Best Fairbanks Alaska Travel Books
I'm going down, I'm going Do--". Author, airline captain and popular blogger (capnaux.com) Eric Auxier brings his former Alaska bush flying to life in his second novel, The Last Bush Pilots . Two young pilots, Daniel "DC" Alva and Allen David Foley, take on the world's most dangerous flying: the Alaska bush. Meet legendary bush pilot Jake "Crash" Whitakker, equally adept at landing planes and ladies--and "crashin' 'em" as well; prankster pilot Ralph Olaphsen, who once set an extinct volcano ablaze on April Fool's Day; and no-nonsense Check Airman Holly Innes, trying to cut a respectable niche in the notoriously macho bush pilot world--while escaping a dangerous past. While this novel is entirely fictional, many larger-than-life characters and "tall tales" are inspired by real people and events I encountered while flying the Alaska bush in the summer of'87. Moreover, the way both pilots handle their emergency landings come from hours plying the Southeast Alaska skies, contemplating exactly just what I would do if faced with those situations. While those real-life cubs found homes in zoos in the Lower Forty-Eight, I wanted to spin a fun yarn exacting poetic justice on said poacher; hence, the Doyle brothers in the book. I also have to confess that real-life credit for character Ralph Olaphsen's genius "volcanic" April First hoax goes to one. Oliver "Porky" Bickar. .
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This tale spins the lives of "as tough as you can get & the cheechacko (greenhorn)" Alaskan bush pilots, aviation, the beauty of the land, the unforgiving weather, and the meeting of friends new and old , all woven together into one great novel. Each chapter brings on new adventures and for anyone that loves life's mystery, history, geography, humor, a little romance, danger, twists and turns that you never expected then you will highly enjoy this novel. This novel left me satisfied, entertained, and surprisingly enough gave me a new found admiration and knowledge of aviation, and the wild beautiful land known as Alaska or more appropriately "The Last Bush Pilots" of The Last Frontier."
"Never been to Alaska and can't imagine living there, but, for what it's worth, this story could change a person's overall outlook on Alaska."
"I grew up in Alaska, and Auxier's narrative took me back to my days living on the southern coast of the state; I can almost smell the pine trees and fish, and feel the light summer rain and mist from low ceilings on my skin."
"This was an interesting read - made me wonder why anyone would be so crazy to be a bush pilot, but also gives such good insight into the reasons why, that by the end of the book, I understood better."
"It becomes obvious in the first chapter that the author knows his stuff, and by the end of the book, you know more than you ever thought you would, or should, about Alaskan weather and how to fly in it."
"So if you are looking for something to make that long flight in a middle seat really short and exciting get this book - you won't regret it."
"It's a really good book and you will find yourself emotionally vested in the characters."
"The Last Bush Pilots."
Flying low and slow up through the American heartland, across Canada and along the famed 1,387-mile Alaska Highway and then back, the two pilots completed a 7,000-mile flying journey of discovery. Alaska Highway Flight Log is complete with detailed maps, an in-depth log, showing the individual legs of the trip and a collection of the best of more than 2,000 digital photos taken during the flying journey. Flying To Alaska--A Cross-Continent Adventure. Join writer and pilot William S. Walker on one of general aviation's most revered long-distance trips--a flight to Alaska.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"To be suspended above Mother Earth in the pilot’s seat of a small plane and see hundreds of miles on a clear day is, in my view, freedom unmatched by any other experience, except walking in outer space. The flying challenge is to successfully pit your knowledge, experience, skill, intuition, patience, and common sense against the vagaries of Mother Nature’s fickle and sometimes furious weather patterns, as Walker vividly describes in this flight log. Long before Tom Cruise electrified would-be pilots with his need to “turn and burn” in the movie Top Gun, my generation of skydreamers had our imaginations fired by the exploits of Ernest K. Gann in his memoir Fate is the Hunter. I remember his description of almost making history by crashing into the Taj Mahal on a hot day when the air was not heavy enough to lift his plane over that world treasure, until the last seconds. Walker not only relates a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, his chapters contain an abundance of local color pertaining to his stops en route, as well as useful flying information and common sense tips, especially for pilots who don’t normally venture away from home where weather and ground facilities are familiar."
