The Final Frontiersman: Heimo Korth and His Family, Alone in Alaska's Arctic Wilderness

Subsistence living. No, not like you see on the Discovery Channel. The Korth's, the family at the center of this book, have lived a life of subsistence living unlike nearly anyone else living today and the author, James Campbell, tells the story capably. I've always liked to read memoirs and biographies of wilderness adventures, mountain climbing, river journeys, you name it. This is one of those stories.

This isn't a high energy book from start to finish, many of the tales don't compel you to hang off the edge of your seat, but there is enough to compel you to keep reading. I didn't feel like the book found its stride until nearly the 2/3 mark, and from that point on it was very good. Overall though it was an enjoyable read and I'd show more recommend it for those interested in tales of living off the land and living life like few others still do.

This book does underline the point that living off the land, roaming free across vast stretches of the earth, is a lifestyle that is nearly extinct. Federal and state land management policies are mostly hostile to someone who would like to live this way and many of the exceptions made for the families that still do will follow them to their graves.

I haven't decided yet. Have we lost something important here? Have we lost something by effectively ruling out future families like the Korth's? show less

Despite living in Alaska I am at my core a city girl, I like pavement and crowds, love the energy of cities. That made relating to Heimo and his family very difficult for me, much of the story just made me cringe. It is however an interesting and well written book about a person and a moment in our history that is unlikely to ever happen again. I recommend it to anyone who has ever looked toward the wilderness and thought "What if..."

This book shows an honest perspective of how difficult it is to live in Alaska. I have read several books about Alaska and this is the first that paints a loving, devoting, grueling, and exhausting portrait. People like Heimo are rare to find these days and I think he can be an inspiration to everyone to focus more on family and nature and less on technology. I was surprised how much I liked Heimo because I stereotyped him as a rugged brute outdoorsman, but in reality is a loving father and husband.

I am a fan of the show “The Last Alaskans”, and Heimo Korth is one of the featured Alaskans. When I heard of this book, I just had to read it, and I’m so glad I did! It was most interesting and informative, and the book gives the reader a real-life view of how to live as a frontiersman in Alaska. Highly recommend this book.

very well done book, gives great insights into the real life and challenges. pings from topic to topic but it greatly enriches the story line.

Best book ever written about Heimo.