"Travels In Alaska" is, essentially, a diary which John Muir kept during his three visits to Southeastern Alaska from 1879-1890. In the course of his travels he describes the Indians, plants, wild life, mountains and glaciers. He is especially interested in his explorations of the glaciers. He provides the reader with an insight into pristine Alaska. His comments about retreating glaciers are of interest given the current claims of man-made global warming.
The reader comes to respect Muir's love of nature and his bravery, as he paddles around ice bergs, camps on glaciers and enters the domains of bears and whales.
The downside of this is that there is very little analysis beyond what he recorded at the time of his journeys. While his observations hold your interest, Muir's writing style adds little to the narrative. This book pales in comparison to Ranch Life & the Hunting Trail by his friend, Theodore Roosevelt (see my Amazon review).
Overall I enjoyed "Travels In Alaska", but have read better nature books. Perhaps a reader more familiar with the Alaskan Panhandle or outdoor adventures would have a greater appreciation with this work.
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