We’ve been driving through a land that’s so foreign to us, it feels as if we’re extras in a Hollywood Western. Today we explored Lethbridge, Alberta, the home of Fort Whoop-Up, where the Yankee whiskey traders made money off their Canadian neighbors on a well-used trail between Montana and the Canadian West.
Here too is where the last great Indian battle occurred in the late 1800s. But as for today, it was quiet–three goats, a couple of cowboys, and some pale-faced Yanks named Brown were in the middle of the fort. We did get a personal roping lesson from Phil, the fort’s teamster and carpenter, who said he’s been “cowboying” for years. He’s the real deal. OK, I’m not about to put in a picture of my roping lessons, but I will put in Perry’s–he was much better than I at this hand-eye coordination thing anyway. Onward to Edmonton and points beyond this afternoon. Stay posted.
A Canadian Sunset! The Canadian Rockies as seen from the Icefield Highway. (Tricia Brown photo)
ROADIES
Perry and I are on the road again to update my research for The World-Famous Alaska Highway: A Guide to the ALCAN and Other Wilderness Roads of the North. In this first week, we’re doing those “other wilderness roads” part and trying to cover as many miles as possible. Mile 0 of the ALCAN is a long ways away.
Perry patiently stops often, whenever I see something I like and want to pause. And we’re making good use of an itty-bitty RV from Cruise America. It’s a one-way rental, and we’ve figured out how to store our things and move around each other, basically by taking turns.
The king-sized woodman of Prince George. (Tricia Brown photo)
We’ve seen formal gardens, lots of cattle and pasturelands, entered the rolling, arid hills around Cache Creek, and in eastern B.C., we viewed a mama black bear and her twin babies (who were standing up out of curiosity). Yesterday we crossed from Prince George, B.C., over to Calgary, Alberta, via the Icefields Highway. It’s got to be one of the most beautiful routes in North America. Yes, there was still snow down to the road at times, and those mountains overhead were booming.
A steak dinner in Banff last night, and today we’re headed to Calgary’s Heritage Park. We’re driving south next to cover some of the towns and attractions along the route from Sweetgrass, Montana, to Dawson Creek, B.C.
Riverside camping in B.C. (Tricia Brown photo)
We’re going through long stretches with no radio reception, and I brought only three CDs–Hawaiian, Irish traditional, and Frank Sinatra. What was I thinking?
The quiet reminds me of the old days when we regularly traveled Alaska’s Parks Highway from Anchorage to Fairbanks. We had your very basic minivan with no cassette player (right–a long time ago), and we just talked and talked. Nothing like a long road trip to get caught up with life.
EDD ROUSH: A Biography of the Cincinnati Reds Star
ISBN 978-0-7864-4407-6
McFarland, April 2010.
Here’s a new book to be proud of, even though I didn’t write it. Still, I’m compelled to spread the word, because this is an excellent selection for your favorite baseball fanatic, written by my favorite baseball fanatic, my award-winning sportswriter cousin, Mitchel Conrad Stinson.
Released by McFarland, this is the biography of the deadball batting king and Baseball Hall of Famer, Edd Roush. The publisher writes, “The story] centers on the events of the 1919 Black Sox World Series, but covers Roush’s life in full. Born in Indiana, Roush would eventually receive two National League batting titles and become a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. The work contains interviews with Roush and as well as a large collection of photos, many from the Roush family collection.”
Many years ago, when Mitchell was still a young teenager, he had the good fortune to meet Roush in person and wisely brought along his tape recorder when he interviewed the baseball great. When Mitchell grew up, he entered journalism and his career has taken him to newspapers in Indiana, Guam, Kentucky, and Alaska. Speaking of Alaska, Mitchell was a reporter on the Wasilla newspaper, The Frontiersman, when Sarah Palin was just entering local politics.
I’ve got my copy of Edd Roush already, inscribed by a man who knows I prefer following the mushing circuit to major league sports. Nonetheless, he scratched this note inside the cover: “If you can’t get into it, just insert ‘dog sledding’ every time you see the word ‘baseball.’ Both center around smelly, scruffy teammates who scratch themselves in public. So it’s not a stretch.”
In a few short weeks, we’ll be picking up a Cruise America motorhome for another one-way drive up the Alaska Highway, so I can get to work on the next edition of this great companion book. We’ll be taking fresh photos, updating the informative listings, gathering stories from people who’ve traveled the road recently . . . or a long, long time ago.
Watch this site for regular notes from the road as I travel. And share your road stories with me, too. I’d love to hear from you. The next edition will be released in time for planning next summer’s trip.
In the meantime, do pick up a copy of the current edition! It’s a fantastic book for planning ahead, then keeping within reach as you travel. The most important change is this: you now need a passport to cross the U.S.-Canada border.
Watch for updates here.
Kvichak (pronounced quee-jack) traveled like a champ during our last trip. You can read him like a kid: “Are we there yet?” To bring along your pet, you’ll need to obtain a health certificate signed by your veterinarian. They’ll ask for it at the border, coming and going.
By Lance Mackey; Foreword by Joe Runyan; Edited by Tricia Brown
ISBN 978-0-615-34423-2
This is the seventh mushing book I’ve edited, and what an inspiration it is to work with these great mushers!
Lance Mackey made mushing history in 2007 when he won both the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest, and then just a few weeks later, ran and won the 1,100-mile Iditarod. Back-to-back wins in the same year?! Everybody thought it was impossible. But he proved himself again in 2008, and then neatly won the Iditarod AGAIN in 2009. Lance shares the story of the rocky road that led him to championship-level racing with his superstar leaders–Larry, Zorro, Lippy, Hobo Jim, and Maple.
