Braving It

Braving It: A Father, A Daughter, and An Unforgettable Journey Into the Alaskan Wild by James Campbell is a great memoir of the adventures he has with his oldest daughter, Aidan, as they travel to the Alaskan Arctic together.

I thought this memoir might be similar to If You Lived Here I'd Know Your Name by Heather Lende about life in small town Alaska.  However, Campbell and his daughter spend their time in Alaska in the remotest region: the Arctic.  

Campbell's cousin Heimo lives in the Alaskan Arctic National Wildlife Refuge with his Eskimo wife, Edna, and Campbell has visited them before, but this time he wants to bring his teenage daughter along.

This Alaska is far different than Lende's Alaska.  Campbell shares what it is like to spend time in this remote area.  Canoeing adventures, hiking, and a second trip during the winter that includes caribou hunting share are just some of the adventures that Campbell has with Aidan. 

I loved reading about this place and the experiences this father and daughter had.  Despite great descriptions, I still believe that I can't imagine the beauty of this remote wilderness.