Residing in the most remote and rugged places of Alaska, there’s something about the bear that conjures up romance, nostalgia, danger and so many other superlatives. For author and longtime bruin hunter Paul Atkins, spring bears are his favorites to chase because of where the pursuit takes him, the time of year and thrill of cutting tracks. (PAUL D. ATKINS)
TO ALL THE BEARS THAT SHARED MY LIFE GRIZZLY HUNTS, ENCOUNTERS HAVE DEFINED GENERATIONS OF ALASKANS BY PAUL D. ATKINS
I
stood waist-deep in snow with nothing but a rifle and a sharp knife. I was freezing to death, but I knew the big grizzly wasn’t going to back off! Could this be the end? It sounds like the beginning of an incredible tale that could be the basis for a movie, a book or a magazine story; either
way, it gets your attention dang quick. Like many, I love old stories from long ago. These are tales of high adventure, especially those that took place in the Last Frontier – and more specifically, in the Arctic, where so many of my own Alaska experiences were also made. There have been a ton of books,
numerous magazine articles and even films depicting those incredible times, with most of the really good works predating Alaska statehood. Books such as Hunting the Arctic and Wolfman, plus films Nanook of the North and The Snow Walker have always intrigued me. And hopefully my book Atkins’ Alaska (Alaska
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