2 comments about Lonely Planet Backpacking in Alaska (Backpacking in Alaska, 1st ed).

1. Jim Dufresne does a great job in outlining excellent hikes to take throughout Alaska. We used this book in a number of areas. He gives the backpacker's view of things, not the typical tourist's. Mr. Dufresne also wrote a great book on Glacier Bay. The only guidebook we used to kayak the area. We would have never done that area had we not come acrossed his book in Michigan where he is from.



2. 3 mos. in Alaska and I used this book extensively! I plotted numerous trips from multi-day trips to long "all day" hikes with the aid of this book. I did about a 3rd of the trails in this book (maybe more) and the trail descriptions are accurate. Additional information regarding lodging was extremely useful....... If you are planning a backpacking trip in Alaska, buy this book! It would have been difficult finding backpacking information without it.

No comments about Seattle Brews: The Insider's Guide to Neighborhood Alehouses, Brewpubs, and Bars.

No comments about Carved History: A Totem Guide to Sitka National Historical Park.

1 comments about Stikine River (Alaska Geographic).

1. The Stikene River careens through northern British Columbia past magnificent mountains, cutting canyons deeper, carrying salmon to the Pacific and tossing adventurous kayakers high over its rapids. In years past, it was a primary trade route for the natives of the area, and was instrumental transporting miners during the Yukon Gold Rush. However, all of these facts, so well detailed in this volume, are nothing in comparison to the photographs of a harsh and stunningly beautiful land. The brute strength of the enormous quantity of water, the utter isolation of the still largely unexplored costal mountains and the breathtaking vistas are the images that you will be left with. With those images will be a nostalgia of a life you may have had 20,000 years ago and the desire to sell all your belongings to finance your next exploration.

1 comments about Compass American Guides: Alaska (Fodor's Compass American Guides).

1. This is the best guidebook I've seen about Alaska. Its an illustrated introduction that lures you into the wilds of Alaska with amazing, artistic photography. It provides background, history, insight, and discusses things to do that don't fit into the cookie-cutter format of other guidebook series.

   The photography is beautiful and artistic, printed in a format just large enough to give you some idea of the grandeur of Alaska without making the book too unwieldy to take along on your trip. Also included are historical drawings, sketches, and high-quality maps. Its humorous in parts (what is a "sourdough"?).

   This book goes beyond the normal guidebook which might list town, lodging and restaurants. It starts off with a fascinating history of the entire state, a discussion of the people of Alaska, the wildlife; then discusses four major areas of Alaska (and their history, people, etc.). It helps you get to know the state.

   The descriptions of food, lodging and tours are adequate, but you may want to supplement these listing with a AAA guidebook or travel agent.

5 comments about Land of the Radioactive Midnight Sun: A Cheechako's First Year in Alaska.

1. Sean's style and story-telling ability flow quickly, easily and smoothly. You're happy to go along for the ride, and during the trip you learn so much about one of the smallest, most unique cultures in this American sea of cultures, and about one of the most beautiful yet challenging places on the planet. Things you could learn only by living them. But just as importantly, you laugh as you watch him grow from cheechako to sourdough. A must-buy for anyone into reading humor, or about the military, or Alaska. Get it now!!



2. Well-written, insightful, educational, and entertaining. Funny without making fun of people. Really brings Alaska and its residents to life, providing a fascinating glimpse of the state unavailable to most visitors (i.e., way beyond the typical 7-night cruise ship experience.) I began reading it because of my interest in military history (the author was stationed there as an Air Force officer), but the quality of writing and greater focus on non-military experiences was a pleasant surprise. I now want to quit my job, pack my bags, and head immediately to Alaska.



3. Having been stationed at Eielson during the same time as Flynn, I can vouch for his accuracy in the descriptions of the whole "Interior of Alaska" experience. I'm thankful that he wrote this, because now when people ask what it was like up there, I just tell them to buy the book. Overall I liked his stories and his range of topics, but sometimes they seemed to drag on a bit, especially when they dealt with his lack of female options. He more than makes up for that, with poking fun at a sometimes stuffy US Air Force, and his quest for becoming a sourdough. A great book to pick up when you think life in the lower 48 is tough and you need a chuckle.



