I'm guessing Nick Jans probably lives like he writes. There's nothing extraneous here. Every word has a purpose. Unfortunately, the message it conveys is one of loss. The wilderness is changing, disappearing, even in the remote areas of the world. Regardless of the message, this book is a beauty. The photography is vibrant, the prose compelling, and the sentiment touching. The wilderness couldn't have found a better voice.

This is a potent book; just 164 pages but every photo is jaw-dropping and not a word is wasted. Author is a life-long Alaskan and in most essays he is reflecting on Alaska and things Alaskan. Humorous, touching and stimulating in many other ways. Well worth your $$.

Nick Jans has done it again -- this time with pictures! Mr. Jans' previous compilations of essays ("The Last Light Breaking" and "A Place Beyond"), as well as his Alaska Magazine articles, introduced readers to his great love and appreciation of the Alaskan arctic and its inhabitants. In "Tracks of the Unseen," Mr. Jans also includes his own photographs, which ideally complement his essays. There is some content overlap with his essays in "Alaska" (photographs by Art Wolfe), but this is a more integral pairing of the essays and photos. This is a lovely book, with Mr. Jans' graceful writing continuing to transport readers to the great north.

Very comprehensive guide for those of us who love to haunt used bookstores in CA (et al). Useful information such as inventory sizes, specialities, phone numbers, special services, and more. Organized by state, city, and also several indices.

An invaluable take-along tote for any who consider a used book store visit an essential part of the trip. Choose the revised, expanded Used Book Lover's Guide To The Pacific Coast States if traveling in California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska or Hawaii: it includes number of volumes, store specialty, and candid comments if the store was visited.

This newly updated and expanded addition of The Used Book Lover's Guide To The Pacific Coast States continues to insure its preeminence as the most comprehensive and important guide to the used bookstores and dealers in California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii. Featured are 1,500 used book dealers conveniently grouped by location and category; a Specialty Index to help locate dealers specializing in a particular area of interest; easy to follow travel directions for getting where you want to go; twenty-four city, regional and state maps to aid in planning book hunting trips; and practical comments about shops based on the David and Susan Siegal's personal visits. If you are a true bibliophile or antiquarian book dealer traveling the area, don't leave home without your copy of The Used Book Lover's Guide To The Pacific Coast States!

This was a terrific story about the quest to find what is now Alaska. It gives insight into just how courageous these early exployers were. I can't comprehend of enduring those sort of hardships. Ford is also a good biologist and gives interesting commentary on the animal life. He also describes what may have been the first observation of a diving reflex in a marine mammal, the now extinct Northern sea cow. If you read this, it would be hard to complain about our current quality of life.

A true account of Vitus Bering's voyage from Russia to discover what is now Alaska. Anyone interested in the history of Alaska should start by reading this book, or someone looking for an actual true life adventure story that makes one appreciate the dangers encounted in the 1700's by these amazing explorers. This book is written from the journals of Georg Stellar, the naturalist on-board the boat that discovered Alaska. The first written account and identification of many species that Stellar discovered and writes about in his journals. One of which is extinct today and his writings are the only account of the massive Stellar Sea Cow. A fabulous account of these adventurors and their interaction with the beautiful, but deadly, Alaska coast and it's native people.

Excellent story of the discovery of Alaska by the famous explorer,Vitus Bering and naturalist, Georg Steller. Combines text from Steller's extensive notes and observations of the author.

If you want to see wild Alaska, don't skip over Southcentral just because you see cars and tall buildings in Anchorage. The hikes detailed in this book start on or near the road system. But you're far more likely to see moose, bear, dall sheep, and other wildlife on these trails than in the remote bush. Some of the trails are crowded (by Alaska standards--perhaps six hikers per mile) in the sunny season, but others see very little traffic. And, even on the most crowded trails such as McHugh and Bird Ridge, you escape most other hikers after about a thousand feet. By the time you work your way into the high valleys, you're usually the only one up there. The views are astounding, and the weather far, far nicer than SE or SW Alaska. Worth a look, even if you're only in Anchorage for a few days.

First, I should say that "for hikes in the vicinity of Anchorage" is a little misleading. Southcentral Alaska includes thousands of square miles worth of gorgeous trails and hikeable terrain, and this book is probably the best one to help you get out there. It includes maps for all hikes, as well as vital statistics like distance, estimated hiking time (take with a grain of salt!), total elevation gain, and seasons that it's open. Indexes in the back help you look for a hike by season, area, length, or children-suitability.

After 17 years in Alaska, ten with the same dog-eared copy of 55 Ways, I haven't been disappointed yet.