Flying low and slow up through the American heartland, across Canada and along the famed 1,387-mile Alaska Highway and then back, the two pilots completed a 7,000-mile flying journey of discovery. Alaska Highway Flight Log is complete with detailed maps, an in-depth log, showing the individual legs of the trip and a collection of the best of more than 2,000 digital photos taken during the flying journey. Flying To Alaska--A Cross-Continent Adventure. Join writer and pilot William S. Walker on one of general aviation's most revered long-distance trips--a flight to Alaska.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"To be suspended above Mother Earth in the pilot’s seat of a small plane and see hundreds of miles on a clear day is, in my view, freedom unmatched by any other experience, except walking in outer space. The flying challenge is to successfully pit your knowledge, experience, skill, intuition, patience, and common sense against the vagaries of Mother Nature’s fickle and sometimes furious weather patterns, as Walker vividly describes in this flight log. Long before Tom Cruise electrified would-be pilots with his need to “turn and burn” in the movie Top Gun, my generation of skydreamers had our imaginations fired by the exploits of Ernest K. Gann in his memoir Fate is the Hunter. I remember his description of almost making history by crashing into the Taj Mahal on a hot day when the air was not heavy enough to lift his plane over that world treasure, until the last seconds. Walker not only relates a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, his chapters contain an abundance of local color pertaining to his stops en route, as well as useful flying information and common sense tips, especially for pilots who don’t normally venture away from home where weather and ground facilities are familiar."
Best Anchorage Alaska Travel Books
Strategic itineraries for any timeline or budget, including five days in Anchorage, to a weekend in Denali National Park, and a two-week adventure exploring each region Curated advice for outdoor adventurers, culture mavens, wildlife enthusiasts, budget travelers, and more Must-see attractions and off-beat ideas for making the most of your trip: Embark on a day cruise to admire the stunning fjords, and watch brown bears catching wild salmon out of a river. Take an intrepid "flightseeing" tour to secluded glacier landings in Denali National Park, and discover the best spots to see the northern lights dance across the sky Honest advice on when to go, how to get around, and where to stay, from local author and Alaska expert Don Pitcher Full-color, vibrant photos and detailed maps throughout Detailed, thorough information including background on the landscape, climate, wildlife, and local culture. He moved west for college, receiving a master's degree from the University of California, Berkeley, where his thesis examined wildfires in the high elevation forests of Sequoia National Park. Wild places continued to beckon, and over the next 15 years Don built backcountry trails, worked as a wilderness ranger, mapped grizzly bear habitats, and operated salmon weirsanything to avoid an office job.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Great travel book about the state of Alaska, what to see and when to travel."
"Super helpful with planning our camping trip in Denali National Park."
"A very thorough guide to all aspects of travel in Denali National Forest and environs; trails, tours, hiking, biking, lodging, restaurants, as well as cautions involved in the area and in. touring the area."
"Good background info and recommendations for activities and restaurants."
"love it 6 of us are going together so we are passing it around and marking what we would like to see friends who live in AK didn't know about some interestings places and things."
"Used this very often on our trip!"
"great Alaska travel book."
Best General Alaska Travel Guides
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Read how Richard Proenneke built his cabin by hand and thrived (mostly alone) in the bush. What This Book Is: - An important introduction to Richard Proenneke's story. - Heavily edited (I would even say rewritten). - A pleasant, easy read (goes great with the 2-part documentary that airs on PBS). - Easy to get your hands on very quickly. What This Book Is Not: - Richard Proenneke's authentic journals, in his OWN words. - Proenneke's story told in his own voice. I was captivated after watching the 2-part PBS documentary, "Alone in the Wilderness". Bottom Line: - I would rate this book ("One Man's Wilderness") 3.5 stars if I could. - I would rate "The Early Years" 5 stars, hands down. - I recommend this book as an easier, quicker read."
"I have been to Alaska and my family made memories we will tell for the rest of our lives, the desire to go back and explore more is a fire that's been fully ignited."
"I was telling my husband about this book as I started reading it. There is nothing dull about this book and I suspect the people who find it dull haven't any interest in living in the wilderness without Blackberries, i-pods, automobiles and restaurants."
"I've read it a couple of times."
"Not because it has a sad ending, I was just sad to no longer share in the adventure."
"What a fun read."
"Dick could fabricate or make virtually everything he needed...pots and pans out of gas can tins, forks and spoons out of stump wood, tables, chairs, bunk beds, even wooden hinges!"
"If you have never traveled to remote Alaska, you will want to after reading his book."