B. Adkins

BOB ADKINS came to Southeast Alaska from Michigan in 1964, fresh out of university grad school. He planned to stay for a year or perhaps two at most, have a grand Alaskan adventure, and then return to the Lower 48 to get on with his life. Instead he fell in love with the North, and with a young lady. He married, raised two daughters and spent 32 years in public education in Sitka, Anchorage, and Haines. He has degrees in engineering, math and physics, counseling, and school administration. He also spent 14 summers as captain of his own commercial fishing boat in Bristol Bay and Lynn Canal, and 12 seasons as an air taxi pilot in Southeast Alaska. Over fifty years later he’s still in Southeast Alaska, and has lived “The Alaska Dream” that many people imagine but relatively few fulfill.

Bob first learned to fly in 1966, and went on to obtain his private pilot license (single engine land and sea), commercial, instrument and multi-engine ratings. He also became a certified flight instructor, and has over 4,000 hours of flying experience.

From the succinct entries that fill three pilot log books come most of the stories and events that comprise his latest book, “Panhandle Pilot”. Some of the stories are amusing, some are ironic, some are sad, some are thought provoking. Bob’s dry sense of humor is evident in a number of them. “Panhandle Pilot” also gives the reader insight into the operation of Southeast Alaska’s air taxi industry that is so vitally important to residents and businesses in Alaska’s panhandle. All in all, “Panhandle Pilot” provides entertaining and enjoyable reading for anyone interested in aviation and Alaskana.

Since retiring from education and flying, Bob has become a successful wildlife and nature photographer. Bob is a self-taught photographer, and has photographed in Alaska, the Yukon Territory, the Pacific Northwest, England, Europe, and southern Africa. His numerous articles and photos have appeared in many different publications, including WildBird, Outdoor Photographer, Emergency, Alaska Magazine, AAA Home & Away, Birder’s World, TWA Ambassador, African Hunting Gazette, The Milepost, Fur, Fish, and Game, Sports Afield, Nature Photographer, and Parade Magazine. His photos have also appeared in news journals from coast to coast and in Europe, as well as in books, and on international calendars and CD covers. He recently served as a contract still photographer for The History Channel, and as a field contributor to Nature Photographer magazine.

One of Bob’s photo tours, a trip to photograph bald eagles and Dall sheep, was recently featured in the popular TV series Weekend Alaska.

Bob’s first book, THE GOLDEN CIRCLE: Over 100 Photographs From Gold Rush Country (ISBN 1-59152-020-7) was published in 2005, and is available at gift shops and book stores throughout Alaska and the Yukon Territory, and also through the author’s website:

http://www.bobadkinsphotography.com

Bob currently lives in Haines, Alaska, with his wife Aleta. He fills his spare time with gunsmithing and woodworking projects.