Thirty of Forty in the 49th

"Thirty of Forty in the 49th" shares the conservation history of Alaska through the eyes of a retired biologist. The author reflects on his 30 years working in the far north while on a solo canoe trip in the wilds of the Upper Yukon River 40 years after his first visit there. The book combines an account of the dividing of Alaska's lands through statehood, Native claims, and ultimately as national interest lands set aside for conservation. The author combines Alaska history with tales of survival and legal, political, and natural challenges. From run-ins with grizzly bears to managing diverse programs of multi-million acre national wildlife refuges, the stories document a time of transition in one of the last great wild areas remaining on the planet.