4. Sean Michael Flynn didn't save the world when he went to Alaska; he didn't feed the bears or teach the Eskimos and he didn't climb the highest mountain. But that's not what he set out to do. Flynn was stationed at Eielson Air Force Base in the Alaskan Interior, and while there he decided to make the best of an opportunity to do things most people never get a chance to do. Here he delivers an immeasurably entertaining trip through his first year on the Last Frontier, filled with first-hand experiences written with a wit and humor that would make Dave Barry proud. (At times he made me laugh unlike any writer has been able to do since Lewis Grizzard. Yet is humor is refrshingly effortless...Flynn isn't the class clown, but he's the guy you know who can tell a story that'll leave you rolling on the floor.) Flynn never tries to be a hero, instead using a self-deprecating manner that lets you know he's 'one of us'". His "likeability" makes this a truly refreshing read. You'll really begin to enjoy the time you're spending with him (and that's not easy to accomplish with the written word.) He'd never say so himself, but the reader can tell that Flynn's an all-American guy-next-door...the kind of guy that other guys would like to hang out with and girls would like to take him home to their parents. In this book, he conveys that although the real Alaska might not be everything it's cracked up to be, in many ways, that's one of things that makes Alaska so much more. What's great about this book is everything that it's not---it's not a book about someone who goes to Alaska to communicate with the bears, or live off the land, or become a bush pilot, nor is it one of those books about someone who goes to Alaska to try to find himself. But in the end, that's exactly what he ends up doing. An absolutely fantastic read!



5. I was stationed at Eielson at the same time as Sean but mainly knew him from his hilarious and entertaining (and eventually banned) columns in the base newspaper. I found the book by accident years later while stationed at Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage, AK. Sean's account so perfectly encapsulates life as a Cheechako in the interior of Alaska it has to be a must read for anyone thinking of moving to, or even visiting, the heart of the last American frontier. Sean's newspaper columns were the topic of conversation every week in what was probably the most read USAF base paper in history - and his book is an ongoing laugh-fest with a style all his own, though very reminiscent of great humorists writers like Dave Barry. His experiences, while typical of a young, single guy (as I was at the time), give a true picture of what Alaska is all about. You don't have to know about Alaska or like the military to find this book a fascinating and eminently enjoyable read - but if you've ever been in the military, visited or thought about visiting Alaska - this is a book you can't pass up!

No comments about Travels in Alaska (Large Print Edition.

3 comments about Fast & Cold.

1. After borrowing this book from the library, I had someone give it to me as a Christmas present. Andrew Embick put his heart and soul (and considerable time and money) into this effort, and it shows. He outlines many whitewater rivers for which he has first-descent credentials; in that respect, he must be viewed as the acknowledged expert. One criticism, hopefully constructive: the book doesn't have an all-encompassing map, which would be useful for the reader to get a sense of orientation as (s)he navigates through the book. But overall, the book is a tour de force. I'll never paddle half the rivers in this book; I may never paddle Alaska, for that matter; but the book was a "must" for me. The color plates alone, depicting all the glory of glaciated streams, are worth the price of admission.



2. While the sport has continued to evolve since Andy did most of his rivers, he's still set the standard by which few will even come close. His reviews of the various rivers of Alaska are complete. This is a great read for entertainment. This is a dream book for the kayakers of Alaska and anyone hoping to stop by our beautiful state. Many of these rivers have still not been run since Andy and his friends ran them in the 80's. Kudoo's to THE AK whitewater book by which all others will be measured.



3. Usually, it's easy to promote a friend's effort. In the case of Andy's book, that took a bit of extra time, since during the time his information seemed most needed, the book hadn't been published yet and he usually sent the pertinent details via fax or by mail.
   
   It has only been in recent times, with a renewed interest in running Alaska rivers, that (for me) the book plays a role as a source of information, and more than that. Sadly, Andy is no longer around to provide his concise personal touch. Hence, the book not only serves as a guide, but also as a reminder, who Andy was - in part - as he was certainly a very complex person.
   
   This book is a reminder of how some guide books used to be written, that is, with a healthy dose of historical information. The history alone requires commitment to gather, check and then publish, lest an author had some very serious interests in that field. As in climbing guide books, the trend seems to be to give details about where to find what difficulty and how to deal with it by making available topos while omitting practically all else.
   
