When twenty-year-old Bert Ray Libe read "Men wanted for Alaska to build a railroad-apply 526 Jackson Street" on a signboard in San Francisco one July morning in 1905, he immediately envisioned hunting adventures and gold-seeking opportunities in the rugged land of the north.
The next morning his adventurous soul was infused with excitement as he boarded the SS Valencia bound for Seward, Alaska, accompanied by over four hundred other men, a woman dressed as a man, and a teenage boy. Bert was soon given the moniker, Fuzzy, by his shipmates because of his unruly hair.
In a fascinating retelling of Bert's adventures, Jzonay Reitz invites others to witness the breathtaking beauty of Alaska through Fuzzy's eyes as he hunts in the pristine Kenai Mountains and traverses the Matanuska and Susitna Valleys of Southcentral Alaska, then ventures across snow-covered benches of Denali (Mt. McKinley) with four dogs and a sled and returns in the spring to search for gold in the glacial tributaries. Interspersed throughout his stories are an abundance of historical facts and revealing photographs.
A Quest for Adventure is an inspiring and engaging memoir, brimming with energy and personality, and laced with humor even during challenging circumstances.
KIRKUS REVIEW
"A historically satisfying...memoir. Reitz intersperses occasional historical photographs and notes...particularly helpful in guiding the reader through her uncle's portrayals of Alaskan life, as in her detailed description of the lay of the land in the town of Seward in 1905...'Home Brew Alley'...'Millionaire's Row'..." Kirkus Indie - a review service from Kirkus Reviews
About the Author: Jzonay Reitz earned a B.S. from Oregon State University and an M.Ed. from Central Washington University. She wore many hats during her career that included teaching, coordinating programs, facilitating career workshops, and working in real estate sales, appraisal, and business brokerage. Jzonay eventually established her own business as an Esoteric Guide. Now retired, she lives and writes in Vancouver, Washington.
