The Sun Is a Compass

The Sun Is a Compass

Author: Caroline Van Hemert

Publisher: Little, Brown Spark

Published: 2019-03-19

Total Pages: 299

ISBN-13: 0316414433

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For fans of Cheryl Strayed, the gripping story of a biologist's human-powered journey from the Pacific Northwest to the Arctic to rediscover her love of birds, nature, and adventure. During graduate school, as she conducted experiments on the peculiarly misshapen beaks of chickadees, ornithologist Caroline Van Hemert began to feel stifled in the isolated, sterile environment of the lab. Worried that she was losing her passion for the scientific research she once loved, she was compelled to experience wildness again, to be guided by the sounds of birds and to follow the trails of animals. In March of 2012, she and her husband set off on a 4,000-mile wilderness journey from the Pacific rainforest to the Alaskan Arctic, traveling by rowboat, ski, foot, raft, and canoe. Together, they survived harrowing dangers while also experiencing incredible moments of joy and grace -- migrating birds silhouetted against the moon, the steamy breath of caribou, and the bond that comes from sharing such experiences. A unique blend of science, adventure, and personal narrative, The Sun is a Compass explores the bounds of the physical body and the tenuousness of life in the company of the creatures who make their homes in the wildest places left in North America. Inspiring and beautifully written, this love letter to nature is a lyrical testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Winner of the 2019 Banff Mountain Book Competition: Adventure Travel


The Packraft Handbook

The Packraft Handbook

Author: Luc Mehl

Publisher: Mountaineers Books

Published: 2022-01-12

Total Pages: 406

ISBN-13: 1680516035

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"A staple for paddlers.... [The Packraft Handbook has] now become the bible for outdoor recreators taking their inflatable rafts into the backcountry." ― Anchorage Daily News 2021 National Outdoor Book Award Winner in Outdoor Adventure Guides 2022 Banff Mountain Book Competition Guidebook Winner Alaska-based author is a leading expert on wilderness travel Emphasis on skill progression and safety applies to wide range of outdoor water recreation Vibrant illustrations and photos inform and inspire The Packraft Handbook is a comprehensive guide to packrafting, with a strong emphasis on skill progression and safety. Readers will learn to maneuver through river features and open water, mitigate risk with trip planning and boat control, and how to react when things go wrong. Beginners will find everything they need to know to get started--from packraft care to proper paddling position as well as what to wear and how to communicate. Illustrated for visual learners and featuring stunning photography, The Packraft Handbook has something to offer all packrafters and other whitewater sports enthusiasts.


Kings of the Yukon

Kings of the Yukon

Author: Adam Weymouth

Publisher: Penguin Group

Published: 2019

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780141983790

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"The Yukon River is 2,000 miles long and the longest stretch of free-flowing river in the United States. In this riveting examination of one of the last wild places on earth, Adam Weymouth canoes from Canada's Yukon Territory, through Alaska, to the Bering Sea. The result is a book that shows how even the most remote wilderness is affected by the same forces reshaping the rest of the planet. Every summer, hundreds of thousands of king salmon migrate the distance of the Yukon to their spawning grounds, where they breed and die, in what is the longest salmon run in the world. For the people who live along the river, salmon were once the lifeblood of commerce and local culture. But climate change and globalized economy have fundamentally altered the balance between people and nature; the health and numbers of king salmon are in question, as is the fate of the communities that depend on them. Traveling down the Yukon as the salmon migrate, a four-month journey through untrammeled landscape, Weymouth traces the fundamental interconnectedness of people and fish through searing and unforgettable portraits of the individuals he encounters. He offers a powerful, nuanced glimpse into indigenous cultures, and into our ever-complicated relationship with the natural world. Weaving in the rich history of salmon across time as well as the science behind their mysterious life cycle, 'Kings of the Yukon' is extraordinary adventure and nature writing at its most urgent and poetic"--Dust jacket.


