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Woodswoman
Woodswoman I: Living Alone in the Adirondack Wilderness
Many have dreamed of building a cabin in the wilderness and living there alone in the solitude of a region that is far from civilization. Here is the unusual story of a young wildlife ecologist who has done just that. When her marriage ended in divorce, Anne LaBastille bought twenty-two acres of virgin forest on a lonely lake in New York State's vast Adirondack Park, and there built the log cabin that has been her home ever since.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1975
121 people are currently reading
6480 people want to read
About the author
Anne LaBastille
25 books89 followersAnne LaBastille was an American author and ecologist. She was the author of more than a dozen books, including Woodswoman, Beyond Black Bear Lake, Woodswoman III, Woodswoman IIII, Assignment:Wildlife, and Women of the Wilderness. She also wrote more than 150 popular articles and over 25 scientific papers. She received her doctorate degree in Wildlife Ecology from Cornell University in 1969. She also had an M.S. in Wildlife Management from Colorado State University (1961), and a B.S. in Conservation of Natural Resources from Cornell (1955).[2][3] She was honored by the World Wildlife Fund and the Explorers Club for her pioneering work in wildlife ecology both in the United States and in Guatemala. She was a contributing writer to the Sierra Club, and National Geographic as well as many other magazines. LaBastille became a licensed New York State Guide in the 1970s and offered guide services for backpacking and canoe trips into the Adirondacks. She gave wilderness workshops and lectures for over forty years and served on many conservation organizations in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, including 17 years on the Board of Commissioners of the Adirondack Park Agency. She traveled around the world and worked with many non-profit organizations to study and alleviate the destructive effects of acid rain and pollution on lakes and wildlife. LaBastille was also a noted wildlife photographer and her work appeared in many nature publications.
LaBastille was born in Montclair, New Jersey, and died at a nursing home in Plattsburgh, New York.
LaBastille was born in Montclair, New Jersey, and died at a nursing home in Plattsburgh, New York.
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December 21, 2010
What a comfort, as I contemplate my lifelong dream to move to a cabin in the northern woods in coming years, that another woman has done something similar in her life some decades ago, and made it work for her so well. Even as Anne LaBastille was troubled by the very same concerns and questions as I am, she found ways to overcome, do without, cope, embrace, and handle the challenges that came her way. A woman alone in the woods … how safe is she? What if she gets sick or injured? How to handle wildlife or rough weather or fire? How to handle trespassers on her property who may be inclined to hurt her? Will she be able to pay her bills as a freelance writer?
When Anne LaBastille was still a relatively young woman, her marriage ended in divorce. She had to find a place to live—quick. In two months’ time, she found a remote plot of land in the Adirondacks, and she set to work building her own log cabin. With only a bit of help in the heaviest or trickiest part of the labor, LaBastille designed and built the cabin herself in short order.
Mind you, this is no burly Amazon woman. The photos in LaBastille’s autobiography show a slender, pretty woman, deeply tanned, flannel shirt sleeves rolled up on her sinewy arms, comfortable in her jeans, hair in long braids or ponytails, chainsaw in hand. Nor is she even particularly assertive or bold. At times, she’s downright shy. She’s just a woman who is comfortable alone, knows how to take care of herself, and loves nature.
LaBastille has had a loyal following of readers ever since her series of Woodswoman books first came out, beginning in the mid 1970s. It seems while few do what she has done, many hold a dream in common about a cabin in the woods. Her cabin in the woods is quite primitive, in fact, with no electricity—she powers anything that requires power by generator or propane gas—and no running water—her baths are mostly taken skinny-dipping in the lake each morning or by heating water in a small tub on her outdoor deck—and without a flushing toilet—she uses an outhouse with a view.
The author’s style is easy and friendly, even while she makes it clear her door is not open to just anyone. She does not appreciate intruders, is wary of her fans, and has no qualms about tossing hunters off her land with a loaded shotgun. Indeed, she encourages a reputation of being called, as one of the hunters snarled at her, bitch. It helps enforce her privacy.
