Boots, Bikes, and Bombers
Adventures of Alaska Conservationist Ginny Hill Wood
Distributed for University of Alaska Press
536 pages
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120 halftones, 2 maps
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6 x 9
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© 2012
Boots, Bikes, and Bombers presents an intimate oral history of Ginny Hill Wood, a pioneering Alaska conservationist and outdoorswoman. Born in Washington in 1917, Wood served as a Women’s Airforce Service Pilot in World War II, and flew a military surplus airplane to Alaska in 1946. Settling in Fairbanks, she went on to co-found Camp Denali, Alaska’s first wilderness ecotourism lodge; helped start the Alaska Conservation Society, the state’s first environmental organization; and applied her love of the outdoors to her work as a backcountry guide and an advocate for trail construction and preservation.
An innovative and collaborative life history, Boots, Bikes, and Bombers, incorporates the story of friendship between the author and subject. The resulting book is a valuable contribution to the history of Alaska as well as a testament to the joys of living a life full of passion and adventure.
David James | Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
“Wood is forever looking outward, so this never bogs down into a navel-gazing memoir of the type so prevalent these days. She also has a wonderful sense of humor that surfaces frequently. . . . Ginny Wood has lived a remarkable life, even if she never intended to. It’s good to have it in print.”
Library Bookwatch
“Working as a guide and advocate, Karen Brewster compiles tales of [Ginny Hill Wood’s] life in this devoted read that will entice lovers of the environment and nature. Boots, Bikes, and Bombers is a worthy tribute, and a solid addition to any history or biography collection focusing on Alaska.”
Contents
Map of Alaska
Acknowledgements
Prologue
1. Introduction
2. Childhood: The Foundation of an Adventurous Life
3. Europe by Bicycle
4. Flying and the Women Airforce Service Pilots
5. A Lifelong Friendship: Meeting Celia Hunter
6. A Summer Under Sail
7. Alaska: The Early Years
8. Returning to Europe
9. Exploring Katmai national Park
10. Finding a Place to Call Home
11. Establishing Camp Denali: Alaska's First Wilderness Camp
12. Driving the Denali Park Road
13. Exploring Mount McKinley's Backcountry
14. Camp Denali Staff and Friends
15. Flying Search and Rescue
16. Selling Camp Denali
17. Preserving Alaska
18. Tundra Treks: Guiding Wilderness Trips
19. Breaking Trail
20. Traveling the Globe
21. The Loss of a Friend
22. Reflections
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Acknowledgements
Prologue
1. Introduction
2. Childhood: The Foundation of an Adventurous Life
3. Europe by Bicycle
4. Flying and the Women Airforce Service Pilots
5. A Lifelong Friendship: Meeting Celia Hunter
6. A Summer Under Sail
7. Alaska: The Early Years
8. Returning to Europe
9. Exploring Katmai national Park
10. Finding a Place to Call Home
11. Establishing Camp Denali: Alaska's First Wilderness Camp
12. Driving the Denali Park Road
13. Exploring Mount McKinley's Backcountry
14. Camp Denali Staff and Friends
15. Flying Search and Rescue
16. Selling Camp Denali
17. Preserving Alaska
18. Tundra Treks: Guiding Wilderness Trips
19. Breaking Trail
20. Traveling the Globe
21. The Loss of a Friend
22. Reflections
Notes
Bibliography
Index
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