The book reads like a novel: the characters seem larger than life and events almost too lucky to be true, as they defy death at every turn. An amazing epic of faith, determination, and rugged individualism.
The journey starts when Norma's dream where she sees, her family homesteading, 160 acres of land, in Canada. Norma believes homesteading is a solution, too get out of povery: Norma's three plus Les's two. Norma is a Lutherian from Witchita Kansas and considers her roots too be very humble. By the end of te book, Norma is surprised and pleased, at how well, she has done for her family coming from simple roots.
Norma tells Les about her dream of homesteading, land in Canada and Les realizes the potential and he too, becomes excited and determined to make the dream - reality by moving his family from the city, too Cobb wilderness real estate. Unfortunately, Les and Norma discovery that Canada has discontinued outsiders homesteading. So Les and Norma turn too Alaska, 160 acres, 5 years of improvements, and the filing a land claim. Les makes the first claim, sight unseen, and remorses after discovering the land has no tree. Les insists Norma file claim on another piece of Alaskian land; a land with tall trees, a creek, a valley, and bears numbering 20 to 1. So Norma files the next claim and they start helping other familys build their cabin, but abandon this effort in replace of an effort too build their own cabin, before winter sets in. This land will become the Cobb's homestead and Norma will be known as the last homesteader in American history.
Enroute, the family hooks up with Arnold, who turns out to be their Nemisis. Things turn nasty when Sean accidently knocking Arnolds gun out the door and the gun discharges leaving a bullet path that narrowly missings his missing his heart. Sean is lucky to be alive. Sean is rushed by Bush pilot to the nearest hospital 50 miles away. Sean survives the injury but is very afraid of guns. Norma can not go with Sean and remotely learns, he is ok.
Norma dislikes Arnold and paints him as a drunk, bully, and antagonist. Norma recounts one evening when Arnold invades their home and confronts Les at gun point and saying, "I want to settle this thing". Norma saves Les by taking a hatchet to Arnolds hand. Norm becomes known as the "Hatchet Lady" as Arnold poisons the town with his rallings. Norma does not like the locals and prefers only too visit town for supplies.
Norma is apprehensive about backwoods hospitality. Les on the other hand invites everyone to help him on his homestead. For example, Norma is paranoid about Eskimo Newman and does not offer him any Bushman hospitality. Eskimo Newman laters becomes a friend of the family and shares coffee with them during his stop overs.
Norma paranoia helps her protect her husband at least two or three times. Norma threatens to use her rifle in an effort to protect Les from the Phd vagrant. Norma manifests her paranoia by actively protecting Les. Norma likes Les macho attitude and highlights the fact that Les forces Arnold into a duel causing Arnold to backs down. Norma forgives Les for his deceptions, stealings, and abandonment, as described in her book.
Confrontation is dangerous and Les seems at times willing to risk it all. Les tolerance of Arnold becomes depleted and he has a dangerous gun duel with Arnold. Arnold backs down. Les is an amazing marksman and very probably would have won the duel. The family nevers hears from Arnold again.
However, Norma is constantly pointing out, the haphazard nature of Les's judgment. Norma acknowlege Les is not an academically education man but admires his ability to provide. Les and Sid seem consumed with their work. Sid emulates Les in both his attitude and mannerism. Both of them, work all day on the tourism cabins, comeing home only too eat and sleep, and return to work. Work is serious business in the Cobb home. Les prides himself in his creations, wilderness guide skills, and his homestead.
Norma gets in trouble a few times. In one case, Norma follow Les truck on a winding muddy road, her truck losses control, and the truck comes to a stop suspended half way over a cliff. Norma chastes Les for his lack of judgment rather than accepting responsiblity of her own lack of judgment. Another time Norma chases a bear cub up into a tree after firing her gun.
Les is a big man, 6 feet two inches, mechanic, air pilot, gold miner, oil ridge supervisor, and wildlife tour guide. Les is the law in his valley: blows up a cabin of two thieves, runs off a Phd vagrant, escapes the law by supplying alcohol for oil pipe workers. Les likes to play practical jokes. He and his friend, Pete get this idea to join hands, run screaming and waving with their free hands, at a grazing grizzly; the grizzly woofs for a moment, in retreat then turns and charges them; they manage to get to a rock retreat and for hours have to wait out the bear.
Les is a hero: walks 30 miles to his home - after his snowmobile throws a piston, saves a young californian from freezing too death, saves his son from drowning in rapid water, kills two charging grizzlies by shooting their spine, and builds two residential cabins, six tourist cabins, and finishes with a runway. Norma tells us that Les walked for two days from the half way point to home, experiencing drowsiness, if appeased, meant death. How did Les do it? This is an amazing account of rugged individualism.
Sid faces tradegy with the death of his dogs. Norma blames cabin fever, as the reason, for neglect. It does seem strange that Nelson would allow the dogs to starve to death. Norma claims Sid charged at Nelson screaming, "You killed my dogs". The account does seem very one sided.
Bigfoot? The hairy creature is described, as being seven feet talk, very curious, capable of a high pitched scream, rolling around in dead animal carcasses, and stalking Sean and Les. Les describes seeing the hairy creature, as it, cross over a ridge. The hairy creature stays around for about five years and leaves. Norma says an scientific expedition came through looking for the creature, but found nothing. No evidences of this creature were kept, no pictures, no footprint in plaster, no DNA, only stories.
The Westbrook Bear seems almost comical. Les chase after the Bear hoping to shoot it, the bear escapes gun shoots, circling around, and raids the camp, tearing up tents, deficating, and puncturing food cans. Norma says that Les eventually catches the Westbrook Bear in a trap. Les has one Grizzly fur mounted on his wall. It would be interesting to know, if the Westbrook Bear covers one of their floors.
Norma homeschools her children five days a week, for five hour intervals. Norma prefers homeschooling. The children engage in active discussion, argument, and study. The kids participate in learning by discoverying, how to skin bear, make gloves, design hats, and assemble coats.
Norma seems be both bitter and adorning towards Les. The book paints Les as the jokester and Norma as the God fearing wife. Norma is the voice of reason and responsiblity. Les is the macho man hunting food for her children, building homes, and traveling one day in the direction of a mountain peak to get TV receiption for football. Norma is very pleased with their valley, their new home, Les ingenius style, and her children. Norma believes the dream, she had came true. Les joins wildlife tours and some gold.