This is a love story of the first order. Sure, there is the romance, initially between her and her husband, who taught her to be a better camper and how to use a chainsaw, and later, there is a romance between her and a man who visits her on weekends from his life in the city. She chooses her cabin and solitude first and foremost, however, when he invites her to accompany him to Alaska, and that’s the end of that. No, the real love story here is between Anne LaBastille and the Adirondacks, between the author and a woman’s closest friend—her dog, Pitzi. No matter what conflict or friction, hurdle or challenge, or test of endurance the wilderness tosses her way, LaBastille finds a way to deal with it and emerge victorious. Mind you, she isn’t trying to beat nature at her game. LaBastille is nature’s ally, woman to woman, and her approach to the challenges of living this kind of lifestyle are respectful. She works with nature rather than against it.
The stories of her life enchant. Descriptions of the changing of seasons are beautiful, as are moments of sitting on her dock on the lake to watch a loon or an otter swim by, or hiking through mountains with her faithful canine friend alongside her. She shows the reader the beauty of her home without whitewashing the mistakes and miscalculations she makes with it. Living as she does is a constant learning process. Nor does she do entirely without the help of friends. When accidents happen, and they do happen, help finds its way to her. She knows when to accept help, and when to be stubborn and stand her ground.
About one unexpected effect of living as a woman alone in the wilderness, she writes:
“The process of learning how to cope as a woman alone had backfired to an extent. I had noticed that the more competent I became, the more insecure certain men acted, or the more aggressive others behaved toward me. It was as if their inferiority complexes were showing, as if they couldn’t stand to have a female be better at anything than they.”
To some, LaBastille may be an enigma. How can a woman be so feminine and strong at the same time? So tender in some things yet so harsh and sturdy in others? Perhaps these are questions some may ask, but I took comfort in reading about this woman who was, simply, a woman—competent, intelligent (she has a PhD), self-sufficient, strong, spirited, yet open-hearted to those who brought added meaning to her life and respect to her wild corner of the world. Her comparison between living in the wild and living in the wild city is really quite hilarious, and makes the point: choose your risks. The wilderness may be far from the scariest place a woman can live.
Added notes on ecology are a major bonus of this memoir. By living in the woods, the author learns how deeply pollution of various kinds has affected our earth. Acid rain kills off lakes until they can no longer be fished. Development efforts seem to be a constant threat. Noise pollution proves a daunting enemy. The greatest challenge LaBastille faces in her wilderness is to preserve it. This isn't just one woman's story; it's a wakeup call.
“Still the cabin is the wellspring, the source, the hub of my existence. It gives me tranquility, a closeness to nature and wildlife, good health and fitness, a sense of security, the opportunity for resourcefulness, reflection, and creative thinking. Yet my existence here has not been, and never will be, idyllic. Nature is too demanding for that. It requires a constant response to the environment. I must adapt to its changes—the seasons, the vagaries of weather, wear and tear on house and land, the physical demands of my body, the sensuous pulls on my senses. Despite these demands, I share a feeling of continuity, contentment, and oneness with the natural world, with life itself, in my surroundings of tall pines, clear lakes, flying squirrels, trailless peaks, shy deer, clean air, bullfrogs, black flies, and trilliums.”
As for me, reading LaBastille’s honest perspective on her life alone in the woods is refreshing and inspiring. I moved quickly from this book to the next one in the series, reading that one just as quickly. I can understand why she has such a following of admirers. She has lived the dream of many that very few will ever realize. She has been true to herself, and that takes courage too many lack.
When Anne LaBastille was still a relatively young woman, her marriage ended in divorce. She had to find a place to live—quick. In two months’ time, she found a remote plot of land in the Adirondacks, and she set to work building her own log cabin. With only a bit of help in the heaviest or trickiest part of the labor, LaBastille designed and built the cabin herself in short order.
