Alaska Blues: A Story of Freedom, Risk, and Living Your Dream

by Joe Upton

Book Overview

FOR SEVEN MONTHS Joe Upton steered his 30-foot boat, the "Doreen," through the open channels and narrow, twisting passageways of Southeast Alaska, living the life of an itinerant commercial fisherman far from home.This is Upton's award-winning account of that season--the lonely hours at sea as well as the close community of the fishing fleet; the sudden, violent storms and glorious days of sunshine; the difficult, frenzied work and quiet moments...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0979047099
• ISBN13: 9780979047091
• Release Date: February 2008
• Publisher: Epicenter Press (WA)
• Length: 258 Pages
• Weight: 0.87 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.3" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

Salmon

Harkens back to a long lost lifestyle (actually not that long ago). Really gives you an accurate depiction of life on a small trawler fishing boat as the author sails the dangerous inside passage. Tough life in a tough world, gotta love it.

An education on the Inside Passage

What a great account of cruising the Inside Passage from Seattle to Alaska from a fisherman who has been there and done that! It is a book I could not put down. You get an education on the cruising challenges, the weather, the fishing industry and breathtaking beauty of the Area. Joe Upton's experience from a small boat is nature in your face and will keep you on the edge of your seat. The book is full of great pictures and maps showing Joe's cruising routes during his 7 month season of fishing. This book gave me an education on what to expect cruising the Inside Passage which I want to do someday in a small boat. Anyone who wants to know more about the Inland Waters will love this book. Someday a movie will have to be made about this true story. Thank-you Joe for writting this book... it is a classic of history.

Very real!

Easy to read and to get 'involved in the story'. I have fished many of the areas described and the author is very accurate. Great reading if you have spent any time in Alaska.

Preping for Travel

We are preparing to Experience the Inside Passage during the summer of 1999. This will be our first trip. We wanted to read a book that would give us an idea of history, and what to expect on this first trip. This book is excellent on preparing one for a trip to this magestic country. Not only do you learn about the fishing industry, you learn about history, the summer weather, how residents survive in this country, its wildlife and senery. The maps in the book and their description of travel through the many inside passages is great and we now have a much better idea of what to expect when we arrive. Certainly worth reading if you have an interest in the coast line from Seattle to Skageway. Gary Beach

A beautifully detailed and illustrated fisherman's diary.

Joe Upton has a way with words and pictures that captures the changing, and often savage, beauty of the Southeast Coast of Alaska. Follow the daily adventures of the author, his wife and a dog as they ply the Alaskan salmon trade in a 32' boat from Seattle to Scagway and back. Beautifully illustrated with the authors own photos and maps its a must read for anyone who loves Alaska, the sea, boats or fishing. We had the good fortune of meeting and dining with the author in l998,(he now writes travel books), while on a cruise of the inside passage. We quickly became a fan of Joe and have devoured all three of his books. I just wish that I had read this book before the cruise. It would have made the trip all that more enjoyable.