Wild Trek

Chiri #2

by Jim Kjelgaard

This is the story of the trapper, Link Stevens, and his fearless snow dog, Chiri. It began when the trapper and his dog set out to rescue a naturalist stranded in the perilous Caribou mountains--the impenetrable storm-blasted heights from which no man has ever retumed. Forced to live by Stone Age methods, they relied on every resource of the dog's wild cunning and the trapper's woodlore. How they battled a killer cougar and bloodthirsty wolves, yet brought their man to safety, is a gripping, action-packed saga. It is also the stirring tale of the deep love between a loyal snow dog and his courageous trapper master.

Genres: Fiction, Dogs, Animals, Young Adult, Animal Fiction, Childrens, Adventure

242 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1950

About the author

an American author of young adult literature.

Born in New York City, New York, Jim Kjelgaard is the author of more than forty novels, the most famous of which is 1945's "Big Red." It sold 225,000 copies by 1956 and was made into a 1962 Walt Disney film with the same title, Big Red. His books were primarily about dogs and wild animals, often with animal protagonists and told from the animal's point of view.

Jim Kjelgaard committed suicide in 1959, after suffering for several years from chronic pain and depression.
- Wikipedia -

Reviews

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Agree with my first opinion. It was certainly nice getting to know Link better, but Chiri's perspective is definitely lacking compared to Snow Dog. His frequent absences, briefly explained by him wanting to get to the know the territory, never really come into play to benefit the lost Link and Antray.

First review
Not as good as the first one (Snow Dog), but Antray was a nice addition and I enjoyed the philosophical aspect of "how did man survive all these years."

[Hanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wild Trek is the sequel to Snow Dog. I liked the story of both, but Jim Kjelgaard's world view is depressing, to say the least. All of his books are like Jack London's- very interesting and enjoyable, but ultimately depressing. The only point in life is to survive. I liked the dog, because that's basically what a dog's point of view should be. I didn't like Link Steven's view, because that's not what a human should think. His partner contemplated the meaning of life, but I feel the author was somehow mocking that kind of inquisitiveness.

Since the world view was the only think I disliked about this book,I would have only knocked off one star. However, since the world view of evolution was more or less shoved down the reader's throat, I knocked off two. Chiri is very lovable, so as long as he was around, the book was enjoyable.

[Stephen Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am giving this book 3 stars just to indicate it didn't thrill me. One of my dog book goals is to read all the books of Jim Kjelgaard. He wrote a series of nature heavy books from 1940 to into the 1960's. I believe his biggest hit was 'Big Red.' This will be my 8th book of his out what I believe is 18 dog related books. He published Snow Dog in 1948, Wild Trek is a sequel published in 1950 with the same half husky, half staghound dog Chiri.

In this book, Link Stevens, who is master of Chiri, help a wounded constable, John Murdock. Link will later decide to take on a rescue mission to go to the Caribou Mountains to rescue two people who crash landed.

You got to like reading about nature and the wild animals in it for Kjelgaard’s books. Within all his books, he likes to take a paragraph and mention hearing or seeing evidence of a bunch of the local animals like in this bit:

‘There were furtive rustlings and shufflings both in the forest and about the meadow. A bear grunted. A deer called lonesomely. Sleepy birds twittered in the trees, and a white-footed mouse squeaked as it padded along a hidden highway.’

The Caribou Mounts is first described in this way:

“What do you know about the Caribou Mountains?” Murdock asked.
“I know they’re a good place to stay out of. Hi Macklin’s brother started for them three years ago, along with Tom Dosee. That's the last anybody ever heard or saw of them.”

The Caribou mountains turn into a big hidden area surrounded by an almost impenetrable mountain ring. Near where Link finds a way into that area he comes across a cave:

‘He entered the cave and struck a match.
Its flickering light revealed a grinning human skull.'

The cave turns out to be a home of a mountain lion. Attacks by all the fierce animals is more common in this area because they haven’t seen humans before. So, cougars, grizzly bears, wolves all attack them at some point. The Wolf part bothers me as even though the book mentions they rarely attack human, some still attack and have to be killed. The book comes up with a reason for some wolves to attack Link, but I don’t like it when wolves are killed. (I don’t like it when the other predators get killed as well, but they are more known to occasionally attack humans.)
There also a lot of hunting for food in the book, which I know is a trigger for some people.