Mind you, this is no burly Amazon woman. The photos in LaBastille’s autobiography show a slender, pretty woman, deeply tanned, flannel shirt sleeves rolled up on her sinewy arms, comfortable in her jeans, hair in long braids or ponytails, chainsaw in hand. Nor is she even particularly assertive or bold. At times, she’s downright shy. She’s just a woman who is comfortable alone, knows how to take care of herself, and loves nature.
LaBastille has had a loyal following of readers ever since her series of Woodswoman books first came out, beginning in the mid 1970s. It seems while few do what she has done, many hold a dream in common about a cabin in the woods. Her cabin in the woods is quite primitive, in fact, with no electricity—she powers anything that requires power by generator or propane gas—and no running water—her baths are mostly taken skinny-dipping in the lake each morning or by heating water in a small tub on her outdoor deck—and without a flushing toilet—she uses an outhouse with a view.
The author’s style is easy and friendly, even while she makes it clear her door is not open to just anyone. She does not appreciate intruders, is wary of her fans, and has no qualms about tossing hunters off her land with a loaded shotgun. Indeed, she encourages a reputation of being called, as one of the hunters snarled at her, bitch. It helps enforce her privacy.
This is a love story of the first order. Sure, there is the romance, initially between her and her husband, who taught her to be a better camper and how to use a chainsaw, and later, there is a romance between her and a man who visits her on weekends from his life in the city. She chooses her cabin and solitude first and foremost, however, when he invites her to accompany him to Alaska, and that’s the end of that. No, the real love story here is between Anne LaBastille and the Adirondacks, between the author and a woman’s closest friend—her dog, Pitzi. No matter what conflict or friction, hurdle or challenge, or test of endurance the wilderness tosses her way, LaBastille finds a way to deal with it and emerge victorious. Mind you, she isn’t trying to beat nature at her game. LaBastille is nature’s ally, woman to woman, and her approach to the challenges of living this kind of lifestyle are respectful. She works with nature rather than against it.
The stories of her life enchant. Descriptions of the changing of seasons are beautiful, as are moments of sitting on her dock on the lake to watch a loon or an otter swim by, or hiking through mountains with her faithful canine friend alongside her. She shows the reader the beauty of her home without whitewashing the mistakes and miscalculations she makes with it. Living as she does is a constant learning process. Nor does she do entirely without the help of friends. When accidents happen, and they do happen, help finds its way to her. She knows when to accept help, and when to be stubborn and stand her ground.
About one unexpected effect of living as a woman alone in the wilderness, she writes:
“The process of learning how to cope as a woman alone had backfired to an extent. I had noticed that the more competent I became, the more insecure certain men acted, or the more aggressive others behaved toward me. It was as if their inferiority complexes were showing, as if they couldn’t stand to have a female be better at anything than they.”
To some, LaBastille may be an enigma. How can a woman be so feminine and strong at the same time? So tender in some things yet so harsh and sturdy in others? Perhaps these are questions some may ask, but I took comfort in reading about this woman who was, simply, a woman—competent, intelligent (she has a PhD), self-sufficient, strong, spirited, yet open-hearted to those who brought added meaning to her life and respect to her wild corner of the world. Her comparison between living in the wild and living in the wild city is really quite hilarious, and makes the point: choose your risks. The wilderness may be far from the scariest place a woman can live.
Added notes on ecology are a major bonus of this memoir. By living in the woods, the author learns how deeply pollution of various kinds has affected our earth. Acid rain kills off lakes until they can no longer be fished. Development efforts seem to be a constant threat. Noise pollution proves a daunting enemy. The greatest challenge LaBastille faces in her wilderness is to preserve it. This isn't just one woman's story; it's a wakeup call.
