Two in the Far North Review
Margaret Murie
I first heard of Margaret Murie and this book when I attended a Teton Science School Elderhostel program. She lives (or lived—if she is still living she is 97 years old) in Moose, Wyoming, which is just outside the Grand Teton National Park and near the Teton Science School. I do not know the details of the relationship between the school and the Muries, but the school has a large collection of biological specimens which were a gift from Margaret’s husband, Olaus.
Margaret was nine years old when she moved with her family to Fairbanks, Alaska, when her father was appointed Assistant U.S. Attorney there. She remained in Alaska where she met and married Olaus Murie, a biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Most of the book covers three trips, each of several months’ duration, into the wilderness areas of Alaska. Each trip was required as a part of Olaus’ job and tents provided the living conditions. The first trip began immediately after their wedding in September of 1924 and featured dog sleds as their major form of transportation. Just imagine tenting with temperatures of –20 degrees F. with equipment available in 1924. The second trip was in 1926 when their first–born was nine months old and was at the height of the Alaskan mosquito season. The third trip came 30 years later. I found it a fascinating book and I highly recommend it. I should add that this is the second time I have read the book.