INTO THE WILD

A longtime fan and regular visitor to the Gates of the Arctic National Park, Joe Wilkins became a U.S. National Park Service volunteer after he retired from teaching mathematics at the University of Illinois Springfield. In his recent book, Gates of the Arctic National Park: Twelve Years of Wilderness Exploration (Brown Books Publishing, 2018), he shares his unique insight into the park as a volunteer. We spoke with Wilkins, who talked about his love of the Arctic wilderness, as well as the dangers and challenges to visitors, wildlife and the park at large.

Harrowsmith: When did you first visit the park?

Joe Wilkins: I first fell in love with Alaska and the Arctic environment when my mother gave me a book, when I was about five years old. She would read it to me and taught me to read from that book. So I was absolutely enamoured with this whole