“Still the cabin is the wellspring, the source, the hub of my existence. It gives me tranquility, a closeness to nature and wildlife, good health and fitness, a sense of security, the opportunity for resourcefulness, reflection, and creative thinking. Yet my existence here has not been, and never will be, idyllic. Nature is too demanding for that. It requires a constant response to the environment. I must adapt to its changes—the seasons, the vagaries of weather, wear and tear on house and land, the physical demands of my body, the sensuous pulls on my senses. Despite these demands, I share a feeling of continuity, contentment, and oneness with the natural world, with life itself, in my surroundings of tall pines, clear lakes, flying squirrels, trailless peaks, shy deer, clean air, bullfrogs, black flies, and trilliums.”
As for me, reading LaBastille’s honest perspective on her life alone in the woods is refreshing and inspiring. I moved quickly from this book to the next one in the series, reading that one just as quickly. I can understand why she has such a following of admirers. She has lived the dream of many that very few will ever realize. She has been true to herself, and that takes courage too many lack.
July 5, 2020
Fascinating True Story.
After Anne went through a divorce, she decided to fulfill her dream of living in a log cabin in the wilderness. So, she bought 2 acres of land in the Adirondack Mountains and built herself a log cabin mostly by herself, except for the heavier work.
While I thought her to be gutsy, it wasn’t easy for her to live alone. There was no phone service back then in the 60s. How can a woman live without a phone? Then the nearest neighbor was five miles away, and to get to any kind of civilization, she had to take her canoe across the lake to where she had parked her truck, and if I recall correctly, there was a store nearby.
When late fall arrived, the lake would begin to form ice and was dangerous to try to cross by canoe, much less by foot. She helped one of her neighbors move during this time, taking three trips by canoe to move all her belongings. Each time the ice was becoming more treacherous, and she
was afraid that she could not break through the ice and imagined herself stuck on the lake, not even being able to walk across it.
While I have always thought that it would be nice to live in a log cabin in the wilderness, her adventure would not have been my own. I would want my husband with me, a dog, and some closer neighbors. Phone service would greatly help, as would a GPS with locator so I could summon help. At least she finally got a dog and a shortwave radio. She also bought a Merck manual and medical books just in case.
Later, she met a man who came to live with her. I didn’t like him, but maybe it was her lack of total enthusiasm in him that came through in her writing. Still, when he took her and her German shepherd for a walk along the railroad tracks that were no longer in use, I didn't like how he insisted that they cross over an area that was dangerous. It could have been over a river. Her boyfriend had to carry the dog across, and one wrong step, and any one of them could fall and be killed. She was very hesitant about doing this, and my own belief was this: If a man really loves you, he is not going to risk your life or your dog’s.
The book didn’t always take place at her cabin, as you saw. She went on camping trips, mostly by herself, and later with her dog, and then with her new boyfriend. Then she and her dog went to Washington D.C. for 8 months since she was on an assignment. She hated the city and compared it often with her home in the woods. What she hated was the noise, the crime, and the pollution. Even I could not wait for her to return to the mountains.
After Anne went through a divorce, she decided to fulfill her dream of living in a log cabin in the wilderness. So, she bought 2 acres of land in the Adirondack Mountains and built herself a log cabin mostly by herself, except for the heavier work.
While I thought her to be gutsy, it wasn’t easy for her to live alone. There was no phone service back then in the 60s. How can a woman live without a phone? Then the nearest neighbor was five miles away, and to get to any kind of civilization, she had to take her canoe across the lake to where she had parked her truck, and if I recall correctly, there was a store nearby.
When late fall arrived, the lake would begin to form ice and was dangerous to try to cross by canoe, much less by foot. She helped one of her neighbors move during this time, taking three trips by canoe to move all her belongings. Each time the ice was becoming more treacherous, and she
was afraid that she could not break through the ice and imagined herself stuck on the lake, not even being able to walk across it.
