On June 7, 1913, the first ascent of the main summit (the southern peak) of Denali was achieved. The expedition was put together by Howard Stuck, but the first man to reach the summit was a native Alaskan, Walter Harper. The first superintendent of Mount McKinley National Park, Harry Karstens, was also part of this historic group and the real leader. (Harry Karstens is a fascinating man, and you will get to read more about him and his incredible work there in the rest of THE HEART OF ALASKA series.)
After the successful summit of 1913, nineteen years would pass before another known party attempted the climb. So for our story, we obviously took some artistic liberty and thought how fun it would be to have a party attempt the climb after Mount McKinley was officially named a national park. When the Brooklyn Daily Eagle delegation went to dedicate the park, it really was a party of seventy, but from what we found in doing research, there’s no mention of the staff of the Curry helping in any way. But we had fun adding that into our story since it is a significant part of history.
We also used The Ascent of Denali by Hudson Stuck several times in In the Shadow of Denali. In chapter twenty, we used the actual description in the book for how they prepared their meat for the expedition. It’s hard to imagine the time and preparation it took for their group to tackle the monumental task of climbing North America’s tallest mountain. A free e-book of The Ascent of Denali by Hudson Stuck is provided by www.gutenberg.org/files/26059/26059-h/26059-h.htm.
In 2016, the national parks across the country celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of the creation of the National Parks Service. And in 2017, Denali National Park will celebrate its one hundredth year. We pray this book honors that in some small way.
A big thank you goes out to Dr. John Smelcer for his invaluable work on the Ahtna Dictionary and Pronunciation Guide. His love for his native people and the desire to preserve a dying language is evident in the care and immense amount of time he’s taken over the years to provide this free resource. For this book, we’ve used the western dialect of Ahtna, the tribe whose native land was the setting of our story.
We’ve so enjoyed weaving in the people and historical facts that were part of this amazing time, but please remember this is a work of fiction.
Randy and Jackie Hale, thank you for giving us the honor of sharing Cassidy with the world.
As with all our other books, we would be lost without the team at Bethany House Publishers. It is a joy and a privilege to work with the whole team there. From editing to marketing to cover design and everything in between, they are top-notch. Thank you, BHP, for all you do.
Thank you—our readers—for your notes of encouragement and anticipation for each new book. We couldn’t do this without you.
Last and ultimately most important, Thank You, Lord for giving us the opportunity to write for You.
Until next time . . .
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Kim and Tracie
Tracie Peterson is the award-winning author of over one hundred novels, both historical and contemporary. Her avid research resonates in her stories, as seen in her bestselling HEIRS OF MONTANA and ALASKAN QUEST series. Tracie and her family make their home in Montana. Visit Tracie’s website at www.traciepeterson.com.
Kimberley Woodhouse is a multi-published author of fiction and nonfiction. A popular speaker and teacher, she’s shared her theme of “Joy Through Trials” with hundreds of thousands of people across the country. She lives, writes, and homeschools with her husband of twenty-plus years and their two awesome teens in Colorado. Connect with Kim at www.kimberleywoodhouse.com.
Also by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse
All Things Hidden
Beyond the Silence
Books by Tracie Peterson
HEART OF THE FRONTIER
Treasured Grace
SAPPHIRE BRIDES
A Treasure Concealed
A Beauty Refined
A Love Transformed
BRIDES OF SEATTLE
Steadfast Heart
Refining Fire
Love Everlasting
LONE STAR BRIDES
A Sensible Arrangement
A Moment in Time
A Matter of Heart
Lone Star Brides (3 in 1)
LAND OF SHINING WATER
The Icecutter’s Daughter
The Quarryman’s Bride
The Miner’s Lady
LAND OF THE LONE STAR
Chasing the Sun
Touching the Sky
Taming the Wind
STRIKING A MATCH
Embers of Love
Hearts Aglow • Hope Rekindled
Dawn’s Prelude
Morning’s Refrain • Twilight’s Serenade
ALASKAN QUEST
Summer of the Midnight Sun
Under the Northern Lights
Whispers of Winter
Alaskan Quest (3 in 1)
BRIDES OF GALLATIN COUNTY
A Promise to Believe In
A Love to Last Forever
A Dream to Call My Own
DESERT ROSES
Shadows of the Canyon
Across the Years • Beneath a Harvest Sky
HEIRS OF MONTANA
Land of My Heart • The Coming Storm
To Dream Anew • The Hope Within
LADIES OF LIBERTY
A Lady of High Regard
A Lady of Hidden Intent
A Lady of Secret Devotion
WESTWARD CHRONICLES
A Shelter of Hope
Hidden in a Whisper
A Veiled Reflection
YUKON QUEST
Treasures of the North
Ashes and Ice • Rivers of Gold
House of Secrets
A Slender Thread
What She Left for Me
Where My Heart Belongs
www.traciepeterson.com
www.kimberleywoodhouse.com
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