mmmm, good cheese. i hope i get some dr pepper. wanna cookie??

Like most of the reviewers, I read this book as a child and every few years I rediscover the magic. This is one of the few books that keep me coming back and now I've passed it on to my son...and I hope that he gives it to his son someday.

I recently paid 25 cents for this book in a ramshackle used bookstore on the Washington Coast more than seventeen years after I first read it. Upon second read, with the critical eye of an adult, The Iceberg Hermit is as fascinating in 1998, as it was in 1980. Any fan of survival stories, nature, and animals will find this book enchanting.

While the title The Winter Wilderness Companion is accurate, the sub heading of Traditional and Native American Skills for the Undiscovered Season is the part I found misleading(after I purchased the book of course).
I had expected the book to be more along the line of The Indian Tipi or American Indian Archery written by Reginald and Gladys Laubin(both five star books in my view). Not even close. Info on EPIRBS and contact info for LL Bean and Steger Mukluks wasn't what I wanted in a book with this title.
Although there is useful winter camping information it falls into the elementary catagory and group travel sounds like the old British Himalayan expedition style. If you read any Bonnington pulp you'll know what I mean.
Anyway this is just one New England winter travelers opinion.Its your plastic, but I'd spend my $14 elsewhere.

After living and camping for 10 years North of the treeline I have recently moved to the forest country of Canada's NWT. I have been on a steep learning curve made much shorter by this wonderful book. I have retrofitted a couple of kids toboggans and my wife and I have been out nearly every day practicing the techniques and equipment found in the book. All I can say is good, solid advice from people who know what they are talking about. My favourite writer since Rustrum!

One reviewer says he didn't like this book's subhead. To me, it's the part of the title that really describes the book. The subhead tells you it's not a typical winter book, but a unique one that shows how wilderness travel is really done up in the northwoods...using methods that have been passed down thru generations. However, their materials adapt to the times whenever that seems best. Thus they're happy to use roll-up plastic sleds, in a "traditional" way. Note that the subhead doesn't say "re-enactment" or "historic" travel. Traditional travel in their sense means how local northwoods people camp today. That seems to be their drift, anyway. As a result, I appreciate the coverage of both snowmobiles and snowshoes. They go together. Now, canvas tents might not be right for everyone, but I appreciate them for long, cold, group outings. I think that for such use, they're best. Trust these folks and their local, ethnic sources. I liked the realistic, inclusive style of this book. This is not pricey vacation resort travel. This is do-it-yourself make-do homebrew travel. I notice that there wasn't much emphasis on the fancy new snowshoes, but instead on the wide variety of traditional models that are still available if you know where to look (not in the yuppy shops that you find far from the boonies). In deep offtrail open area snow, if you plan to travel, you need some nice long, narrow Alaskans. I find the modern shoes to be suitable for crust, gullies, trails...conditions I don't shoe in. Or hardly anyone I know. The recent takeover by hightech shoes is silly. I also appreciate seeing the lady author with her string of gunshot grouse...not a common image in today's backpacking books. But a common one in traditional northwoods living. This is a one of a kind book. No other contemporary book is as practical or personable. This book has character...ever rarer in publishing.

I enjoyed this book very much and will give copies to my nieces and nephews for Christmas. They enjoy stories about snow and sled dogs, and they also like scary books.

This is a different kind of story that shows how parents can support their children when they have fears and peer pressures. Many children are afraid of the dark, as the character Jean-Paul was. All in all, this is a great family type book, and I think all ages should love it. After I finished reading it, the story stayed with me for a long time. I'd like to read other books by this author and can't wait till she published a sequel to this one.

I enjoyed this book very much. It's a different kind of novel, not a "problem" novel that we see so much of today, but more of the old-fashioned type of story that helps kids get in touch with the past. The setting was realistic and taught me a lot about the Arctic.

Jean-Paul doesn't sound very smart when the book first starts out, but by the time the story ends he is VERY smart... The Eskimo Chinook is also one of my favorites, because he's very funny, and I LOVE Jean-Paul's husky, Sasha...

I think this book is for all kids, even big grownup ones. People should enjoy it as much as I did. I liked the ending.

A great read for kids on a snowy winter night.

I ordered this book because I like reading books about teachers in various parts of the world. This book was not about teaching,but about her life in Kulukak. That part was well written, but depressing. I guess it is what life was like there. Abbie Morgan handled the depressing landscape with humor and love. I was disappointed because it was not what I was looking for, but it does not mean that it is not a good book. If you are looking for a description of 1930 Alaska, then this is your book. Morgan describes life in this town with clarity and handles lifes disappointments with grace. She was an amazing woman to have worked there.

