A number of people in Alaska kindly responded to an Outsider’s unexpected phone call or e-mail by offering to share their expertise in person. In Anchorage: Diane Benson, Scott Goldsmith, Stephen Haycox, and Esau Sinnok. In Fairbanks: Terry Chapin, Vladimir Romanovsky, Ned Rozell, Martin Truffer, and Michael West. Kim and Melanie Heacox not only helped me retrace John Muir’s original route through Glacier Bay prior to my Gustavus visit, but provided room and board and later flagged several embarrassing errors in my manuscript.
When reporting books that combine travel and history, I have always depended on the kindness (and chattiness) of strangers. Aboard the Kennicott: Beau Bailey and Paul Rambeau. In Metlakatla: Naomi Leask. In Ketchikan: Dave Kiffer. In Wrangell: Lawrence Bahovec, Lydia and Mike Matney, and Eric Yancey. In Haines: David Nanney. In Sitka: Charles Bingham, Harvey Brandt, Peter Gorman, and Andrew Thoms. In Gustavus: David and Brittney Cannamore. In Yakutat: Jim Capra, Jack Endicott, and Marcia Suniga. In Cordova: Kristin Carpenter, Nancy Bird, and Karl Becker. In Whittier: everyone at Lazy Otter Charters, especially Kelly Bender and Ben and Kerry Wilkins. On Kodiak Island: Harry and Brigid Dodge. In Katmai National Park and King Salmon: Kyle McDowell and the team at Kenai Backcountry Adventures, Dave the pilot, Mike the bartender, and whoever owns that beer-drinking Labrador. In Unalaska: Jeff Dickrell and Bobbie Lekanoff. In Nome: Richard Beneville and Leon Boardway. In Shishmaref: Donna Barr, Barret Eningowuk, Dottie Harris, William Jones, Shelton and Clara Kokeok, Susie Kokeok, Harold Olanna, Darlene Turner, Annie Weyiouanna, Ardith and Johnny Weyiouanna, Clifford Weyiouanna, and Howard Weyiouanna.
Several people provided essential counsel, connections, and/or ideas during my research, including Mark Bryant, Rab Cummings, Daniel Coyle, Maurice Coyle, Mique’l Dangeli, Jen Kinney, Tom Kizzia, Nancy Lord, Elizabeth Marino, Bruce Molnia, Riki Ott, John Reiger, Dan Ritzman, David Roche, Marin Sandy, and Ted Spencer. Kay Sloan mailed a large box of pre-Internet research materials saved from her own book on the Harriman Expedition, which included copies (with typewritten transcriptions!) of the journals kept by several members of the party. Once again, the extraordinary staff at the Pelham Public Library kept me stocked in reading material. Special thanks to the employees of the Alaska Marine Highway System and to the knowledgeable booksellers and librarians whom I encountered in Alaska’s bountiful and excellent bookstores and libraries.
In New York City, the usual behind-the-scenes magic was performed by the usual suspects at Dutton: Jessica Renheim, Amanda Walker, and Emily Brock. Ben Sevier got the ball rolling. John Parsley kindly devised a catchy title. David McAninch, Maura Fritz, and Jason Adams read unedited passages and suggested crucial course corrections. Gillian Fassell read the whole thing twice and once again provided the necessary doses of carrot and stick. Will Palmer copy-edited the book with the skill and care of a soap opera surgeon. My agent, Daniel Greenberg, offered steadfast support, sometimes in the form of lunch. Olivia Notter preserved my sanity by transcribing many hours of interviews.
An incomplete list of those owed special gratitude would include: David Adams and Mary McEnery, Robert Corbellini and Barbara Miller (and cats), Natividad Huamani, Fred and Aura Truslow, and Veronica Francis. As ever, my deepest thanks go to my dear wife, Dr. Aurita Truslow, who yet again maintained order in the household while I ran away for most of a summer. Honorable mention to Alex, Lucas, and Magnus for not driving your mother crazy in my absence.