While I have always thought that it would be nice to live in a log cabin in the wilderness, her adventure would not have been my own. I would want my husband with me, a dog, and some closer neighbors. Phone service would greatly help, as would a GPS with locator so I could summon help. At least she finally got a dog and a shortwave radio. She also bought a Merck manual and medical books just in case.
Later, she met a man who came to live with her. I didn’t like him, but maybe it was her lack of total enthusiasm in him that came through in her writing. Still, when he took her and her German shepherd for a walk along the railroad tracks that were no longer in use, I didn't like how he insisted that they cross over an area that was dangerous. It could have been over a river. Her boyfriend had to carry the dog across, and one wrong step, and any one of them could fall and be killed. She was very hesitant about doing this, and my own belief was this: If a man really loves you, he is not going to risk your life or your dog’s.
The book didn’t always take place at her cabin, as you saw. She went on camping trips, mostly by herself, and later with her dog, and then with her new boyfriend. Then she and her dog went to Washington D.C. for 8 months since she was on an assignment. She hated the city and compared it often with her home in the woods. What she hated was the noise, the crime, and the pollution. Even I could not wait for her to return to the mountains.
July 12, 2022
Four or five times every year, I put on my imaginary flannel shirt or polar jumpsuit, and pretend that I'm capable enough, strong enough, fit enough and brave enough to adventure beyond my city apartment doorway into the wilds of the northwoods or the arctic polar regions. This dream lifestyle lasts about 24 hours after I finish a book like Woodswoman, and then reality sets back in in the form of working plumbing, running water, Big Macs and trips to Borders.
I greatly admire people like Anne LaBastille, who decided after her divorce (circa 1960's) to move from her and her ex-husband's Adirondack resort hotel to a 22 acre plot of land in the middle of the Adirondack wilderness. With the help of 2 strong friends, she built her own log cabin on the shores of a lake, and proceeded to live there several decades while pursuing her writing and environmental consulting career. She shared her life with a dog named Pitzi, and later with a man she loved (but ultimately couldn't leave the Adirondack's for when he asked her to).
Her story of life in the wilderness is a beautiful testiment of the desire of one woman to live life on her own terms. She realized that for her, life was best lived in an environment she loved and respected, and that to do otherwise wasn't an option at all. She was a candid writer, and didn't hesitate to point out all her failings as the non-perfect woodswoman. She made plenty of mistakes - some of which might have easily gotten her killed. She also seemed like a somewhat reserved person who enjoyed her friends, welcomed visitors, but didn't easily let people into her inner self.
I look forward to reading the final 2 books in her wilderness trilogy:Woodswoman II: Beyond Black Bear Lake
Woodswoman III: Book Three of the Woodswoman's Adventures
I greatly admire people like Anne LaBastille, who decided after her divorce (circa 1960's) to move from her and her ex-husband's Adirondack resort hotel to a 22 acre plot of land in the middle of the Adirondack wilderness. With the help of 2 strong friends, she built her own log cabin on the shores of a lake, and proceeded to live there several decades while pursuing her writing and environmental consulting career. She shared her life with a dog named Pitzi, and later with a man she loved (but ultimately couldn't leave the Adirondack's for when he asked her to).
Her story of life in the wilderness is a beautiful testiment of the desire of one woman to live life on her own terms. She realized that for her, life was best lived in an environment she loved and respected, and that to do otherwise wasn't an option at all. She was a candid writer, and didn't hesitate to point out all her failings as the non-perfect woodswoman. She made plenty of mistakes - some of which might have easily gotten her killed. She also seemed like a somewhat reserved person who enjoyed her friends, welcomed visitors, but didn't easily let people into her inner self.