I came across Arctic Schoolteacher by accident. I had taken my kids to a summer program at a county library. While we waited for the show to begin, I browsed the shelves and came across this book. I have probably read 20-30 books this year, and Arctic Schoolteacher makes the top of my list. In it, the author tells the story of how she and her husband travelled to a remote Alaskan village in the 1930s as government employees. Abbie taught school, and Ed, her husband, oversaw the reindeer herd. I don't want to give away too much of the story, but the book is filled with the numerous joys and sorrows that Abbie experienced in her two year stay in the Last Frontier. I only wish that Abbie had mentioned more about her life before Alaska, and about how she and Ed met. I am glad that the book included an epilogue by Abbie's daughter that mentions what happened in Abbie's life after Alaska.

A particularly moving story. This book takes place about the same time as "Tisha" but in the famed Bristol Bay Region in a village called Kulukak. It was published in 1992 and available in paperback, this book should be easy to locate.

The book can be divided up into bait size to fish, trout, char, trawling and conservation.

The writer spends too much time trying to explain with complicated graphs the size of bait to use to catch a size of trout. I can't see a trout using a vernier to size up it's meals.

THe book does show how to catch trout "Trawl for them like pike" The writer then goes off into planting trees and country side conservation.

I felt the writer came accross as having "a better than thou" attitude. I have friends that read the book and came to the same conclusion.

Rig up a dead bait as you would for pike. Trawl it behind a boat and save yourself the money. There are other and better books out there!

Definitely a must read for anyone interested in or serious about catching Ferox trout.

If you're interested in catching trout in general, you should read this one last - its not about fly fishing its solely about Ferox trout, its environment and its conservation.

Ron's style, which he freely admits in the introduction, can be viewed as opinionated and abrasive by some. If you don't let this detract from the content of the book, Ron's enthusiasm and knowledge of the subject shine through brilliantly.

Ron Greer has brought together years of experience both as a scientist and an angler, and this experience is vast in both spheres. His easy style and honest opinion help to dispel some of the mythology about this sub-species and its prey, as well as building its reputation as a sporting catch although very difficult to catch. Tips on how and where to go are included, along with anecdotes and pictures showing that our author really knows what he's writing about. Thanks Ron for a bookthat can sit proudly with the likes of St. John's and Colquhoun's classic works.

Historian David Yelverton takes a long overdue look at Scott's Discovery expedition, the first significant attempt to probe the interior of that great southern continent. He pays great attention to Scott's difficulties in securing funds, crew, supplies and so forth. And, of course, Yelverton writes at length on the Discovery herself, an leaky craft that would have never made it south were it not for the constant struggle at the pumps. There is also a good deal on the cooperative effort with the Germans (!) on making often difficult magnetic observations, one of the principal reasons for the expedition in the first place.

This book is an absolute must for anyone interested in the history of the Antartic continent, Scott and, to a lesser degree, Shackleton. It is, without question, the most complete review of the Discovery expedition.

Although Scott's disaster in 1912 overshadows the Discovery effort, it could be said (and this is the point of "Unveiled") that there was much more meaningful work accomplished during this 1901-03 expedition.

Most readers will find "Unveiled" ponderous a times, although that is to be expected in a work of this depth and precision. I was disappointed with the occasional childish snipes at Roland Huntford's monumental "Last Place on Earth," a book that is a sore point with Scott's many fans. It's too bad that writers on Antarctic exploration feel as if they have to be one side of the fence or the other. Scott accomplished more than most other polar explorers -- but he also made many, many blunders.

But, in the main, "Antartic Unveiled" is worth looking into.

Recent writings on Antarctic exploration have not been kind to Scott's leadership. If you're interested in a different look at the man (to some degree) and the first (Discovery) expedition try this book. The author gives one a sense of life on the expedition and takes one along through daily life on the ship, over the winter and on the sledging journies. Heavy on detail and a bit too focused on 'righting the wrongs' of Huntford, etc., the result seems an extremely well-researched view of the scientific goals and results of the expedition. (And, perhaps the author can be forgiven for the emphasis on righting wrongs--previous works have certainly emphasized contrary views.) I've long felt that viewing the turn-of-the-century expeditions through today's 'lens' is problematic. Scott and the others were English men of their time and subject to those values, just as we are products of our time. I recommend the work to those interested in a detailed view of that first expedition, how its course affected the Terra Nova expedition, and a different view of the explorers and the expedition--placed in their time.