   Embicks's book is of great value because of the many personal tidbits it contains and some of the radical trips he relates, like paddling the Chakatatna and then crossing Cook Inlet (a salt water body with extreme tidal currents) in the same white-water boats, a feat, which will not very soon repeated in our time-crunch society.
   
   Fast & Cold makes not just an informative guide book, but also a great coffee-table issue for armchair afficionados. It is pertinent, that one has a lax attitude when dealing with Andy's type A, self-assured personality, and by giving him credit for having seen the many details he found on his trips and in his research, for relating them to us and thus enabling us to contemplate that aspect of him, which so many times didn't make it to the surface of his being, when we knew him during his lifetime.

5 comments about Best Places Alaska (Alaska Best Places, 2nd Edition).

1. I have to admit. I went to Alaska alone without a guidebook. But I had a great time anyway! When I came home, I decided to go back again, but this time with a guidebook. After going through many of the guides, we choose this one, because it was written by people who live and work in Alaska. It's full of practical tips ("Bears and Humans), offbeat trivia ("Chicken"), and subtle information ("Eskimo Etiquette"). From small towns way up north, to the rugged beauty of the Kenai Peninsula, and to the urban fun of Anchorage, this guide covers it all. Read this, and you'll be calling the airlines to book your flight the next week!



2. Best Places Alaska is an outstanding travel guide that features only the 'best' restaurants, lodgings, and destinations in Alaska, including guides and outfitters in its lists of recommendations for particular Alaskan regions. An excellent, involving survey of Alaska's best places, Best Places Alaska is a recommended take-along tote.



3. We used this book every day - and usually more than once. It is filled with great suggestions and recommendations. We found a few entries "outdated," but that can be expected. The suggestions for which shops to visit in small and large cities I found to be particularly helpful. Best book I have ever bought for travel.



4. A fantastic guidebook describing some of the off beat places in Alaska. If you want the true Alaskan experience, get this book. It contains over 200 restaurant and lodging reviews and stories of the 'best' places in Alaska. One of the three must travel books (Milepost, Discovering Denali, and Best Places Alaska) if you are going to the Last Frontier.



5. When planning our Alaska vacation to celebrate my parent's 50th anniversary, we bought this for them to read (since they don't use the internet). They read it with regards to all the stops on our itinerary for the cruise/land package we were taking and found it tremendously helpful!

3 comments about South to Alaska: From the Heartland of America to the Heart of a Dream.

1. I was one of those bewildered people who used to drive by the ship taking shape on the small Oklahoma farm, miles from the nearest navigable water, and wonder who was building it and why. I now know this was the first of two boats built by this artisan and adventurer and the beginning of an incredible journey.
   
   His daughter has written a glowing tribute to this amazing man and his lifelong pursuit of his dream. She has crafted an exciting account of the dangers and hardships of his voyage and a touching portrait of him and his loving wife who stuck with him and shared in the ultimate realization of his dream.



2. As one who normally reads only fiction, I was expecting this book, a gift from a friend, to be hard to get into, & easy to put down. However, I was very pleasantly surprised, as from the first page, I was eager to keep reading to see what obstacles Melvin & Cecil Owens would overcome to realize their dream to live in Alaska. With each turn of a page, their determination leapt out to grasp hold of you & cheer them on. Melvin's solo journey through waters that would concern even career sailors, was exciting to read, leaving you not able to stop reading until you knew he was safe. This adventure grasped you from the beginning, leaving you with the knowledge that dreams are there to be realized, no matter what the obstacles.



3. 
   South to Alaska: From the Heartland of America to the Heart of a Dream is the true life travelogue and biographical excerpt of one man's voyage by sea from Arkansas to Alaska. Melvin Owens single-handedly constructed the 47-foot "Red Dog" in his backyard, and launched it on the Arkansas River in 1971. He traveled the Arkansas River and Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico; in 1973 he began a solitary expedition along the Caribbean coasts of Mexico and Central America, through the Panama Canal, into the Pacific Ocean and finally to Alaska. To achieve his dream he battled mechanical problems, nature's ill will, sickness, thievery, and loneliness. An amazing and inspirational tale of one man's solo 10,000 mile expedition, as told his daughter Nancy Owens Barnes.