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

"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

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.

* 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 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.

On a slope above a mountain lake in AlaskaÕs Brooks Range, Sam and Billie Wright built a twelve-by-twelve-foot log cabin with hand tools and named it KoviashuvikÑan Eskimo word meaning "living in the present moment with quiet joy and happiness." SamÕs account of the twenty years they spent there is both a tale of wilderness survival and an inspiring meditation on the natural world and humanityÕs relationship to it.

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

This book is a comprehensive guide to the natural history of the North Slope, the only arctic tundra in the United States. The first section provides detailed information on climate, geology, landforms, and ecology. The second provides a guide to the identification and natural history of the common animals and plants and a primer on the human prehistory of the region from the Pleistocene through the mid-twentieth century. The appendix provides the framework for a tour of the natural history features along the Dalton Highway, a road connecting the crest of the Brooks Range with Prudhoe Bay and the Arctic Ocean, and includes mile markers where travelers may safely pull off to view geologic formations, plants, birds, mammals, and fish. Featuring hundreds of illustrations that support the clear, authoritative text, Land of Extremes reveals the arctic tundra as an ecosystem teeming with life.