The Final Frontiersman: Heimo Korth and His Family, Alone in Alaska's Arctic Wilderness

James Campbell

Nov 2015 · Blackstone Audio Inc. · Narrated by Dan Woren

About this audiobook

The inspiration for The Last Alaskans-the eight-part documentary series on Animal PlanetHundreds of hardy people have tried to carve a living in the Alaskan bush, but few have succeeded as consistently as Heimo Korth. Originally from Wisconsin, Heimo traveled to the Arctic wilderness in his feverous twenties. Now, more than four decades later, Heimo lives with his wife approximately two hundred miles from civilization-a sustainable, nomadic life bounded by the migrating caribou, the dangers of swollen rivers, and by the very exigencies of daily existence.In The Final Frontiersman, Heimo's cousin James Campbell chronicles the Korth family's amazing experience, their adventures, and the tragedy that continues to shape their lives. With a deft voice and in spectacular, at times unimaginable detail, Campbell invites us into Heimo's heartland and home. The Korths wait patiently for a small plane to deliver their provisions, listen to distant chatter on the radio, and go sledding at forty-four degrees below zero-all the while cultivating the hard-learned survival skills that stand between them and a terrible fate.Awe-inspiring and memorable, The Final Frontiersman reads like a rustic version of the American Dream and reveals for the first time a life most of us have never imagined: amid encroaching environmental pressures, apart from the herd, and alone in a stunning wilderness that-for now-remains the final frontier.

Ratings and reviews

Wonderful story about an amazing and interesting man. The "audio" version of this book, however, is a bit odd. The edits were poorly pasted and all of the quotes, especially those of Heimo, should have been read in the narrator's natural voice.

Heimo set out to carve his life at a young age. He is a true living legend. Not only did he brave the solitude and harsh demands on the human body, spirit and soul he raised a family amongst those wilderness climes. If you're looking for inspiration or a excellent read this is it.

Very good book about an extremely interesting man, Heimo Korth. I believe this book was also the catalyst for the Animal Planet/Discovery Channel TV show, The Last Alaskans.

About the author

James Campbell mounted an expedition to New Guinea to retrace the route of the Ghost Mountain Boys and discovered a wilderness almost unchanged in more than sixty years. He is the author of The Final Frontiersman and has written for Outside magazine as well as many other publications.

Dan Woren is an American voice actor and award-winning narrator. He has worked extensively in animation, video games, and feature films. He is best known for his many roles in anime productions such as Bleach and as the voice of Sub-Zero in the video game Mortal Kombat. His audiobook narration has won him three AudioFile Earphones Awards.