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ALASKA - TRAIL BOOKS
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Trail Talk
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Alaska-the Midnight Sun in the Arctic, rain forest along
the twisting coastline of the Southeast, the towering peaks and glaciers along
the Gulf of Alaska, alpine ridges rolling like ocean waves across the
Interior-it's all
 waiting for hikers to explore. Hiking Alaska is a
comprehensive guide to the entire state, featuring 100 hikes with more than 200
optional destinations and side trips. Special sections offer information of
Denali National Park and remote wildlands like Gates of the Arctic, Katmai, and
Wrangell-St. Elias national parks. The text describes hikes for all ages and
abilities, including tips and trips for sharing the outdoors with children.
Elevation profiles, maps, natural history sidebars, and no-trace camping and
safety techniques accompany detailed hike descriptions. Comparison tables help
you pick a hike by length, access, and type of natural features. Author Dean
Littlepage, former manager of the Iditarod National Historic Trail, has hiked,
maintained, built, planned, protected, and written about trails for more than
twenty-five years. His evocative photographs and intriguing natural history
overviews add to this informative book. Don't forget to pick up a copy of Hiking
Alaska before you head out on your next backcountry adventure in the Great Land.
Birdshooter's Take:
This book
is organized by geography with an index map showing you the exact location of
each hike. That's a major plus if you are looking for a day or overnight
trip in a particular region of the state. Hiking Alaska also has a
trail map which shows major roads, trailheads, and the route of the hiking
trail. There are some pictures in this trail book and the material is
decent with data on trail difficulty, length, elevations, and special features
and attractions. There are 50 hikes in this book and it is geared to both
day and overnight hikers. My Recommendation:
If you do a lot of hiking all over the State of
Alaska this is a good buy since it is one of the few books that covers
the entire state.
 From the rain forests and glaciers of
Southeast Alaska to the rugged mountains and tundra of the state's vast
interior, this practical guide by Alaska specialist Jim DuFresne makes Alaska's
pristine wilderness accessible to the novice and experienced hiker alike.
The book includes: 1. expanded 2nd edition, thoroughly revised and updated
on the trail. 2. a wide range of hikes, from day trips to backcountry pack
and adventures. 3. detailed trail descriptions and two-color contour maps
for every hike. 4. practical advice on transportation, accommodations,
equipment and safety
special illustrated section on Alaska's flora and fauna
Birdshooter's Take:
I used an earlier edition of this book during
two trips to Alaska in the 1990's. The book covers the entire state and is
a major plus to a non-resident of Alaska since it recommends hiking and
backpacking trails but also includes traveling details for transportation,
lodging, and services in each region of the State.
My Recommendation:
This is the book to get if you are not a resident
in Alaska and only plan to spend a week or two in the area.
 Includes
nearly all the hikeable trails and peaks in the park, from popular Flattop
Mountain to rarely seen valleys: - For all ages
and abilities, and from two-mile weeknight strolls to multiday backpacking trips
and scrambles. - Detailed driving directions to
the trailheads. - Maps and photos for every hike.
- Information on flora and fauna, history, and geology of the park.
(A portion of the proceeds from this book will be donated to Friends of
the Eagle River Nature Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting
the natural history and recreational use of Chugach State Park.)
Birdshooter's Take:
There are quite a few books on hikes in Alaska,
but this one is good if you do a lot of trips near Anchorage or the Seward area
in the Chugach State Park. (You might also consider the Chugach National
Forest which is nearby and has some great trails.) My Recommendation:
If you don't want to venture too far from Anchorage and want some great hiking
and backpacking experiences, the Chugach State Park is easy to access and has
some great terrain. This book provides all the details you need.
However, if you are not a resident of the State and only plan to spend a week in
the area, you are probably better off with the Lonely Planet's Hiking In
Alaska.
DENALI: THE COMPLETE GUIDE is the most comprehensive guide
to one of North America's best-known parks. This sweeping reference to Denali
National Park and Preserve details in words, pictures, and maps, all the
information the traveler needs for a great Denali experience.
Explore Denali by bus, car, train, bike, boat, or foot. Raft whitewater rapids,
pick berries, climb the continent's highest mountain, backpack through forest
and tundra, watch grizzlies dig for ground squirrels, share a
ridgetop with Dall sheep, attend sled-dog demonstrations, go on ranger-guided
hikes, or camp in solitude within glacially carved valleys. In the winter, ski,
snowshoe, or drive sled-dog teams across the darkened, frozen landscape and
stand beneath the dancing northern lights.
From the natural history of Mount McKinley (called Denali, "The High One," by
Natives) and the surrounding region, to the human history of the mountain and
the park, to the many climbs, both victorious and tragic, DENALI: THE COMPLETE
GUIDE captures the mystique of this fascinating place. Readers will love the
particulars about south Denali, the backcountry of the park, the flora and fauna
of the area, and Denali in winter. Even casual travelers will find in-depth
information about the entrance area and Denali Park road, including checklists
for mammals, birds, and plants. "The beauty of Sherwonit's writing style is not
flash, but rather a subtlety that renders him nearly invisible. A journalist by
trade, he demonstrates considerable skill in blending voluminous historical
detail into highly readable prose, placing the right quotation in just the right
spot. In this way he seamlessly weaves text, quotes, and journal excerpts into a
wonderfully homogenous whole. The overall effect makes the reader feel like an
eyewitness to the events."-Joseph Ferguson, Climbing magazine
Birdshooter's Take:
This book is more geared to the general outdoor
enthusiast than the hiker and backpacker, and it is also very specific to
Denali. My Recommendation: Get this book
if you plan to spend most of your vacation in Denali National Park and want a
mix of outdoor activities. If you plan to explore other parts of the State
(ie. the Chugach National or State Forest) and
are focused on hiking and backpacking, then consider some of the other books
listed here.
 This
is a MUST HAVE book for any visitor or Alaska resident who wants to get out and
about and enjoy the outdoors in this part of Alaska. Those of us who have lived
in Alaska for many years still use this book every summer for our day trip or
weekend adventure planning, as well as for longer trips. I give this book as a
gift to both summer visitors and people who have just moved here. It is
accurate, clearly written, has good maps, easy directions to the trail heads and
has the necessary safety information for folks not used to things like
mosquitoes, bears, and stream crossings. I get the latest edition every time it
comes out to check out the most up to date trail information.
Birdshooter's Take:
There are quite a few books on hikes in Alaska,
but this one is good if you do a lot of trips in the Southcentral area. My Recommendation:
If you visit Southcentral Alaska frequently, this is the book to get. If
you are not a resident of the State, however, and only plan to spend a week in
the area, you are better off with the Lonely Planet's Hiking In Alaska.
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