Tracks Across Alaska: A Dog Sled Journey (Traveler) [Paperback]

Alastair Scott (Author)

Book Description

Series: Traveler | Publication Date: January 21, 1994

The story of Alastair Scott's journey across Alaska, which tested his self-reliance and endurance. The book also acts as a portrait of the beautiful, empty, often murderous land and the people who choose to live there.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The author, a Scotsman, arrived in Manley Hot Springs, west of Fairbanks, just before Halloween in 1987, thirsty for adventure. He had long dreamed of driving a dog team across Alaska and knew the history and literature of Arctic travel. Now, with the use of a cabin and an offer of professional advice on mushing, he had to acquire a dog team, learn how to handle and care for the animals, then travel more than 800 miles--all in one season. After acclimatizing to the weather, eight dogs and Alaskans, he started out the following March and arrived in Nome 32 days later. His trail crossed and occasionally joined that of the Iditarod Race, the famous annual dogsledding event. Awed by the landscape and people he encountered, Scott does full justice to both in this engaging travel adventure. Photos.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

YA-- Throughout this adventure, both the history and geography of the Land of the Midnight Sun are intertwined with Scott's personal account of his own modified Iditarod. With some good luck mixed with misfortune, he forged on to achieve his goal and take his newly acquired team across Alaska. Readers will find his story informative and entertaining.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 247 pages
• Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press (January 21, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0871134705
• ISBN-13: 978-0871134707
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,529,879 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Laughed out loud quite a few times..., November 8, 2004

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This review is from: Tracks Across Alaska: A Dog Sled Journey (Traveler) (Paperback)

Being owned by a couple of sled dogs myself and utterly familiar with their character(s), I was able to fully empathize with the author. This book is very well written, and I admired the author's candor when describing the rookie mistakes he made in the beginning of his adventure. Training sled dogs is a tough job in itself, now try doing it in a very harsh, demanding environment without all the comforts of (most people's) home.
But the book not only focuses on the dogs, it also paints a very colorful picture of the people who live in Alaska's towns and in the wilderness. Hats off to those individuals who make it in an environment that can turn from stunningly picturesque to life-threatening within an instant!

If you love adventure travel books, and happen to like dogs, too, this is the book for you.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is definitely worth looking at, March 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Tracks Across Alaska: A Dog Sled Journey (Traveler) (Paperback)

A useful and crisp description of Alaska by an inveterate traveler. Scott has a good grasp of the art of writing clear and readable prose. A good view of the Idiatrod race and a cursory history of Alaska as well.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The dogsledding dream at its finest., July 15, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Tracks Across Alaska: A Dog Sled Journey (Traveler) (Paperback)

If you've dreamt of leaving your job, car payments and cell phone for a pack of Alaskan Huskies and wide open tundra, you'll love this story. Keep in mind, it is not a book about running the Iditarod, but rather following the Iditarod trail. Excellent read and a must have for any dogsledding fanatic.