Danger Stalks the Land

A pair of youthful newlyweds embarks on a gold-panning outing, but only one returns alive. Twelve climbers, roped together in groups of four, plunge down a mountainside, landing in a twisted heap of mangled bodies. A geologist on a mapping expedition radios to her superiors: ""I'm being eaten by a bear!"" These are just some of the vividly rendered disasters and close calls Alaskan writer Kanuit details in this collection of true life adventures. Stretching from the mid-19th century to the recent past, the 43 pieces are plenty scary, but Kanuit, a former high school teacher who has lived in Alaska since 1966, also uses the stories to teach valuable lessons about character, loyalty and courage. In some cases, the difference between survival and death is no more than happenstance. But in others, disaster is due to inexperience or the failure to recognize a dangerous situation. Adeana Dickison, the 18-year-old newlywed who died when her leg got stuck in the mudflats surrounding Anchorage, was a recent arrival from Nevada. She and her husband had no idea of the strength of the tides at high latitudes, and by the time the water started rising, they had waited too long to seek help. Short introductions and brief teasers leading to the next story help move the reader through the book, and an appendix contains valuable information on what it takes to have a chance of survival in the Alaskan wilderness. (Nov.)