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A Logical First Route to the New World: Island Hopping
Following the Pacific Ocean Rim of Fire
by Don Douglass
Close inspection of modern
nautical charts of the Pacific Ocean indicates that, over
time, the Rim of Fire could have offered a logical island-hopping,
ice-free route for early man to explore and initially
populate the American continent.
From the Eastern Indian
Ocean, across the North Pacific to Vancouver Island and
Puget Sound, there are over 25,000 islands. Only a few
wanderers would leave the vast Malaysian Archipelago following
the volcanic islands northeastward to a new frontier.
To safely exploit the northern tier of islands, many adaptations
over generations would be required. Marine skills and
watercraft technology would need to be developed to a
higher level. The harsh northern latitudes would take
time to master.
The development of high-capacity,
load-carrying sea craft—especially skin boats along
with waterproof clothing—allowed early man to continue
discovering a route north and east that happened to be
an almost ideal Great Circle Route from Malaysia to the
New World.
Essentially each objective
along the Island Hopping Route was clearly visible from
high ground. In fact, in all but a handful of key places—perhaps
a half-dozen—it was possible to discern the direction
to proceed to the next island. These few lengthy segments
(of 100 to 300 miles), where the next island lay beyond
the horizon, might have been covered with the aid of external
directional clues such as migrating birds or mammals,
static cloud accumulation, or volcanic eruptions.
Over generations, using
a unique combination of islands and adjacent coastlines,
solitary explorers seeking better trading opportunities
or escaping from difficulty extended the frontier of the
North Pacific and bridged the harsh environment of Siberia
to the New World. The Aleutian Islands were the keystone,
for once crossed, early man, using the same equipment
and strategies, could quickly exploit the southerly climates
with their virgin resources and unlimited opportunities.
The discovery of the island
chains from the Kuriles to Southeast Alaska allowed an
ice-free Island Hopping Route 1000 miles south of the
inhospitable “Land Bridge.” This discovery
was a major accomplishment since the route did not depend
upon extraordinary low-tide levels or the separation of
glaciers. Small refugia near the southern edge of glaciers
would have offered adequate temporary shelter for early
watercraft transiting the Gulf of Alaska.
From Malacca Strait to
North America, this “Logical Island Hopping Route”
provided almost daily shelter, food, water and supplies
for repairing or rebuilding craft capable of carrying
an entire family and their belongings.
Editor's Note: This hypothesis
was submitted to Paths Across the Pacific 2005, Sitka,
Alaska by Don Douglass (Don@InsidePassageNews.com).
Don is the author of seven acclaimed nautical guidebooks
covering 6000 places to tie up or anchor from the Mexican
border to the Aleutians. He has sailed from 60º N (Cook
Inlet, Alaska) to 56º S (Cape Horn, South America). Cape
Horn: One Man’s Dream, One Woman’s Nightmare
by Réanne Hemingway-Douglass, chronicles their
pitchpoling in the Great Southern Ocean and subsequent
survival.
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