Mackey’s race record is amazing in itself. But consider this: he made history in mushing AFTER emerging from addiction, and AFTER surviving cancer, taking on the trail while hampered by aftereffects of neck surgery and intense radiation. Think of this guy as the “other” Lance–a super athlete and incredible animal trainer who’s in love with every one of the 60 to 70 dogs in his kennel. And that’s why they’re in still top shape they pull him over the finish line in first place. You’re gonna love this book.
An update: In 2016, filmmakers released a 1 hour, 20 minute documentary that has claimed awards in film festivals all around the world.
Lance’s story on DVD is available through Amazon. Just click HERE.
Sadly, Lance’s battle with cancer ended in 2022 at age 52. Read the full account and tribute to the great musher published by ESPN HERE.
The Itchy Little Musk Oxis on the program at Missouri State University’s Literacy Awareness event, coming up October 4-8 at West Plains.
I’m so excited to hear about a university that’s involved with its community in this dynamic way. MSU and corporate sponsors CenturyTel and Caterpillar helped make this year’s visit possible, so a big thanks to them.
Each year, as many as 4,500 local students get to hear presentations by children’s book authors. I’m speaking during the first two days of the event, on Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 5-6, at the Civic Center. My groups of students are all Pre-K to 3rd-graders (favorites!), and they’ll be coming from the following area schools: Howell Valley, Koshonong, Dora, Bakersfield, Gatewood, Couch, Birchtree, Thayer, Southfork, Winona, Mt. View, Glenwood, Junction Hill, Fairview, WS Elementary, and Headstart.
It’ll be fun to talk about Alaska and read from Alaskan Night Before Christmas (in October!), Groucho’s Eyebrows, and of course, The Itchy Little Musk Ox. Can’t wait to meet you kids! See you soon!
It took a while for this birth, but finally Silent Storytellers of Totem Bight State Historical Park has arrived.
I really enjoyed working with the publisher, Alaska Geographic Association, to create a book on the totem poles and clan house at Totem Bight State Historical Park near Ketchikan.
But this is more than just an interpretive guide to the park. We’ve included history on the CCC project that employed Alaska Native carvers and their trainees during the Great Depression.
There’s also more on the symbology and cultural importance of the figures, the various kinds of totem poles, and brief profiles of today’s master carvers who have profound ties to the carvers of old.
Master carver Nathan Jackson works with an apprentice in his Saxman carving shed. (Tricia Brown photo)
The manuscript was thoroughly vetted by Alaska Native elders as well as those interpretive folks on the front lines of the Historical Park.
Those really are palm trees behind my head. The photo wasn’t taken in Fairbanks. We escaped to see relatives in Florida this past winter!
Spending a few days in Fairbanks at Solstice, I have to admit sleep deprivation is a problem. Last I checked, the sun was rising at 2:58 a.m., and didn’t set until 12:47 a.m. Did you catch that? That’s barely three hours of “darkness.” But it’s amazing how much more energy you have during those long days. I got sleepy, but I wasn’t really tired-tired.
I had an enjoyable time at the Alaska Book Festival, both as a participant and as fan of many speakers there. I was invited to join a publishing panel, and I also read The Itchy Little Musk Ox and Alaskan Night Before Christmas (just made it a “Christmas in June” event!) And later, Robert Hannon of KUAC radio conducted an interview ith me.
One of my great surprises happened during a tour of the Large Animal Research Station at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. I met a traveling couple who asked me to sign a copy of my musk ox book. We were talking about their drive up from the Lower 48, and I mentioned my driving guide to the highway, The World-Famous Alaska Highway. It turns out that they had a marked-up, dog-eared copy in their rig–it was the book they were using to navigate during their vacation. Small world, eh?
If you’ve ever used my driving guide, or if you’ve got it on the dash this year, I’d love to hear about your adventures, too . . . maybe I’ll even quote you in the next edition. Happy travels.
And then there’s February in Alaska:
Coco the reindeer and I both visited my sister’s place in Fox, Alaska. Coco is docile and welcome inside. She is fully aware of her antlers’ reach and tips her head to avoid furniture and decorations. (Lynette Clark photo)
Not really–I’m just going to introduce him to the folks down there! (Tricia Brown photo)
Here’s your invitation the the Kankakee Public Library’s Author Fair!
What’s up? I’m going to be reading The Itchy Little Musk Ox to fairgoers and their favorite kids. A musk ox craft is going to follow, so all little artists are invited. There’s a full schedule, and I’ll be reading at 10 a.m. Afterward I’ll sign this and other books at my table, so do drop by!
When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, April 18, 2009 (I’ll be reading and leading the craft from 10-10:30 a.m.)
Where: Kankakee Public Library, 201 E. Merchant Street, Kankakee, Illinois; phone 815-929-4564. The fair will be held in the fourth-floor auditorium. Many authors to meet, and lots of workshops for adults as well as children.
Alaska Division of Tourism photo
FUN FACTOID: When musk oxen are in danger, the males stand shoulder-to-shoulder, putting the females and young behind them for protection. Learn more about this fascinating Arctic animal during my talk at the Kankakee Public Library’s Author Fair.
Lance and his phenomenal leaders posed at the finish chute in downtown Nome. (Theresa Daily photo)
I had to write an Iditarod update, especially for you students at Otto H.H. Petersen School in Scappoose, Oregon, who seemed to catch the dog-mushing bug when I was there visiting earlier this month.
Guess what, kids? Remember how I told you to keep an eye on Lance Mackey? Well, he did it again . . . win number three, and without using any clever tricks on his sleep-deprived opponents. He just blasted down the trail and won that race. So, congratulations, Lance!
And thanks Principal Kelly Powell and you 4th- through 6th-graders at Petersen School. It was a full day and I loved meeting all of you. Check out www.iditarod.com to see the results and running times for the 2009 race.
