Thanks to the Fodorites who suggested Looking for Alaska by Peter Jenkins. I'm only half way through and can't put it down!!

Last year, in preparation for our trip, I was also skimming the Anchorage Daily News website when I was reading the first chapter about bears. A survey crew was saved by the hired guard when they accidentally disturbed a bear. The crews are out when bears are just coming out of hiberation so it's a very dangerous time. When our son was 17 he visited a 4-H friend in Alaska. Four of them went backpacking by themselves. I probably would have said no to the trip if I had known how common it is for teens to go out in the wilderness by themselves.

I am going to look into that book on the next trip to the library.

dfrost: I would much rather my 17 year old (and I have had 2) would do the Alaska wilderness thing than what many of the city kids do with their spare time or what some of my rural relatives kids do with alcohol and cars. Hopefully your son really enjoyed it!

I also enjoyed Winterdance by Gary Paulsen about a novice running the Iditerod. Learned to be VERY afraid of moose!

I'm glad to hear you're enjoying Peter Jenkins. I still can't get over the part from Chapter 2 about the moose in the lake with a swingset!

Thanks placeu2. He was raised in the country and once surprised a moose in the woods behind our house but I had second thoughts after I saw the pictures of where they hiked. He also visited friends who had moved there and helped them roof their cabin guaranteeing an open invitation to visit anytime. Good thing Dad taught him all sorts of handyman skills.
We've also enjoyed a variety of books about the Iditarod. The race is about to start. There are great daily updates and human/canine interest stories on the website sponsored by Cabela as well as the official race website.

Now just finished "Into the Wild" because of recommendations from Fodorites and it has quickly moved into #1 position of all the books I've been reading. VERY powerful, compelling book...I listened to it on tape and it was very well read as well.

``Into the Wild'' is excellent, although much of it was similar to an early investigative report in the Anchorage Daily News.

Two of the best books are ``Coming Into the Country'' by John McPhee and ``Going to Extremes'' by Joe McGinniss are far better than the trite, cliched look by Peter Jenkins -- even though they were written a long while ago.

I will second that "Into the Country" by John McPhee is very good. I'm reading it now and actually enjoying the accounts of fishing and I don't even fish!

I was in Denali over July 4th weekend and we drove partway down Stampede Road, where Chris McCandless went in the book "Into the Wild" which I also read very quickly. We saw 2 moose on that road and some beautiful views of the sun low in the sky.