Searching for UP NORTH: A Lifelong Adventure from the Northwoods to the Arctic Circle

The phrase “Going Up North” is heavily used, but rarely is it explored. What is this elusive place, and where does the journey end? Ron VanderVelden's Searching for UP NORTH chronicles a lifelong adventure across the continent to find out, taking him far beyond the familiar Northwoods of Wisconsin. This collection of nearly ninety nature essays documents a journey from the Quetico Wilderness in Canada and the shores of Hudson Bay, to the ultimate north: above the Arctic Circle in Alaska's remote Brooks Range. Along the way, these seasonal essays explore complex and fascinating lessons about the natural world, ourselves, and life itself, offering a profound sense of connection to our intriguing and complex planet.

Ron VanderVelden is a Navy veteran, lifelong environmental science educator, and devoted conservationist who has led over 30 wilderness canoe trips and participated in field research on wolves, bears, eagles, and even gyrfalcons in Greenland. His passion for the outdoors and decades of expertise illuminate every page. Wildlife biologist and author Richard P. Thiel has called the book a gem, stating that it “stands alongside the writings of some of Wisconsin’s finest outdoor dynamos: Gordon MacQuarrie, Aldo Leopold, Mel Ellis and Wallace B. Grange.”

Open these pages and join the quest to discover what "Up North" truly means.