Kings of the Yukon by Adam Weymouth - 4 stars (Steeplechase)

[Joy D]

Kings of the Yukon: One Summer Paddling Across the Far North by Adam Weymouth - 4* - My Review

This book provides just about everything a person would want to know about the King Salmon (aka Chinook). In the process the author provides a history of their heyday and reasons behind their decline. In telling the story, Weymouth traveled two thousand miles by raft and canoe down the Yukon River, starting in Canada and continuing to Alaska where it empties into the Bering Sea. He speaks with First Nations people about the role these salmon play in their culture and traditions. The author seems to be a natural storyteller, his description of the journey kept my interest. He describes the villages, landscapes, people, and wide variety of wildlife he encounters. He weaves together personal stories of the people he meets and their relationship to the river. He includes historic vignettes of Alaska, the Last Frontier (or Seward’s Folly). He takes the reader back in time to the Gold Rush days. He relates stories of different types of salmon from other parts of the world. It is a fabulous combination of science, history, travel, and storytelling. I enjoyed it immensely.

PBT Steeplechase - Tagged "travel" x40:
https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...