Adventuring in Alaska (The Sierra Club adventure travel guides)

The most authoritative and comprehensive guide to Alaska's endless recreation opportunities, unique culture, and history, this book is designed for independent, nature-oriented travelers of all ages. Updated with the latest information on where to stay, what to see, and how to get there, Adventuring in Alaska is filled with indispensable advice and insider tips:
-- Detailed listing of transportation options by land, sea, river, or air, including tours and charters
-- Recommendations for a wide range of lodging, from hotels and inns to hostels and campgrounds
-- Descriptions of Alaska's history, geology, flora, and fauna
-- Information on a variety of wilderness activities, including day hikes, backpacking trips, river rafting, bicycle routes, fishing trips, and ski outings
-- Detailed descriptions of weather and climate, including the best times to visit, and tips on clothing and equipment
-- Comprehensive listings of parks and wildlands, including the Pribilof Islands, Denali National Park and Preserve, Glacier Bay National Park anti Preserve, the Kenai Fjords, and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

This adventure guide to the biggest state opens with a compelling statistic: to see the entirety of Alaska, you would need to visit approximately 1 million acres per day for an entire year. To explore a state so vast requires an equally comprehensive resource. Peggy Wayburn's Adventuring in Alaska delivers, providing--by region--loads of general nature and recreational- oriented information as well as quirky Alaska-specific details. Read about bush pilots and the "Bear Essentials," or consider permafrost, a chilly reminder that 80 percent of the state is covered with frozen soil. The state's rich cultural and historical past is discussed throughout the book. For each region a map is included, as well as detailed listings of transportation, lodging, wilderness activities, and parks (phone numbers and addresses are often included). --Rob McDonald