The major drama comes from when the 2 stranded people are found. They seem a little crazy when Link first founds them. They are first described in this way:

‘Undoubtedly, they were Trigg Antray and Thomas Garridge, the men he sought, but the Caribous they thought to conquer had conquered them. It was evident in their actions, in the way they looked at each other, in the tense, almost animal-like air that haunted the camp like a presence. The wilderness, bigger than any one man, had done this before to others. Cabin-fever, some called it, when two good friends isolated themselves in some lonely haunt in the fall and were ready to kill each other before spring came. Others called it bush-madness, a brain fatigue brought on by a constant fight with the wilderness. Neither of the two men beside the fire could be expected to react in any normal way.’

The two biggest aspects of the book I didn’t care for were when the dog is wondering around on his own interacting with nature, and the lengthy details of what they do to survive harsh environment. This becomes even more involved when Link is deprived of all his possessions and needs to survive cave man style. I like watching a TV show ‘Naked and Afraid’ where people must survive with only a Firestarter, knife, and cooking pot, but in the book for a period they must survive with even less that that. I just wasn’t so interested in reading those details.

Another Kjelgaard book out of the way.

[Heidi W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The genius of Jim Kjelgaard strikes again. While the first book, Snow Dog, is much more Chiri's story, this one follows his master Link, as they travel into the deadly Caribou Range to save some plane crash victims.
The humerous (for a book published in 1950, it made me laugh quite a bit) and thought provoking conversations between Link and the man he befriends, Antray, are amazing. Although Kjelgaard is more known for his animal characters, he sure can write intriguing humans (similar to his book Coyote Song)! This book still had the wilderness action and the beautiful settings as the first as well. Making it a 5/5!

[Tania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wild Trek is the second book in Jim Kjelgaard's Chiri series. Chiri was born to a domesticated dog in the wild and lived his first year living as a wild dog. Then he chanced upon Link Stevens, who was the rightful owner of his mother, and after a series of events they bonded. In Wild Trek, a few years have passed and Chiri is a mature hunter and companion to Link Stevens, a trapper living in the Canadian wilderness. When a local constable shows up at his homestead injured, Link offers to take his place to search for villagers who have gone missing in the northern territory. Link and Chiri set out on foot, into an area seldom visited by men (those who go do not return): the Caribou mountains. Battling storms, unforgiving terrain, injury, wild animals, and hunger, even finding the lost men will leave them far from the end of their journey - once they are in this perilous place, they will still need to find a way out.

The bond between Link and Chiri is much more evident in this second book of the Chiri series. We are more in Link's mind than Chiri's, and Link's devotion to his loyal Husky-mix is made clear from the start. There's quite a bit of adventure here, and a very real feeling that survival is not guaranteed to all of the characters. Link is resourceful, as is Chiri, but not everything goes their way and they have to return to the planning stage again and again. I love the smart characters and test of strength that Kjelgaard fills his stories with.

[Angela Klinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is for boys or for any gender that has an interest in Survival Adventure. For it being about surviving in the Caribous and there is hunting, the book isnt gory leaving it for any age level.

I would rate this book five of five stars because the book is interesting and keeps you going. There wasnt anything that i disliked about the book. I absolutely love this plot and setting.

The book was amazing and connected with what i had learned in school with being a cave man. I learned new words about nature and surviving. THe only part of the book I did not like was sentences containing "had had", i felt that either there was manmy typos or I am not aware of that correct grammer.

I feel the theme was something along the lines of "Survival hs you learn things " or something serious with survival.

[Rodney Haydon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed revisiting Chiri and Link, who I first met up with in Snow Dog. This one focuses more on Link than Chiri.
Jim Kjelgaard was a favorite author of my youth, and I somehow missed reading this sequel. Recommended.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

For those of you looking for the further adventures of Chiri, this is not it. Chiri, in this book, is an afterthought. There are maybe two scenes that use his POV, and he is of actual value to Link once or perhaps twice, and even then it's minimal. The vast, vast, vast majority of this book is picking up threads that go nowhere, major plot problems solving themselves, and a few wild theories about the origins of man. And that's it. There's very little of the wilderness survival story of Snow Dog, and no functioning antagonist exists within the story. The one credible threat in the story takes itself out at what should be the climax, and Link and Chiri might as well not have been there. The one problem that requires solving was already functionally solved before they got there, the book just flounders around aimlessly until it gets bored and finally lets them solve it. Whatever dangers are presented are either immediately nullified, or not made very much of. It's twice as long as Snow Dog, with less than half as much to say.

