Denali National Park is one of our National Park System’s most precious jewels. It’s here, beneath the shadows of Mount Denali, that my good friend Tom Walker has spent the majority of his life documenting this wonderful ecosystem. Tom and I met when I was mostly just a kid.
I’m dedicating this Natural Note to Tom and his new book Wild Shots. Wild Shots features his incredibly moving stories, like the one of a lone wolf who lost its mate due to starvation, traveled 2,500 miles in search of prey, and eventually succumbed to hunger itself, found peacefully curled beneath a spruce tree with its radio collar.
Also, I had hardly any idea of Tom’s early connection to the natural world as a boy in Los Angeles, although he and I have traveled to many locations across Alaska and spent more than a few nights shooting the breeze. Sounds strange, a kid from LA becoming one of the most respected, authentic sourdoughs in Alaska’s short history.
If you have a child or know anyone who enjoys the wonders of the wild, Tom’s book makes for an inspiring holiday gift. You can find Wild Shots on Amazon. Congratulations to Tom Walker, one of the true heroes of our natural world. Mentorship, pass it on.