Running a trapline in the remote Alaskan bush sounds like a pretty sweet gig for a young man seeking adventure and independence. But how would you go about finding such a place? All of the good ground must be claimed by other trappers, right? Ray Tremblay, a young man from the Lower 48, found himself in the arctic in the late 1940’s. He’d dreamed of running a trapline … [Read more...] about Trails of an Alaska Trapper
Born on Snowshoes
Three girls, their mother and an old man, 280 miles deep in the wilderness, running traplines for a living. It may seem like an odd combination, but it was reality for much of Evelyn Berglund Shore’s young life. George Berglund and his brother caught gold fever during the Klondike gold rush of 1898. They returned years later to work mining claims, searching for riches along … [Read more...] about Born on Snowshoes
Above the Arctic Circle: James Carroll
Most of the early Alaskan pioneers moved up from the Lower 48 for seeking opportunity and adventure. The majority left when times got tough, but the best and the toughest stayed on, and helped make the frontier what it is today. Minnesota-born James Carroll was one of those guys. Carroll journeyed to Alaska in 1910, in search of opportunities made possible by the gold rush. … [Read more...] about Above the Arctic Circle: James Carroll
Mink, Mary and Me
In the fur boom years of the 1920’s and 30’s, trapping in the far north wilderness was one of the riskiest, but potentially most profitable occupations in society. Many who struggled to find jobs in and around civilization went north, trapped fur and came out in the spring with enough money for a fresh start on the outside. Chick Ferguson first headed north to earn his stake … [Read more...] about Mink, Mary and Me
Gary Dumond Remembers (Maine Warden Pilots)
“Best job in the world”. That’s always been Gary Dumond’s response when he’s asked about his career as a Maine Game Warden Pilot. An eternal optimist with a razor sharp memory, Gary can captivate anyone with his stories about flying in the woods of northern Maine.Born into a flying family in 1950, Gary always wanted to be a pilot. Fresh out of high school he entered a military … [Read more...] about Gary Dumond Remembers (Maine Warden Pilots)