Bradt Travel Guides

Bought from Russia in 1867 for US$7.2 million to become 49th state of the union in January 1959, Alaska’s mainland faces off the empire-formerly-known-as-evil across 51 miles of the Bering Strait.  Erstwhile Governor Sarah Palin keenly highlighted Alaska’s cosmopolitan geography, abutting Russia and Canada, to bolster evidence of her international experience whilst on the Vice Presidential campaign trail.  However, the aptly-named author of Bradt’s new Alaska, Traveler Terpening, doesn’t truck any political double-talk: ‘Alaska’s licence plate slogan “The Last Frontier’ says it all”, he comments.  ‘Alaska has almost a full square mile for every man, woman and child in the state…  Juneau has the dubious honour of being the only state capital not accessible by road – none leads in or out of the city…  The Alaskan mosquito – sometimes referred to as the Alaska State bird on account of its size – is plentiful… Alaskans over the age of 18 are legally allowed to keep and smoke less than one ounce of marijuana…’ – this final frontier may be the US but not as we know it.

Alaska is not generally a place one visits by accident, and a dignified period of research and planning is customary to avoid embarrassment.  Bradt’s Alaska is penned by a native, and author Traveler Terpening’s authoritative insights are gleaned from a lifetime immersed in his subject – his guide is dedicated to sharing knowledge necessary for a fulfilling visit.  Whale-watching, kayaking, hiking, fishing, together with explorations by road, rail, ferry, air and dog sled are all featured.  The state’s main towns of Anchorage, Juneau and Fairbanks are also covered in detail, as well as many minor settlements such as the 20-resident megalopolis of Chicken – the nearest vernacular approximation to Ptarmigan the original mining population could successfully spell…  The island chain of the Aleutians, its WW2 heritage and astonishingly rich marine environment, is also examined, complementing an already extensive illustrated guide to mainland wildlife elsewhere in the book.  Context is provided in descriptions of pre-European Alaska’s indigenous heritage, and of the impact made by late-19th-century gold rushes, a theme continued in contemporary discussion of those issues surrounding exploitation of natural resources today.  Those visiting Alaska simply to gawp at anonymous spectacle won’t need this book – those wishing to understand will find it invaluable.

Traveler Terpening is a travel writer and professional photographer specialising in the outdoors.  He currently divides his time between Homer, Alaska – where he organises the annual kite-surfing festival – and Arizona, where he’s studying environmental journalism.

Title: Alaska
Author: Traveler Terpening
Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides
Publication: March 2010
Price: £15.99
ISBN: 978 1 84162 298 9