A richly drawn, in-depth profile of one of the world's last unspoiled wildernesses.

* Explores both geologic and human history of the region * Includes a sampling of literature inspired by the Brooks Range * Examines past, present, and future conservation efforts in this extraordinary place Not just the ultimate mountains for their northernmost location on the North American continent, the Brooks Range also is one of the world's last, great, unspoiled wildernesses. A land of environmental and cultural extremes, its impressions on those who visit or reside there is as far-ranging as humankind's effect on the Range itself. Austere, mystical, and stunningly beautiful, the psychic and corpreal influence of the region is inescapable. Alaska's Brooks Range: The Ultimate Mountains looks at the many facets that make this region so provocative and so worthy of our strongest preservation efforts. It explores the geologic origins of some of the most desolate beauty on earth; the native inhabitants-both man and animal-whose age-old methods of survival have been altered by the winds from the lower 48; and the human history, from the early British military explorers to gold panners to the geographers who first mapped the Arctic wilderness. The story of Bob Marshall traces his influence as the father of the Arctic conservation movement, and Range Writings offers a sampling of literature inspired by the Brooks Range experience. Finally, this book takes a hard look at past, present, and proposed conservation efforts in the Brooks Range, because there is much more at stake than land and wildlife in this last frontier. The future of humankind is here, where the rarity of existence in pristine country is an everyday reality, where we can learn how best to fit in without destroying the scheme of life so exquisitely evolved on this planet. Alaska's Brooks Range is an affectionate portrait of an untamed territory-a land that challenges the limits of its natural inhabitants and those of human spirit and providence.

"A book for every man and woman who loves the wilderness. One who reads this volume walks with Bob Marshall on treacherous trails, climbs with him to the top of unnamed mountains, struggles with him to escape the swift rise of dangerous rivers, faces grizzly bears unarmed, feels the joy of being alone in an empty wilderness, and sees through a poet's eyes the great glories of the Alaskan mountains."--William O. Douglas "For all who love wild places and the feeling of wilderness exploration this book will be a treasure."--Sigurd F. Olson

"Reading this poignant volume again emphasizes to me how crucial it is to keep exploitation out of this extraordinary part of our planet, so that it can serve as a lasting beacon for America's wilderness."--Edgar Wayburn, M.D., five-time president of the Sierra Club and author of Your Land and Mine PRAISE FOR THE SECOND EDITION: "A book for every man and woman who loves the wilderness. One who reads this volume walks with Bob Marshall on treacherous trails, climbs with him to the top of unnamed mountains, struggles with him to escape the swift rise of dangerous rivers, faces grizzly bears unarmed, feels the joy of being alone in an empty wilderness, and sees through the poet's eyes the great glories of the Alaskan mountains."--William O. Douglas

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1970.

The History of the Central Brooks Range uses rare primary sources in order to provide a chronological examination and history of the Koyukuk region--including anthropological descriptions of the Native groups that make the Central Brooks Range and its surroundings their home. The history of early exploration, mining, and the Klondike all overflow into the story of the Koyukuk region and its rich cultural heritage, and William E. Brown provides a fascinating history of the extraordinary ways of survival employed by pioneers in this rugged northern land. Supplemented with detailed descriptions by Robert Marshall, The History of the Central Brooks Range is further enhanced by over 150 beautiful full-color illustrations--from early exploration to the creation of the Gates of the Arctic National Park--making this an essential volume for anyone interested in Alaska Native studies.

"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.

Presents historical background on ski mountaineering, which is climbing a mountain on skis and then skiing down the slopes, and offers tips on climbing and skiing specific mountains.