Miles Martin

THE WHAT AND WHERE OF WILD MILES

I end up a mountain man, expert at off grid wilderness survival in Alaska beginning in 1973. With 8 books out now, it's been a long adventurous journey.

I was born in 1952 in Hawaii. My father was in the Navy. We moved a lot. I was raised middle class in the city or suburbs. My father became a college professor. I have no degrees, gold stars, accomplishments, nor did I work under anyone famous. Nothing stood out a lot growing up. I had three mothers before I left home. While flunking English I was writing girlfriends 300 to 700 page letters over a weekend. The written word became natural, like talking. I wrote to keep in touch with those left behind when we moved. I was considered a gifted artist. I was recognized in the local paper since five years old.

However, art, writing, the love of nature, a desire to be a mountain man since five years old was not understandable to family or peers, who tended towards the academic world. “But what will you do for a living?” Was asked with a great deal of worried concern. ‘Art’ was a subject one took in the same sentence with recess, gym or music. Classes you took to get out of work, for those not bright enough to be in the real, important classes. Working with your hands is for slaves and the stupid.

So what stands out is my sticking with my dream, the belief I could make it work, despite all the pressure against it. At 16 my parents decided I should go into the Navy during the Viet Nam conflict. I got out at 22 and wanted to go to Canada to live out my wilderness dream. I was deported, partly for not being a draft dodger. I lost a house I paid cash for, and all my supplies. I ended up in Alaska with 25 cents. Book one ‘Going Wild’ begins. I put it as “A duck finding water.”

Local Natives know more then I do, could educate the public more, however, my childhood experience gives me the perspective to tell a story with a civilized audience in mind. In my youth college students, professors, scientists, from around the world met at our home. This experience helped me understand a variety of cultures and ways to live. Moving had me learning how to live alone and count on myself, as well as live in a world of the written word. Dad and I went camping in summer, the only time I recall seeing him happy, which said more than “Do your homework or else!” Art helped me make a living in a wilderness with few occupations when trapping was not enough. I was able to leave one world of the educated privileged respected rich class, and move, adapt to, a world of the minority unprotected. My educated upbringing helps me express what I learned in a way civilization might understand. Due to all this, I am glad all that happened did, and prepared me for who and what I am. One of my purposes of writing is to inspire others to follow their dreams. I’ve been written up in the New York times, big double-page picture, in Alaska magazine five times, Geo over in Europe, the cover of Ruralite, in gem magazine. Many consider me among the best there is at what I do. I try to say, so as not to be bragging, "Gifted, but tweaked." I mean by this, anyone who leaves their comfortable surroundings, goes against family friends, peers, to check out the grass on the other side of the fence, live outside the box off-grid is labeled as 'different' and this has a price - along with the great rewards!