Tom Walker (1)

Harry Karstens was one of Alaska's colorful characters who made a name for himself delivering freight by dog sled, while at the same time doing his own route-finding to get there. Arriving in the north on the leading edge of the Klondike gold rush which brought the Yukon and Alaska to national and global attention, he carved out a niche for himself on the trails either delivering mail, freight or leading hunters and others to remote parts of the state. He went on to play a key role in the show more establishment and early operations of Denali National Park.

This book focuses on his critical role in the first successful climb of Mt.McKinley, in 1913. After introducing us to Karstens early life, and tracing his arrival in Alaska, the author takes us through the planning and execution of the expedition that left Fairbanks on March 13 by dogsled, and arrived at the south summit of the mountain June 7, following extraordinary challenges and setbacks, with a party that essentially had no mountain climbing experience. The book paints a richly textured picture of the ordeal, and the aftermath, providing a look at what life in Alaska was like at the time.

Companion books also by Tom Walker are: "Kantishna: Miners, Mushers and Mountaineers" and, "McKinley Station: The People of the Pioneer Park that became Denali." show less

An excellent history of the Kantishna area in interior Alaska, that paints a picture of life in the region from the 1900 to about 1920. The life stories of many of the "old timers" who prospected, hunted and lived in the area are threaded together into an outstanding history of this area. The initial climbs of Mt. McKinley are also included, and in the final chapters, these threads are combined to explain how Mt. McKinley National Park, now Denali National Park, came to be. Harry Karstens is show more the principal figure, who will go on to become the first Superintendent of the new park, in a companion volume, "McKinley Station." show less

McKinley Station describes the early years of McKinley National Park. After its founding in 1917 to protect the wildlife from market hunting, the park was largely unpopular and ignored by Alaska residents. The appointment of Harry Karstens as the first superintendent is the beginning of the real management of the park. Author Tom Watson brings to life Karstens and many of the other players who had a hand in supporting (or opposing)the park. The book is well illustrated with photos, although show more some are frustratingly small, and maps to help the reader understand the immensity of the geography of the region. In this, as well as the first volume in the series (Kantishna Mushers, Miners, Mountaineers) transportation plays a huge role in the history of this region, as it continues to play a role in the state of Alaska today. show less

Missed writing comments upon reading. Read to learn more about Alaskan history as we prepared to travel to Denali National Park in August 2017.