an acute sense of the daily fear and anxiety endemic this territory.

   All arrive back safely, without major incident, making us realize that the potential of danger is far more enticing than the reality of tragedy. And given both the banality of tragedy, and its devastating effects, one is deeply relieved the journey ends an unmitigated success, and grateful that someone took the risks necessary to share the story of this enchanting and wild place.




2. Subtitled, "Adventuring in Alaska's Islands of Fire and Ice," this is the account of Jon Bowermaster's modern-day exploration of the four Aleutian Islands in 1999. He's a writer for National Geographic, who sponsored this trip, and he and his three traveling companions were thus able to be properly outfitted with the best outdoor gear and kayaks available for the adventure.

   The trip took 25 days in mid-summer, but it sure didn't seem like summer to me. The Aleutian Islands are located in the heart of the Bering Sea, in one of the most dangerous and stormiest waters in the world. But the team Bowermaster put together were all skilled, experienced and strong men. They kayaked from island to island, camped on the beaches and hiked up the volcanic mountains that dominate this small world. They carried their food with them as well as camera equipment as one of the men was an official photographer for National Geographic.

   The best part of the book was the well-researched history. I am fascinated by all things about the frozen north and wondered if the Aleutian Islands as depicted by James Michener in "Alaska" was accurate. This book confirmed the accuracy of the fictional book and even added more. There are no people who live on the Aleutian Islands anymore even though they once held a population of more than 25,000. But first the Russians and then the Americans discovered that this was a place to hunt for seal and otter and forced the people to hunt for these pelts. After being isolated for thousands of years, the Aleuts had no natural resistance to disease and many of them died. There was still a small colony in the 1940s but they were all removed from the area because they were being attacked by Japan. Most of these people were sent to internment camps in Alaska and never returned to the Aleuts.

   No wonder this place attracted Bowermaster and his National Geographic crew. Of course, in spite of being properly outfitted, there was still danger everywhere, especially since they had no communication with the outside world. And they had to paddle their kayaks for as many as 7 hours without a rest through volatile and dangerous waters. Some of the time I felt I was right with them. The map could have been better, but the photographs were excellent -- definitely National Geographic quality. They captured the beauty and the isolation with a professional's eye.

   Because I have a particular interest in Alaska, I did enjoy this book. But the writing reads like a National Geographic piece -- clear, concise and accurate, but lacking in real passion or interesting personal details. The author tried to introduce a small bit of description of some tension in the group, but I had never gotten to know the people enough to really care. I guess I wanted it to be more than what it was -- four modern men dressed in Gore-tex looking for adventure. Therefore, as far as my own personal taste goes, I can only give it a modest recommendation.




3. Generally, I liked the book because I love the Aleutians and seakayaking, and there are not many books on the market that describe this combined experience.

   However, some statements in the book are incorrect, e.g., when explaining plate tectonis, and I agree that the Aleutians are isolated and quiet, but they are definitely not untouched. There are islands you almost don't dare to step on because of unexploded ordnance or environmental hazards - all remnants from WWII.

   I must say I got a little tired from reading over and over again how far away from any help they were and how long they would survive if capsizing. I think it would have been enough to dedicate a single chapter to this, and spend more time instead describing the things that actually happened and that they discovered. I also would have liked to read more about the great kayaking they did rather than coming to the conclusion that they behaved like little boys fighting for prestige and food.

   The way the historical facts are woven into the story is well done, and the photos are really great.




4. I liked this book alot, it contains adventure and information all at once. It includes amazing pictures so you can get the full affect of the remotness of the expidition. I plan on buying more Bowermaster books.



5. The ff are summaries of the authors own statements.
   
   He and his crew go to a place none of us have ever heard of - the ALeutian Islands. No one has ever been there - except - the US mIlitary, the Coast Guard, The Japanese, Natives and Area fisherman. They actually kayak across ten miles of open ocean - and the winds - they hit 17MPH!! Not only that it was cold! (Hmmm wonder what Peter Bray might say about all of this - Peter was (is) the world record holder for kayaking the North Atlantic solo and unsupported) And all the time they were there a volcano might have exploded! (Yes and I guess a meteor could have hit their boats as well)
   
   The book goes on like this and gets rather boring - the author has an obsession with hypothermia mentioning it so many times I lost count and then devoting an entire chapter to the physiology of it. The fact of the matter is - anyone who goes into Northern Waters realizes they are at risk for this - every lobster man every crab fisherman, every kayaker etc etc. I dont understand the authors need to continually emphasize that "you know we could have died " - from hypothermia, starvation, drowning and volcanoes - what's the point?
   
   You buys your ticket and takes your chances - no since continually whining about it .
   
   You too could take this trip - If national Geographic forked over $10,000 to you as well - they paid a fisherman $8000 to take them to the islands.
   
   
   The writing is nothing tremendous - for an 'adventurer' this whole story was rather sedate - there a lot of crab Fisherman who could spin a much better yarn - or better yet read the biographies of people who actually lived in Alaska from the late 1800's into the 1930's and you will see true adventure - not a yuppie's four week vacation.

No comments about Southeast Alask's Inside Passage Recreation: Southeast Alaska Recreation Map, Alaska.

3 comments about Rivers of Life: Southwest Alaska, the Last Great Salmon Fishery.

1. Rivers of Life has stunningly beautiful photography of the rivers and fish of Bristol Bay, Alaska. Although I have been there several times, Ketchum and Hampton's book reveals so much more about this remote region than a visitor would typically see or learn. It also documents the poignant inside story of the history of this, the world's greatest wild salmon fishery, and the century-long struggle among the natives, commercial fishermen, sport-fishermen, and government to conserve the resource and use it wisely.



2. Much of the photos in this book are taken from fairly high up, helicopter or aircraft. Composition is better than anything in the genre. Medium format Pentax 645 ensures a high level of detail. Printing quality is among the best i've seen. This is not just another book on the beauty of Alaskan wilderness. Interesting text for those with little background on salmon and their rivers.
   A masterpiece!



3. This was an extraordinary book that shows the vital necessity of protecting this area from projects like Anglo-American's Pebble Mine, which could ruin the salmon fishery at the heart of the ecosystem.

No comments about Schwatka's Last Search: The New York Ledger Expedition.