The book Arctic Fives Arrive is an okay childrens book. It doesn't really make much sense in the beggining though. Childrens books don't have too though i guess. I didn't like the ending on it because i couldn't even understand what it was talking about. All in all though, the book to me would rank 3 out of 5 stars.

Children love this story which is a fun way to introduce the concepts of math (counting by fives), the arctic habitat, geography and natural phenomenon (the northern lights). As a teacher, I've used this book with three to six year olds. It is one of those rare books that lends itself beautifully to building several lessons around. It is easy to expand upon the books' concepts for the older children but the younger children love as well. It's simple but rhyming, poetic text and captivating art work make it a book that children ask to read again and agian.

From the Antarctic Support Associates newsletter, October 1999:

This is a first person account of an actual expedition across The Ice. I see it as the start of the modern era, because so many things they did on this trip in 1928 that were so different from previous expeditions, and so similar to the way we still do things on The Ice. ECW Gear--the latest in modern clothing designed for extreme cold weather. Flagged Route--the first use of bamboo poles with colored flags for their amazing durability in the harsh environment, the same reasons we use them today. Snowmobiles-- the first use of motorized transport specifically designed for frigid climes. That they were a dismal failure only shows poor technology in an early application, not a failure of the concept. Air Transport--unlike Adm. Byrd who only flew from developed facilities, Larry Gould supported deep field camps at undeveloped sites. More traditional Antarctic readers may also enjoy this book as he goes on to describe a dog sled trip, 1500 miles surveyed in the TransAntarctic Mountains. An amazing feat in itself navigating through vast crevasse fields without prior aerial survey. Not only the first mapping survey, which came to discount some navigation by Amundsen & Scott, it was the first solely scientific study in what is now the continent for science. Their geological survey brought back samples to help verify plate tectonics and metamorphic mechanisms acting on previous sedimentary layers laid down before ice descended upon the continent. This is an excellent account by Larry Gould, who went on to become the first Director of the US Antarctic Program, and prinicple designer of the original Antarctic Treaty, which has become the model for many other international agreements since 1958. A defniite read for all those interested in the frozen continent.

This describes a forgotten but vital chapter in the annals of Antarctic exploration. Larry Gould was the first geologist to describe Antarctic rocks. His party took the first airplane trip within Antarctica, then had the first airplane rescue by the famous Richard E. Byrd, after their own airplane was blown apart by high winds. They later made a magnificent dogsled journey into interior Antarctica, and brought back rock samples that later proved the that Antarctica had been tied to other continents (the theory of continental drift).

by Peggi MacDonald, a full-time RVer

John and Liz Plaxton tell it like it is in their newest book 'RVing into Canada's Arctic'.

They rave about the great places they saw and provide an interesting account of the many joys and beautiful sights they encountered while exploring Canada's North. Their many photos - both black & white and colour - complement the written word of each great adventure. They also include a few not so good points like a dusty or poor roads and scenery or weather that was less than perfect.

Even if you can't make the trip right now, reading the Plaxton's travelogue will take you on an armchair adventure to places most us will never travel.

This duo have the ability to visit a little known place and find something special about the area. In Tsiigehtchic, Yukon they watched ravens play in the breezes sweeping up the river. Many RVers by-pass similar scenes because they don't look beyond the obvious. Simple things that help build memories can be part of everyone's everyday RV excursions if they slow down their travels. John and Liz definitely feel they need time to 'stop and smell the roses', as the saying goes.

Although their off road jaunts may appear a bit rustic, John and Liz demonstrate time and time again that unbelievable sites can be found everywhere.

Reading the Plaxton's travelogue with an atlas in hand made it easy to follow their extraordinary journey.

John writes the first portion of the book but Liz's diary which follow provides daily observations, neat places, small quick change of plans like an emergency hair cut or dealing with the dust, and food costs and fuel prices. Her quips bring to life each day of their journey. Both writers include the great, the good and only OK events in their portion of the travelogue. The Plaxton's added five additional diaries and articles at the end of their publication; John states these extras provide more balance to their recorded activities.

The Plaxton's enjoyed an incredible journey, but unless you travel in a small older RV, plus you are a knowledgeable mechanic, you may want to rethink following their many off road side trips in your RV. The Plaxton's and I have discussed this and agree to disagree on this point. I recommend a safer and more enjoyable alternative would be to park someplace with several other units, like in a gravel pit or, better yet, in a recognized campground. Use your toad (towed car) or tow vehicle to visit many of the fascinating places the Plaxtons stopped at on their off-road trips.