While the Milepost will give you every pullout and scenic view on the highway, this book is great reading about what to do, and what to see on your way. The information is very accurate and intresting. In this book, when you look up a certain place you end up reading on and on.

I took this book with the AAA guidebook on my trip to Alaska, read the AAA intro on the plane there and read only this book for the rest of the trip. We traveled more than 2,000 miles on the Alaska Highway. This book has been a great companion and guide book wherever we go. I even did some more reading on the plane back home because the writing was interesting. It may be partly because Alaska is such an interesting subject; but the book is definitely fun to read.

This book is just great.
I'm moving to Fairbanks Alaska in just under a year, to attend college and then teach somewhere in the "bush".
Anyways, after just doing a quick glance at Alaska books in the local bookstores, I saw this one.
It's just amazing.
It rises FAR above any other guide book I've ever seen...I had to buy it on the spot.
What sets this book apart is a combination of things.
1. The photos.
this book is FULL, I mean FULL, of very good quality professional/artistic photos.
2. It doesn't skim.
This book is one of the few books on Alaska that I've seen that didn't just skim over the Arctic and Seward Peninsula regions.
These areas all have very detailed descriptions, photos, climate info, sun rise/sunset info.
It delves into even the minor towns such as Kiana, Anaktuvuk Pass...etc.
3. It includes literary ESSAYS written by professional authors about certain areas...and there are at least one or two essays in every regional subgroup detailing everything from culture to climate to history.
4. As mentioned above, this book details the history of Aaska as well. And just like everything else in this book...it doesn't merely gloss it up into a 3 page chapter.
it gets very much into virtually every aspect...and includes historical photos, carvings, etc.

Overall, this book is incredible.
It transcends what is traditionally a guide book and becomes something anyone would read to learn about Alaska.
Very good book, definitely recommended.

~ Will

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.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A BIT OF ALASKA TO BRING HOME TO A TODDLER OR PRESCHOOLER, THIS IS ALL YOU'LL NEED TO BRING. THE ILLUSTRATIONS ARE A WONDERFUL BLEND OF COLOR AND SIMPLE CHARACTER IN THE FACES OF THE ANIMALS. THE TEXT UTILIZES WORDS COMONLY REFERED TO IN ALASKA SUCH AS ULUS AND QIVIUT. THERE IS A SIMPLE GLOSSARY FOR THE ADULT TO REFER TO FOR ANSWERING THOSE "WHY?" QUESTIONS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE COUNTING ALONG WITH THE ABC'S, COUNT ALASKA'S COLORS IS ALSO GOOD FOR THE KINDERGARTENER.

My son was given this book for his first birthday. He has not put it down since. He has learned a lot of animals and is starting on his letter. At night when he picks his goodnight story, he usally picks this one first.

This is not only a historical account of the Alaskan Airlines but a story about the lives of the people who carved out a dream in an unforgiving wilderness. The organization's culture reflects the personalities, values, and experiences of the people, past and present, which built this company. The author takes you back in history to the early 1930's through the eyes of the first pilots who dared to fly the Alaskan wilderness. Their courage, strong determination, and refusal to accept failure built the founding principles of the organization we know today. Satterfield provides the reader a vivid historic depiction of the evolution of air travel, the Alaskan Airlines, the people, and their place in Alaska's history.

Book provides useful info in a format that makes for enjoyable reading! Highly Recommend this pub to anyone seeking employment with the company.

S/Fi MONGO

A quirky and delightful book

A wonderful writing style that will charm you and keep your attention right to the last punctuation mark." Dave Fremming, Alaskan Southeaster

This is all you need to plan your time while on your Alaska cruise. I wanted a book that would enable me to make decisions about where to go when in port, what to see, what to not bother with, and how to amuse myself and my family. Like everybody taking a cruise, we wanted to get as much out of it as possible! This book is an indispensable guide to what you will see on your Alaska cruise. It describes the various ports of call, has maps of the towns, suggestions for what to do with your free time, what not to miss. Having this book precluded me from lugging around 3 different books and grabbing all those touristy brochures along the way. Have you chosen Alaska for your cruise destination? Then take this book along. Highly recommended.

Anne Vipond's straightforward style, well-conceived organization, and excellent content make this book indispensable for Alaska-bound cruisers. Anne patiently describes all the major cruise ports in Alaska and the Inside Passage. The detailed town maps with keys to the text descriptions are excellent. Descriptions of various attractions meaty, yet brief. The thing that is most attractive about this book is its focus on activities interesting to cruisers, as opposed to the long list of hotels and restaurants common in other guide books. Anyone taking a cruise to Alaska will find this book invaluable. It seems to be the only reference available that provides assistance in planning your trip to make maximum benefit from your time in each port.