Local Author Discovers Solitude on the Channel Islands

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Date: April 29, 2016
Contact: Yvonne Menard, 805-658-5725

Local author Ken McAlpine will compare the experience of solitude on the Channel Islands to the bustle of life on the mainland as he shares excerpts from his book, Islands Apart: A Year on the Edge of Civilization, during the May From Shore to Sea lecture.


Confronted by a fast-paced society with little room for introspection, McAlpine made the decision to spend a week on each of the islands within Channel Islands National Park. The journey that ensued helped him to, as he writes, "breathe slowly and think clearly, to examine how we live and what we live for." 

Islands Apart: A Year on the Edge of Civilization explores the ways in which nature can help us gain a fresh perspective on our modern lives, clarifying what is important to us and what we should take the time to notice. The isolation, wildness, and rugged beauty of the Channel Islands form the foundation for McAlpine's inner struggles and triumphs as he takes slow steps towards self-discovery. 

McAlpine is the author of ten books and numerous magazine articles. His travel writing, which has been published in publications such as Reader's Digest, Sunset, Outside, and National Geographic, has earned him three Lowell Thomas awards, the top honor for travel journalists. 

The talk will be held on Thursday, May 12, 2016. The From Shore to Sea lecture series is sponsored by Channel Islands National Park to further the understanding of current research on the Channel Islands and surrounding marine waters. The 2016 lecture series will take place at 7:00 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month, January through December, at the Channel Islands National Park Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center, 1901 Spinnaker Drive in Ventura Harbor. This extended schedule is in honor of the National Park Service's milestone centennial anniversary, which celebrates 100 years of national parks. The programs are free and open to the public. 

This lecture can also be viewed live online at: https://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/live-programs.htm. 

Lectures are recorded and posted at: https://www.nps.gov/chis/learn/photosmultimedia/from-shore-to-sea-lecture-videos.htm



Last updated: May 2, 2016

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