Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General The Mountain by a fair means I read this book once...

Back around 15 or 20 years ago I came across a book that was a history of women mountaineers. I can't remember the name, author or when the book was published, I just remember these fascinating stories of women who loved to hike and climb but had to do so in secret and sometimes even in disguise - because hikinig/climbing was not an acceptable activity for women. It had accounts of many first female ascents and also some classic photos.

Anyone have any idea about the name of this book, or any other good books about women mountaineers. I recently read "The Savage Summit" but found it sort of depressing (since everyone in it eventually dies).

Thanks for putting up this forum!

"Annapurna; a Woman's Place" by Arlene Blum. The first female expedition to climb an 8000 meter peak. Inspiring and poignant.

Eka: I have been reading a lot of books recently about women mountaineers and the amazing, but understated, history upon which we are building.

A few recommendations:
Women on High: Pioneers of Mountaineering , Rebecca A. Brown (ISBN: 1-929173-13-X)
An amazing compilation of historical accounts from Maria Paradis' first woman's ascent of Mont Blanc in 1808 to Mirian O'Brien Underhill in the 1930's and 40's.

Leading out: Mountaineering Stories of Adventurous Women
I lent this out to a co-worker so I don't have the contact info but I know I posted it previously, I think in response to my big trek last year. More modern accounts and lots of references to histories of women in mountaineering that I need to read!

Woman on the Rocks: The Mountaineering Letters of Ruth Dyar Mendenhall , Edited by Valerie Mendenhall Cohen (ISBN: 1-893343-15-4)
I actually bought this at the LP Interagency Center and ended up being completely drawn into her accounts of her adventures into the Eastern Sierra and SoCal. I really admire her ability to illuminate a scene, be it the campsite and her home-made sleeping bag, or the type of rock she was climbing. Inspiring!!

Solo: On Her Own Adventure , Edited by Susan Fox Rogers (ISBN: 1-58005-137-5)
This was one of the first books I read when I started this insanity that are my own adventures. I think there is a series of them, and all are good reads, encompassing trips from around the world. It was really empowering to read of these women's experiences and see how they were able to integrate their experiences into who they are.

I have not read the Annapurna story ExPro mentions above, but I did read Arlene Blum's autobiography, which I have also lent out. It was one that made me want to take the Avi Class I just finished (she lost a lot of friends to avalanches climbing throughout the world). I would recommend her books very highly as well.

Hope this gives you a start to a great reading list! (With special thanks to Paul and Tina Lucas who sent me the first book this Christmas as a gift. I met them at Crabtree at the tail end of my trek, and I so appreciated their kindness!!)

Would love to hear of anything else I should be reading!!

-L

Hi The two I was talking about :


1. We're in the Mountains Not over the Hill by Susan Alcorn



2. Magnificent Mountain Women by Janet Robertson and Arlene Blum


also Going Alone By Susan Rogers

Just realized it's been 20 years since the Annapurna climb, and Arlene Blum has released a 20th Anniversary edition. Here's a review from Amazon.com. Might have to pick up a copy for myself!

"In 1978, 13 women set out to climb Annapurna I in the Nepal Himalaya, achieving the first ascent of the world's 10th highest mountain by an American and by a woman. By proving that women had the skill, strength, and courage necessary to make this difficult and dangerous climb, the 1978 Women's Himalayan Expedition's accomplishment had a positive impact around the world, changing perceptions about women's abilities in sports and other arenas. Twenty years later, Arlene Blum has republished her account, offering her story to a new generation. Blum writes in the introduction,

Annapurna has become for me a metaphor for difficult and important goals. Striving to achieve such objectives draws on all of our abilities and brings out the best in us. There are still many 'Annapurnas' to be climbed in the world--such as protecting our natural environment; decreasing the gap between rich and poor; providing basic necessities for everyone on this planet; and raising our children to live with love and good values.

Impressive black-and-white photos record the women's journey from Katmandu to the summit and back again. This book documents the personal triumphs and tragedies of these women with insights that only a firsthand account can offer. --Kathryn True"

Walls Without Balls about the first all-women’s ascent of El Cap by Bev Johnson and Sibylle Hechtel. Read about the title controversy about 2/3 of the way down.

It's in the book "Rock and Roses," by Mikel Vause.

Arlene Blum ( Annapurna: A Woman's Place and Breaking Trail, A Climbing Life) will be giving a presentation up my way in Sacramento soon for those interested in the Delta and Bay areas. She will be the keynote speaker at the Awards Ceremony (March 29, 2008) for Trail Fest 2008 (the PCT Association celebrates the 40th anniversary of the National Trails System Act). Another presentation is by Mary Chambers who thru hiked the PCT at age 10. Refer to the Pacific Crest Trail Association website for details. Take care, Jim

Such great suggestions everyone!!! Off to the bookstore I go...
- Eka

http://www.pcta.org/trailfest08.asp

Info on Trailfest for the PCT, in Sacramento

Wow, Arlene Blum's resume is pretty amazing! Too bad she's not coming down to San Diego.

One more book worthy of mention:

National Parks and the Woman's Voice: A History by Polly Welts Kaufman. (ISBN: 978-0-8263-3994-2)

This is basically the roles in which women played in the establishment and upkeep of the National Parks in the US. While being relegated to "naturalist" roles, women really have been strong supporters as the system has been built.

-L

I'd like to add another book. "Journey on the Crest" by Cindy Ross, her story of hiking the PCT; a really enjoyable read. I think it may have been the first non-trail guide book I read on the outdoors. It came out in 1987. I liked it so much I bought it for my girlfriend! I can't believe it's been that long since it came out. Cindy Ross went on to become a contributing editor for Backpacker magazine for a number of years.

I also liked "Facing the Extreme" (St. Martin's Press, 1999)
by Ruth Anne Kocour

The only female on an all-male expedition of Mt. McKinley.

Here are a couple of others:

Climbing High by Lene Gammelgaard is an account of the 1996 Everest tragedy written by a phenomenally strong climber from Denmark. She is the first Scandinavian woman to summit Everest. Her mantra "Summit - Safe Return" helps explain her success that season when so many others died.

A different kind of mountain book is Fragile Edge by Maria Coffey with a foreword by Chris Bonington. It tells the story of her life with the legendary Joe Tasker. It is subtitled A Personal Portrait of Loss on Everest alluding to Tasker's death along with Peter Boardman on Everest in 1982. It is a very well written account of her relationship with Tasker and her own coming of age.

Maria Coffey has another book which I recommend:
Where the Mountain Casts Its Shadow

It's about dealing with climbing related losses (motivated by her ex-boyfriend Joe Tasker, but it doesn't focus on her; rather, she interviews a wide variety of characters, mainly parents, children and widows). Well-written, and worthwhile reading for the elite climbers who face higher than average risks.

Another very inspiring women was Julie Tullis first British women to summit K2 with Kurt Diemberger. Read her book "Clouds From Both Sides" and was fortunate to see a movie Kurt Diemberger made about Julie & the climb as well. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_Tullis