Women Explorers: One Hundred Years of Courage and Audacity

by Helen Y. Rolfe

Since the early days of exploration, adventurous women have felt the pull of the mountains. Women of the early 1900s climbed some of the highest peaks in Canada, wearing woollen knickers and hobnail boots. These pioneers—women such as Sharon Wood and Leanne Allison—set the standard for those who followed and continued to push the limits even farther.

112 pages, Paperback

First published September 2, 2003

Reviews

[C. (Don't blank click my reviews, comment please! · Rating 4 out of 5]

I value “Amazing Stories”, a suite about Canadian landscapes or spirits. We have much to be proud of. “Women Explorers: One-Hundred Years Of Courage And Audacity” is the special kind of book that illustrates that. Recording reviews is ideal to identifying why nuggets like these, published in 2003, ought not be missed. I gradually settled for four stars. I don't know if there was a 100-page quota, or if wonderful contributors like Helen Y. Rolfe were new.... however these often feel like presentations. Research, interviewing, procuring photographs, and editing a balance surely took months but reporting facts is not weaving a story. This is a note for Altitude Publishing to consider.

It is wonderful reading, capturing inspiring memories and demonstrating human strength. Helen would not cover as many important ladies in full biographies. We can name the first woman to scale Mount Everest, Japanese Junko Tabei, 1975 and Sharon Wood: sixth in 1986; Canada's and North America's first woman. There are a few genuine stories in detail. I laughed at the indignant Charles Fay. Who names a mountain after himself, before bagging it? Gertrude Benham easily flitted up and down it, the day he tried to in 1904!

Brevity is an asset of this collection, with everything easy and memorable to read, which does not preclude storytelling. Unanswered questions dangle that Helen ought to have circled back to, even while sticking to momentous spotlights. Did Elizabeth Parker, Canada's Alpine Club creator, never mountain-climb, even on a short jaunt? Why not? How did Leanne and Karsten fall back in love? What was the result of their safe migration route assessment? Tying small, personal, curious ends is what removes the tone of recitation. I would love to know if there are awards and ceremonies for first ascents and if so, since when.

[Twyla · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite of all the different mountain climbing stories was probably either the first one, about Sharon Wood, or the last one, about Leanne Allison. All the stories were basically about mountain climbing, and not explorers of all types like the title seems to suggest, but it is still a good book.