Lowell Thomas Jr.

Lowell Thomas Jr. has led a life of adventure, traveling around the world. Since 1960 he has been based in Anchorage, Alaska, where he lives with his wife, Tay, of more than sixty-three years. An author, filmmaker, and devoted small-plane pilot for about sixty-five years, and one who has approximately 1.2 million miles of flight time at the controls on his resume, Thomas is a passionate conservationist and has been honored for his work in preserving the Alaska wilderness. Lew Freedman is a longtime journalist and former sports editor of the Anchorage Daily News in Alaska, where he lived for seventeen years. The author of nearly sixty books, Freedman has won more than 250 journalism awards. He and his wife, Debra, live in Indiana.

“. . . a high-spirited autobiography of Lowell Thomas Jr. (b.1923), reporter, bush pilot, fifth Lieutenant Governor of Alaska, filmmaker, and conservationist devoted to preserving Alaska's beautiful wilderness. With the assistance of award-winning journalist Lew Freedman, Thomas speaks of climbing an Alaskan mountain at age sixteen, flying around the world on his honeymoon, meeting the fourteen-year-old Dalai Lama, and much more. His lifetime of accomplishments, exploration, and appreciation for nature's beauty make for a thoroughly engaging and inspirational true story, highly recommended.” —James A. Cox, Midwest Book Review “Lowell Thomas Jr. has lived a life of exploration and adventure ranging from the heart of Africa to Alaska's highest peaks. His powerfully written and evocative reminiscences provide a reading experience that is to be relished from start to finish.” —Colleen Mondor, author, The Map of My Dead Pilots “Lowell’s adventures are an inspiration for all ages. He proves that a person can do anything they make up their mind to do and be successful at it.”—Shari Hart, Executive Director, Alaska Aviation Museum

• TABLE OF CONTENTS  About the AuthorsIntroduction                                                                              Chapter 1   Flight to Adventure                                                 Chapter 2   Early Life                                                            Chapter 3   First Adventure                                                   Chapter 4   Welcome to Alaska                                            Chapter 5   College and the Military                                          Chapter 6   Going to Work                                                   Chapter 7   To the Forbidden Roof of the World                Chapter 8   With the Dalai Lama in Lhasa                           Chapter 9   Life and Death on the Tibetan Trail              Chapter 10  Two Lifetime Passions: Tay and Flying         Chapter 11  Around the World                                            Chapter 12  Welcome to Africa                                           Chapter 13  The Rwenzori Mountains, the Congo, and KenyaChapter 14  Into the Desert                                                   Chapter 15  With the Nomads                                               Chapter 16  North to Alaska                                                  Chapter 17  Earthquake                                                           Chapter 18  Flying Alaska                                                       Chapter 19  Around the World a New Way                           Chapter 20  Politics and Conservation                                   Chapter 21 Skiing                                                                    Chapter 22 Mount McKinley Flight Adventures                    Chapter 23 Flying Another Soloist                                          Chapter 24 To Russia with Love                                            Chapter 25 Flying into the Sunset                                            SourcesIndex