Ice Trek

Naturalist and author Clarkson (The Badgers of Summercombe) once again draws on his experiences in the wild, in this case the Alaskan wilderness bordering the Arctic circle, to create a vivid and convincing survial tale. American Steve Larsen, a scout for a travel company, agrees to take along Eskimo Joe Umiak on a flight to remote Anaktuvuk Pass; the light airplane crashes, killing the pilot. To survive, Larsen and Umiak must trek hundreds of miles over mountainous terrain, through freezing conditions. Strangers until the crash, the men must come to terms not only with their desperate plight but also with the vast cultural gap that separates them. Larsen finds that despite his experiences in Vietnam, he is dependent on Umiak for his life; Umiak resents Larsen, fearing his dependency may be their death. As they trek painfully and slowly onward, they are also menaced by an old, mean grizzly bear who has acquired a taste for human flesh and is tracking them. Clarkson's feel for the natural world gives his suspense story an added dimension. (September 24)