[Karen GoatKeeper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Link is a trapper in the far North living in a cabin with his half wild snow dog Chiri. They go out on a rescue mission to find two men whose plane crashed in a remote mountain area virtually unknown to anyone. Dangers abound from the environment; predators such as wolves, cougars and grizzly bears; and from man.
This book is fast paced and rugged in its details of survival in the wild. Link and Antray must kill or be killed and find ways to survive after being marooned with no supplies. Chiri is essential to them.
The book is a bit dated. That doesn't diminish the adventures. It is a fast, fun read.

[Calvin K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wild Trek is a survival/ adventure book where a dog and his owner venture out into the wilderness looking for a group of lost travelers. It is an action packed page turner full of descriptive writing that makes you feel like you're actually there. I really liked this book because it's super exciting to read and contains a thrilling adventure into the wilderness where you have to work hard to survive. I think that many people would enjoy this book, but especially those who like a medium length book with aspects of action, adventure, survival and nature.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Link goes on a journey with Chiri to find 2 lost people whose plane crashed. Their names were Antray and Garridge. Will they find them? What will happen if they do? You will have to read this book to find out!
I really like this book because it is an adventurous book, and I love adventures! You have got to read this book!

[Norm S · Rating 5 out of 5]

The followup to Snow Dog. Link and Chiri must go into untamed mountains to rescue two men who crashed there. Like all Jim Kjelgaard books very entertaining beginning to end.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. A good read.

[Leah Claypoole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author pulls me into the scenery. It is a very exciting story. I was sad when it ended.

[Evelyn Bond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent adventure story by Jim Kjelgaard. An interesting adventure from beginning to end.

[Desiree Whelchel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it's a good book but I kind of got tired of reading so much about how they kept having to hunt towards the middle of the book.

[Danielle Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. A simple read but enjoyable story.

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been on my shelf for longer than I care to remember. It was seminal in my developmental years. I always wanted to live in a cabin in the far North, but the nearest I came is a cabin in Indiana.

This is the story of a trapper named Link and his half-wild dog Chiri, volunteering to help an injured Police Officer, who go into a formidable and nearly impenetrable wild country in search of a scientist and his pilot who have gone missing.

This is a part of the world where no one has ventured before home only to the denizens of the deep forest. The scientist was in search of an Albino Moose to study. Weather, the forest and man conspire to rob them of their lives but they endure and manage to return home to the Gander.

Definitely one of my favorite books that I read over and over again.

[Jeremiah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wild Trek, the sequel to Snow Dog, is an intriguing and exciting story. A trapper must venture into a virtually untouched wilderness, facing animals that will attack without hesitation if provoked, in order to rescue two plane crash survivors.
If you read and liked Snow Dog, I think you'll love this story (I recommend reading Snow Dog first if you haven't yet, though). Kjelgaard portrays interesting survival scenarios that require ingenuity and endurance in this story, with poetic thoughts interlaced appropriately (though I personally don't agree with some of the ideas that seem to be suggested).

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the adventure through the Caribou Mountains, but this sequel to Snow Dog is just not as good. For one, the story only focused on Link Stevens and lost photographer Trigg Antray. What made Snow Dog unique is that we saw how the events unfolding in the story affected both man and animal. In Wild Trek, it seemed like Chiri the dog was just a prop in this tale, as we don't see how the events are affecting him. Often, Chiri runs off for a chapter, but the story doesn't run off with him to see what he is up to. I wish I could have explored the Caribous through Chiri as well.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the one that had The Scene I was trying to find. I had to rate at least one of his books 5 stars; any author worth reading multiple times has to be worth 5 stars. Since part of this story has stayed with me for years it seems it has earned the rating (although that may not always hold true since some of the books I go back and re-read are not at all what I remember!) Good adventure, good writing, good life lesson.

[King Haddock · Rating 3 out of 5]

The sequel of Snow Dog, this book was disappointing in that it seemed to focus much more on Link than on Chiri. Chiri, of course, made the first book phenomenal, so I was hoping to have more of the same excitement, rather than a simple rescue journey. Still, it is a worthwhile read, even if it is little like the captivating, harsh world found Snow Dog.

[Tyler Cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took a couple of chapters before the story got started, but overall it was a good read. There was intelligent dialog and clear narration. Jim Kjelgaard's style reminds me of Louis L'amour, and that's not a bad thing.

[Bret QuickBear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absultly terrific

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have the hardback version of this. It's a sequel to Snow Dog and not quite as good but still fun reading.

[Milton]

I love the book, so far. I am on chapter 3 of the book. I cant wait to finish it.

[gay ballvagina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be interesting and had a unique story of survival in the place where antray and link survived.

[Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The very first book I read as a child. I don't think I actually made it all of the way through though.

[Craig Kosnik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty typical Kjelgaard book.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story as a kid.