 |
As the last official homesteader in Alaska, author Ose presents a gritty, realistic, and sometimes humorous account of pioneering in the northern wilds. Heading to his unimproved five-acre wilderness home in 1986, he enlisted the assistance of Jeff Peterson. Jeff was young, strong, hard-working, and a competent cook, which Ose was not. The two drove north in a pickup truck that doubled, not too comfortably, as a camper and began buying huge amounts of food, tools, oils, lanterns, a dutch oven, toilet paper, and a couple of firearms for hunting and, if need be, bear attack.
They were dropped off near the site, staying a few days in a tiny cabin nearby. They then built a road to "Ose Mountain," not bothering to track it first. Ose taught Peterson the ways of the wild, and both felled trees and cleared a trail wide enough for a future ATV. They met a rather standoffish bull moose, some demanding birds, and often lived on wild game, mostly grouse. Icy weather set in by early October. They huddled in a hastily-constructed dugout, and by November had built and furnished a cabin for Ose to return to occupy in ensuing years.
Ose is a wilderness survival expert who often lectures on the subject and recently has begun writing about his Alaskan adventures. He shares many detailed memories here, offers useful tips for far-north explorers, and includes color photographs. His memories were augmented by a VHS camcorder that provided not only visual reminders but some well-told tales, such as Peterson's lively recollection of befriending the moose. Adding additional depth to the book are Peterson's contributions, such as an introduction, some short vignettes, and a descriptive poem to finish the narrative. Ose's book provides solid material for those wishing to follow in his sturdy footsteps.