Alaska's Wolf Man

Alaska's Wolf Man

Author: Jim Rearden

Publisher: Graphic Arts Books

Published: 2014-04-04

Total Pages: 308

ISBN-13: 0882409352

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Between 1915 and 1955 adventure-seeking Frank Glaser, a latter-day Far North Mountain Man, trekked across wilderness Alaska on foot, by wolf-dog team, and eventually, by airplane. In his career he was a market hunter, trapper, roadhouse owner, professional dog team musher, and federal predator agent. A naturalist at heart, he learned from personal observation the life secrets of moose, caribou, foxes, wolverines, mountain sheep, grizzly bears, and wolves—especially wolves.


Yukon Alone

Yukon Alone

Author: John Balzar

Publisher: Macmillan

Published: 2000

Total Pages: 324

ISBN-13: 9780805059502

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The Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race is one of the most challenging sporting events in the world. Every February, a handful of hardy souls spends over two weeks racing sleds pulled by fourteen dogs over 1,023 miles of frozen rivers, icy mountain passes, and spruce forests as big as entire states, facing temperatures that drop to forty degrees below zero on nights that are seventeen hours long. Why would anyone want to enter this race? John Balzar-who moved to Alaska and lived on the trail-treats us to a vivid account of the grueling race itself, offering an insightful look at the men and women who have moved to this rugged and beautiful place. Readers will also be fascinated by Balzar's account of what goes into the training and care of the majestic dogs who pull the sleds and whose courage, strength, and devotion make them the true heroes of this story.


Jason's Gold

Jason's Gold

Author: Will Hobbs

Publisher: Harper Collins

Published: 2009-10-13

Total Pages: 250

ISBN-13: 0061963690

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"Gold!" Jason shouted at the top of his lungs. "Read all about it! Gold discovered in Alaska!" Within hours of hearing the thrilling news, fifteen-year-old Jason Hawthorn jumps a train for Seattle, stow away on a ship bound for the goldfields, and joins thousands of fellow prospectors attempting the difficult journey to the Klondike. The Dead Horse Trail, the infamous Chilkott Pass, and a five-hundred-mile trip by canoe down the Yukon River lie ahead. With help from a young writer named Jack London, Jason and his dog face moose, bears, and the terrors of a subartic winter in this bone-chilling survival story. 00-01 Tayshas High School Reading List, 01-02 Young Hoosier Book Award Masterlist (Gr 4-6), 01-02 Young Hoosier Book Award Masterlist (Gr 6-8), 01-02 William Allen White Children's Book Award Masterlist, and 01 Heartland Award for Excellence in YA Lit Finalist Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies 2000, National Council for SS & Child. Book Council, 2000 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA), and 2000 Quick Picks for Young Adults (Recomm. Books for Reluctant Young Readers)


Adventures in the Alaskan Skin Trade

Adventures in the Alaskan Skin Trade

Author: John Hawkes

Publisher: Penguin Group

Published: 1986

Total Pages: 404

ISBN-13: 9780140092837

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A Western tall tale and a psychological thriller of stunning insight and depth, this is Hawkes' most ambitious work ever.


Alaska-Yukon Adventures

Alaska-Yukon Adventures

Author: Fraser Bridges

Publisher: Prima Lifestyles

Published: 1996

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780761502265

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Thousands of travelers visit Alaska and Northwest Canada every year. They are drawn to the region by the natural beauty and awe-inspiring geography. With the popularity of cruises and directed adventure vacations, the dedicated outdoor adventurer is often forced to travel farther to find unspoiled places. In keeping with the tradition of the Road Trip Adventures? series, "Alaska--Yukon Adventures brings you everything you need to know to have a true travel adventure in the Arctic northwest. Fraser Bridges? indispensable "Highway Logs, which include maps and points of interest along the road, keep both the driver and passengers informed and entertained during their arctic adventure. From wilderness hikes to village art festivals, this practical guide details the most interesting aspects of Alaska and the Yukon. Bridges also includes the best hikes, canoe trips, and campgrounds for the more rugged adventurer. Among the destinations detailed in "Alaska--Yukon Adventures are: - Circle and Chena Hotsprings - Kenai Peninsula - Kodiac Island - Nahanni National Park - Dempster Country In this guide, Bridges ranks the ten best drives, destinations, and places to eat and stay. He details the most interesting features and side trips along the Alaskan Highway and its access routes. From gas stations to marvels of nature, this guide is a necessity for anyone interested in visiting Alaska or western Canada.