Alaska on Foot: Wilderness Techniques for the Far North (Hiking & Climbing) [Paperback]

Erik Molvar (Author), Elayne Sears (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Hiking & Climbing | Publication Date: April 17, 1996

One of the last great wildernesses in the world and a backpacker's paradise, Alaska is also a land of extremes.

Before you head out to this last frontier, there are some important things to know: how to prepare and plan for your trip, how to decide where to go, and how to safely make the most of the experience. Alaska on Foot contains information on: map and compass skills, cross-country travel techniques, "leave no trace" camping practices, stream crossing, bear encounters, tips on finding edible plants, locating salmon runs, and interpreting animal signs, and much more!

Editorial Reviews

Review

Alaska on Foot is an excellent resource guide for the backcountry wilderness traveler. From navigation techniques and glacier travel, to wildlife-viewing and treading lightly on the land, this guide is packed with useful information. (Debbie Miller, author of Midnight Wilderness )

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Countryman Press; First Edition edition (April 17, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881503517
• ISBN-13: 978-0881503517
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,343,972 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Veteran author and backcountry explorer Erik Molvar discovered backpacking while working on a volunteer trails crew in the North Cascades of Washington. He is the author of more than a dozen FalconGuides for such places as Glacier National Park, the Bob Marshall Wilderness, Olympic National Park, Zion and Bryce Canyon National Park, as well as Hiking Colorado's Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and comprehensive on important details, September 26, 2002

By 

Michael Green "mrclay2000" (OKLAHOMA CITY, OK United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alaska on Foot: Wilderness Techniques for the Far North (Hiking & Climbing) (Paperback)

As always, Molvar gives us an in-depth look at what we need to know: the weather, the terrain, the animals and their normal habitats, reading from maps, packing supplies, essentials on clothing, what foods on the trail to avoid and what to watch for, how to interpret the forests, etc. There is very little in the book that a backpacker or angler would not find pertinent to his visit to Alaska. The writing flows smoothly and evenly, and no part gets greater treatment than the rest. I recommend this as a useful manual to hikers and campers ready to visit Alaska, both novice and veteran. Molvar's firsthand experience shows on every page.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great First Book on Hiking Alaska, March 18, 2001

By 

Angus215 "angusca" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Alaska on Foot: Wilderness Techniques for the Far North (Hiking & Climbing) (Paperback)

This book gives a brief overview of the various regions in Alaska to consider, but focuses more on providing knowledge needed to backpack successfully in the state. The chapters on techniques (including river crossing, snowfield travel, and glacial travel) and wildlife are particularly useful. There is also a chapter on navigating via compass and map, which is helpful since there are very few trails in Alaska. This is a good first read for someone planning their initial backpacking expedition in the nation's largest state. For the more advanced Alaskan, it probably would not be too helpful.

4 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars GOOD GUIDE FOR AK!, January 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Alaska on Foot: Wilderness Techniques for the Far North (Hiking & Climbing) (Paperback)

THis book is almost perfact for those people who are looking for an Alaska guide book. Some information good be more specific though..