Liz and John don't hesitate to become involved to add interest to their excursions either. While in Inuvik, NWT they volunteered to work during the annual Great Northern Arts Festival ten day July extravaganza. The festival named them "Super Volunteers for 1998".

By reading John and Liz's book before you go to northern British Columbia, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories, you can discover some of the many neat places they researched and add them to your itinerary. This couple has the ability to take the reader by the hand on their adventuresome journey and alert you of what you could include in your itinerary and what side trips you may decide to bypass. I could go on and on about the special hints the Plaxton's include in their travelogue.

This entertaining, informative book is well worth reading either as research or to assist in planning your next trip to visit Canada's North.

RVing into Canada's Arctic Written By Liz and John Plaxton

Reviewed by Mrs. Pat Regan, Kelowna, BC [former-citizen of Norman Wells, NWT]

If you've ever longed to explore Canada's beckoning north country, RVing into Canada's Arctic by John and Liz Plaxton will be a friendly and helpful companion for your journey.

As you tour along Yukon, Alaska and Northwest Territory highways, you will be able to refer to the well documented and clearly presented information pertaining to many communities as they appear along the route you've chosen.

Through "tried and true" experiences, John and Liz share their recommendations for RV sites, RV service shops, museums, churches, and interesting curio shops. Other essential information include "the best" grocery stores (with price lists), the finest and not so fine northern "eateries", and the cleanest laundromats.

This adventuresome duo in their Class C motorhome have explored many less frequented roads and have discovered, to their pleasure, some amazing camping, fishing, wildlife observation and bird sanctuary sites.

Some short histories on several communities and their colourful characters are included.

Liz and John share their memoirs of participation in many northern activities: golfing under the Midnight Sun in Dawson City and volunteering for the Great Northern Arts Festival and stick-gambling with the locals in Inuvik, to name only three.

This book, whether used as a reference or read for pleasure, is truly refreshing.

Artistically written with vividly picturesque descriptions of scenery and wildlife, complemented with many fine photos, RVing into Canada's Arctic will be as beneficial to you as "having a good friend who's already been there" travel at your side.

The book jacket states the book is a passionate and vivid account of her trips into the ANWR, and it certainly is that. Having been in many of the same places, and even flown with some of the same people, I can make an immediate connection with her book. This book is a first person account, not a naturalist documentation. Some of her trials and tribulations make for very interesting reading, and makes one glad sometimes that they did not have to trek in some of the places. Her account of some of her hiking in the rugged Romanzof mountains sent chills up my spine. A weakness perhaps is after almost each description, she states what is at risk by allowing drilling. Sometimes that gets in the way of the journey. However, the last section of the book outlines the history of the preservation attempts, and the very real dangers of oil development to such an unspoiled wilderness. This book is a personal account and not a detail as to the intricate inter-relationships among the flora and fauna, and it was not meant to be. I enjoyed the book for what it is, and that is a personal story. I wished she had described in a bit more detail her time in the arctic when the colors started to appear as fall approached. Having been along the Jago River in the 1002 lands at the height of the fall colors, it is something that cannot be imagined in advance. One can never believe such a landscape of apparent green can take on so many colors. A perfect companion book to this would be that of E. C. Pielou, A Naturalists Guide to the Arctic. With Pielou's book, one can gain a fuller understanding of the tricks of light in the arctic, and the interdependency of the animals with the plantlife. Oil company executives will not like this book. Most others will enjoy reading her accounts.

I love Debbie Miller's book Midnight Wilderness about the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Her journal writings, with detailed land references, eloquently paint a portrait of this pristine area and how unique and beautiful this remote land is. I enjoyed reading about all the animals and birds that live and migrate there every year, and about the people who depend on this area. This book educates us on the oil development controversy and why it is vital we continue to fight in protecting this special land for now and future generations. This book is truly the ultimate reference book for the Arctic Refuge and I highly recommend it to all.

Debbie Miller draws from her journal and from her heart as she recounts her explorations of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the last great wilderness area left in the United States. Few people have actually stepped foot on this northeast corner of Alaska, but by reading the words of Miller, one can be transported to this rare and magical place. The book, written primarily during the 1980s and updated in the current edition, is informative and inspiring. She effectively intersperses relevant historical and scientific facts with her own personal observations and love for the region.