The Friendly Arctic, Five Years in the Polar Regions

The Friendly Arctic, Five Years in the Polar Regions is Vilhjalmur Stefansson's Canadian Arctic Expedition northern experience from 1912 to 1917. The book details his five year journey across the vast, frozen Canadian and Alaskan northlands. Stefansson and his team lived virtually the whole time among the Eskimo people.

He recorded the very real details of their daily challenges and struggles to maintain a reasonably comfortable existence in the ice. But of even greater interest is his clear explanations and conclusions of how to learn from the Eskimo's techniques to gain a personal self sustaining and comfortable lifestyle in the Arctic.

The book covers Stefansson's experiences in the Arctic, including his encounters with polar bears, hunting seals and caribou, the intricacies of dogs and sledding, his observations of Northern Lights, as well as his interactions with the Eskimo people. Stefansson provides fascinating insights into Eskimo culture, their way of life, as well as their relation with the environment. The book is filled with vivid descriptions of the stark Arctic landscape and the challenges of survival in such a harsh environment.

In the end, what Stefansson learned about living the Arctic lifestyle has become the modern doctrine for northern survival, besides writing a very entertaining book.