HEUER, Karsten 1969(?)-

PERSONAL: Born c. 1969; married Leanne Allison. Education: Graduated from University of Calgary, c. 1995.

ADDRESSES: Agent—c/o Author Mail, McClelland & Stewart, 481 University Ave., Ste. 900, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2E9, Canada.

CAREER: Biologist, park ranger, and writer. Parks Canada, park ranger in Banff National Park and Ivvavik National Park. Participated in a work-exchange program in South Africa in 1996.

WRITINGS:

Walking the Big Wild: From Yellowstone to the Yukon on the Grizzly Bears' Trail, McClelland & Stewart (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), 2002, Mountaineer Books (Seattle, WA), 2004.

Contributor to Backpacker.

SIDELIGHTS: As a park ranger in western Canada, Karsten Heuer has seen firsthand how the encroachment of civilization and development is diminishing wildlife habitat to the point that it may threaten the existence of many species. Between 1998 and 2000, Heuer hiked at various intervals, the wild 2,200-mile corridor from Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming to Watson Lake in the Yukon Territory, also known as the Y2Y Hike. Heuer writes about his experiences and observations on the hike in Walking the Big Wild: From Yellowstone to the Yukon on the Grizzly Bears' Trail.

As he explains in his book, Heuer is looking for more than adventure. A wildlife biologist in the park offseason, Heuer was inspired to make his trip by what is called the Y2Y initiative, a coalition of more than a hundred conservation groups seeking protection for a series of corridors connecting various parks and reserves from Wyoming to the northern Yukon. The ultimate goal is to help protect species that need large tracts of land for a healthy existence that avoids inbreeding and food shortages. The author's hike was part of his goal to help promote the Y2Y initiative by getting a firsthand look at how wildlife in this vast region has coped with increasing human activity. "One of my fundamental beliefs is the importance of preserving wildlife, and the Yellowstone to Yukon initiative is what we need to keep wildlife in the Rockies," Heuer told Michael Finkel in an article in Audubon.

In Walking the Big Wild, Heuer recounts his adventures traversing the Y2Y trails by foot, canoe, snowshoe, and cross-country skis. Often accompanied by his dog and various companions (including his future wife) who joined him for segments of the hike, Heuer portrays the area's diversified wildlife and his encounters with them. Along the way, he also comes across humans, including hikers, loggers, and hunters. The author delves into the many interests, including logging and mining concerns, that are opposed to protecting the region and seek to develop its natural resources. Although Heuer focuses on the conservation issues of the area, he also recounts his harrowing experiences with dangerous rock climbs, icy lakes, and the formidable bear population. In a review for Library Journal, Sheila Kasperek recommended the book for all library "environmental collections." A Publishers Weekly contributor wrote that "Heuer's journey is exciting, and his passionate vision of a network of protected pathways connecting two mostly pristine wilderness areas is inspiring." Moira Farr, writing in the Canadian Geographic, noted that "the journey and the book are … impressive achievements. Heuer vividly conveys how the experience changed him and deepened his reverence for and understanding of the wilderness and his respect for all the creatures."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Audubon, July, 1999, Michael Finkel, "From Yellowstone to Yukon," p. 44.

Canadian Geographic, November-December, 2002, Moira Fall, "The Whys and Wherefores of Y2Y," p. 97.

Library Journal, January 1, 2005, Sheila Kasperek, review of Walking the Big Wild: From Yellowstone to the Yukon on the Grizzly Bears' Trail, p. 147.

Maclean's, January 27, 2003, Brian Bergman, "Yellowstone to Yukon: A Proposed 3,400-km Wildlife Corridor Stirs up Passions—For and Against," p. 37.

New Internationalist, December, 2004, interview with Leanne Allison and Heuer, p. 33.

Publishers Weekly, November 15, 2004, review of Walking the Big Wild, p. 49.

Smithsonian, November, 1999, Donovan Webster, "Walking a Wildlife Highway from Yellowstone to the Yukon," p. 58.

ONLINE

Miistakis Institute for the Rockies Web site, http://www.rockies.ca/ (May 9, 2005), "Karsten Heuer."