Travels In Alaska Muir John

A detailed Summary of Travels In Alaska Muir John

Travels in Alaska takes readers on a trip to Alaska through the vivid descriptions of the author, John Muir. The book is based on journals Muir wrote during his visits to Alaska in 1879, 1880, and 1890. These chronicles of his journey relate his observations of nature, glaciers, and the many people he met. Traveling on foot, by canoe, and dogsled Muir experienced excitement discovering unfamiliar types of lands and animals. Each summer Muir and his new found Presbyterian missionary friend S. Hall Young accompanied by Tlingit Indian guides launched extensive voyages of discovery in a thirty foot canoe. John Muir was a naturalists who loved to go to wild places and experience the wonders of nature.

Chapter One of Travels In Alaska is inspired by the beautiful scenery Muir writes in his boat in route to Puget Sound. He describes the scenery, weather, and hospitality shown to him by the individuals he met during his journey through the Alexander Archipelago to Fort Wrangell and Sitka. Also, a man named Mr. Vanderbilt offered John a room and a place at his table. The Vanderbilt family occupied the best hou

tribe, and given an Indian name (Ancoutahan) that means adopted chief. Being adopted by the Stickeens was a excellent safeguard while John was on his travels among the different tribes of the archipelago. No one belonging to the other tribes would attack him, knowing that the Stickeens would hold them accountable. Muir also describes feasting and dancing at Chief Shakes blockhouse, and experiencing the most beautiful sunset he had ever seen.

visiting the village of Hoonah Muir and Young crossed Icy Strait into Glacier Bay. Camping on the beaches of the Grand Pacific Glacier he describes the sunrise against that Fairweather Range. Vancouver's chart showed no trace of Glacier Bay that they had discovered. The Chilcats are the most influential of the Thlinkit tribes. While with the Chilcats, Muir and Young had five meetings, each of them delivering speeches. They began to feel quite at home in the big block house with their hospitable Chilcat friends. However, due to the dawn of winter and other worries they decided to start back on the journey home at once. While paddling down the east shore of the Lynn Canal, Muir and Young visited the Auk tribe in the Juneau area and refused the chief's offer to construct the village for them. They proceeded to Taku Inlet and Sum Dum Bay, but the closeness of winter prevented exploration. The next season, 1880, the Silver Bow Gold discovery was made in the Juneau area. John Muir describes the Alaskan Indians as very different from the typical American Indian of the interior of this continent. Muir says, "They were doubtless derived from the Mongol stock. Their down slanting oval eyes, wide cheek bones, and rather thick, outstanding upper lips at once suggest their connection with the Chinese or Japanese."

With a three foot long sled John Muir set out to explore the Muir Glacier on July 11, 1890. Then, on July 18, he notices, "I have been sketching, though my eyes are much inflamed and I can scarce see. All the lines I make appear double. I fear I shall not be able to make a few more sketches I want tomorrow, but I must try." The next day he writes, "Nearly blind. The light is intolerable and I fear I may be long unfitted for work." He then falls into a crevass which is luckily filled with water. Finally, on July 21 John is seen by some of his companions and

Muir arrived back in Wrangell on August 8, 1880 on the steamer California to continue his explorations northward which were terminated by winter

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Approximate Word count = 1673
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels