The Simple Wild: A Novel

Alaska, the largest state in the contiguous United States, is known for its awe-inspiring natural beauty. Considered one of the last remaining wildernesses on Earth, Alaska encompasses approximately 663,000 square miles, is home to the continent’s highest peak, Denali, and features several national parks. Despite its size, Alaska is sparsely populated as a diverse array of ecosystems, mountain ranges, tundra, dense woodlands, fjords, and glaciers make it a difficult place for humans to live. The rugged terrain and changeable weather make creating and sustaining reliable ground transportation challenging. From long, brutal winters with temperatures well below freezing to brief, mild summers with almost 24-hour daylight in some regions, the weather and the land create a constantly evolving environment that demands resilience and adaptability from those living there.

As a result of the unique infrastructural challenges the state faces, Alaskans have become reliant on flying for transportation. While highways connect Alaska’s main population centers like Anchorage, most northern and interior regions are unreachable by vehicles. Additionally, Alaska’s permafrost-covered terrain makes building and upkeeping roads costly and challenging. Since 82% of Alaskan communities are accessible only by plane, air transportation has become essential to Alaskan life. In addition to moving people, planes provide necessary services and healthcare and maintain links to the outside world.