Glacier Bay National Park: A Backcountry Guide to the Glaciers and Beyond [Paperback]

Jim DuFresne (Author), Ken Leghorn (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1987

Complete backcountry-use guide to the park via foot or kayak.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Spanning 3.3 million acres and accessible by a single road at Bartlett Cove, Glacier Bay National Park is an unspoiled region of tidewater glaciers, pristine waters, and an impressive array of wildlife, including porpoises, sea lions, seals, otters, and three species of whales. Located 60 miles north of Juneau, the bay itself is 62 miles long and 10 miles across at its widest point, and is surrounded by a horseshoe rim of mountains that include the Fairweather Range to the west, the Chilkat Range to the east, and the St. Elias, Alsek, and Takhinsha mountains to the north. Containing abundant travel and trip-planning information, major kayaking routes, and day-hiking opportunities, this guide is designed for those who dare to step off the park tour boats and float planes to explore and enjoy a seemingly endless expanse of untrammeled wilderness. A lively introduction covers geologic, natural, and historical information, including the extraordinarily rapid rate in which the ice in this region continues to retreat, causing U.S. Geological Survey topographical maps to be continually outdated. As an added bonus, backcountry paddling and hiking concerns, such as what to do if you capsize and when and wear to ford a stream, are also discussed. The author's diary-like reminiscings, such as the time he got caught in a tangle of alder branches and spied a moose being chased by a hungry wolf, provide amusement as well as a greater understanding of this spectacular region. Glacier Bay is nothing short of a wilderness enthusiast's paradise. Make your trip a memorable one by knowing where and when to visit this "unspeakably pure and sublime" destination.

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Mountaineers Books (June 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898861322
• ISBN-13: 978-0898861327
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #401,336 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #20 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Nature Travel > Adventure > Kayaking
  • #87 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Outdoor Recreation > Kayaking

More About the Author

I have a has deep rooted passion for two things; sunsets and shoreline, no doubt the result of living my entire life in the two states that have more coastline than any other; Alaska and Michigan.

After graduating from Michigan State University with a journalism degree, I was soon headed to Juneau, Alaska as the outdoors and sports editor of the Juneau Empire. In 1980, I became the first Alaskan sportswriter to win a national award from Associated Press. More significant than the award or even receiving a letter of congratulations from Governor Jay Hammond, I discovered my passion for the mountains and wilderness travel while living in Alaska's capital city.

Soon after that I spent a winter in New Zealand to backpack and write my first book, "Tramping in New Zealand". Six editions and 30 years later "Tramping in New Zealand" is the world's bestselling guidebook to backpacking in that country. That longevity is true with several of my books. "Isle Royale National Park: Foot Trails & Water Routes" that I wrote soon after returning to Michigan has been in publication in various editions for more than 25 years.

Today I live in Clarkston, Michigan where I'm never more than an hour's drive from the shoreline of the Great Lakes. I am main contributor to www.MichiganTrailMaps.com, a resource web site devoted to trail users and the promotion of trails in my home state. I still head back to Alaska frequently to update my Lonely Planet guidebooks, only now I don't have to stay for the winter. In Michigan, I can usually be found out on the trail throughout the year, whether it is hiking, mountain biking, backpacking, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing.