Addison Powell

This book was written by Addison Powell who was hired to go to Valdez, AK during the gold rush to survey a route to the interior. The route he surveyed is generally the route the Richardson Highway now follows up to Thompson Pass. Before that the only route was up and over the Valdez Glacier. Most of the gold rushers would come up only for the summer, but Powell stayed for a few years. He explored a lot of the Copper River area.

The text of the book was written after he returned to San Francisco. It is written in the style of the time which is very formal and flowery and is very entertaining in itself. He is a good story teller and some of his memoir may not be 100% accurate. For example, I don't really know how he could possibly have covered the distances he claims on foot during the short summers.

I got the book from the Valdez Historical Museum and the edition I have has a preface that I do not recommend. It is as long as the text itself and tries to tell the whole story.

Just read Powell's account and enjoy!… (mehr)