Time for another "homesteading" book to help us appreciate those who decide to live a little differently and try something new. Typically, each year we watch movies where plants are the stars, but this year we're switching it up for our "homesteading in the city theme". So far we've read Four Walls Against the Wind: Finding Our Alaskan Dream, by Marge Hermans Osborn, and Tisha, as Told to Robert Specht. Both are set in Alaska, about 100 years apart!
This time our book is Two In the Far North, written by Margaret E. Murie and illustrated by Olaus J. Murie (Alaska Northwest Publishing Company, 1978). Margaret Murie tells of her adventures in Alaska through several significant times in her life. She starts off with a wonderful memoir of her family's move from Seattle, Washington to Fairbanks, Alaska in 1911, when she was nine years, and life in Fairbanks in the years to follow. In 1924, she married Olaus Marie, a naturalist studying caribou migration, and they spent their honeymoon travelling across the north by sled dog in pursuit of caribou. Her impressions of the land, the people, and life on the trail are vivid and compelling.
Next she recounts two expeditions that she and Olaus made in the 1950s, from their home in Wyoming to Old Crow River and and to Sheenjek in northern Alaska, with several young scientists. In one expedition they follow the Old Crow River (very buggy, and with a baby), and in the other they fly into the tundra with all their gear by small plane, set up camp and explore. In both accounts, she describes team comradery, the excitement of discovery, and love for the land. Finally, in the 1970s after Olaus' death, Margaret makes many trips to Alaska to campaign for wilderness protection, especially as the Alaska oil fields were opening up.
Murie has a wonderful and approachable writing style, that conveys her enthusiasm for life and her work, even when situations are difficult. Having grown up in Alaska, I share that love for the land, the excitement over nature and discovery, and the appreciation for the hearty and unique souls that populate the land. I have fond memories of camping with my family up the Dempster Highway close to the Arctic Circle, marveling at the miniature plants of the tundra and at the Northern Lights pulsating above our camp. I also remember listening to the radio as oil companies bid for rights to the Alaskan oil fields. I'm grateful for all the work that the Muries and many others did to ensure that vast sections of the Alaskan wilderness are preserved against complete exploitation. I recommend this book for anyone interested in Alaska, pioneering, and life on the last frontier.
Learn More:
Some interesting items from the book:
- Margaret Murie - synopsis of Margaret Thomas "Mardy" Murie (August 18, 1902 - October 19, 2003), a naturalist, author, adventurer, and conservationist. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Murie
- Logan Bread - quick bread that is named after Mount Logan in the Yukon. The recipe is packed with nutrition, easy to make, and an efficient food source while on the trail. https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/48407/logan-bread/
- Jersey Creams - source of quick energy while mushing through the Alaskan wilderness. This cookie is still made (or a version of it)! https://us.amazon.com/Bolands-Jersey-Creams-Flavored-Biscuits/dp/B07Y45JPNK
- Yukon Stove (1950s) - this stove could be used inside the tent for heating and cooking. Lighter versions were made out of old kerosene cans, and variations on the design are still made today. https://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/new-us-military-yukon-m1950-stove-black?a=411751
No comments:
Post a Comment