I look forward to reading the final 2 books in her wilderness trilogy:Woodswoman II: Beyond Black Bear Lake
Woodswoman III: Book Three of the Woodswoman's Adventures
March 19, 2016
I loved this book. It was one hundred percent better than The Last American Man. Sure it was a little dated (60s), and sure the narrative sometimes flitted around, but it honest, so very honest and genuine. You could feel the authors pride for her little cabin, her chagrin when she related a mistake she had made, her devotion to the wilderness. She sassed and took none in return. I loved listening to her description of nighttime conversations with owls, had admittance that her life was beautiful and hard, but not the idyllic serenity that cityfolk thought it was, her descriptions of gliding through the water with fish. She didn't try and butter up anything about the Adirondacks, and that made the narrative feel real and true to the point that I half expected to look out of my windows and see trees instead of frozen corn stalks.
Thank you Annie! You have inspired me!
Fun story: I bought this book off of the used section of Amazon, and I always buy the cheapest .60 cents ones i can find, particularly when the author has deceased and I dont have to feel guilty about not paying them. When I opened it up I realized that they had sent me a signed copy. Was it a sign? By the end of the book it sure felt like it. I shall absolutely cherish it.
Thank you Annie! You have inspired me!
Fun story: I bought this book off of the used section of Amazon, and I always buy the cheapest .60 cents ones i can find, particularly when the author has deceased and I dont have to feel guilty about not paying them. When I opened it up I realized that they had sent me a signed copy. Was it a sign? By the end of the book it sure felt like it. I shall absolutely cherish it.
September 16, 2013
Wonderful. The best book I've read so far this year. Just when I think I'm becoming more adept at being in the woods, I read about someone like Anne and realize how far I have to go. Anne bought a small piece of land in the Adirondacks after her divorce in the 1960's/70's and built her own log cabin. The only access to her cabin was by boat so she had to haul in all of the building materials herself. Truly an amazing woman. What makes this so special and personal for me is that Anne lived on Twitchell Lake, a lake where we almost purchased a small cabin. At that time, Anne was still living and there was a chance we could have met her. Anne wrote a new book every 10 years of her like. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the Woodswoman series.
May 17, 2012
I absolutely loved this book. It was a serendipitous find for me. I'd been browsing at my favorite used book store in CA when I saw a newspaper obit for Anne LaBastille taped to the end of a shelf. I'd never heard of her, but the obit (she died last year) intrigued me; LaBastille went off to live alone in the Adirondacks after a divorce, in a log cabin she built herself. Hers was the original Eat, Pray, Love story (written in the 1970s), except her new life wasn't an assignment or stunt; she supported herself in her 12 by 12 foot cabin for decades as a conservationist consultant, writer, and photographer.
I've been fascinated with the Adirondacks ever since attending a one-week summer camp there when I was 16, so I wrote her name down and ordered the book from the library the next day. I finished tearing through it last night, and I adored it. I'm now very sad never to have had the chance to meet Ms. LaBastille. I spend my summers near the Catskills and would gladly have hiked in to visit her at her cabin.
Here's an excerpt from the chapter "Survival" that particularly spoke to me:
"The first thing was to convince myself that I could handle anything I had or wanted to. The time-old excuse of being a woman, hence frail, dumb, afraid, in need of protection and a man's assistance, has no place in an isolated and rustic life-style. I believe a woman can do whatever she sets her mind to, once she's learned how."
This may sound antiquated now--of course women can do whatever they want--but for many of us, that voice is still there. I find myself all the time saying things like, "I'd like to do that, but as a woman alone, it's unwise." I hate that voice, because it wasn't there when I was a kid. It was put there by my fearful family and the nightly news. Even into my twenties, I did many "risky" things alone. I biked alone in remote areas. (I still do.) I went to the shore alone. I hiked in the Angeles National Forest alone. It's only now that I'm older and "wiser" that I think about the risks more than I'd like to, sometimes to the point of deferring activities indefinitely. I think LaBastille, role model that she is, has just nudged me one step closer to a goal I've been talking about for years: getting a dog and camping and backpacking by myself if I can't find a pal to accompany me. (Though it better be a fierce dog.)
This is by no means a perfect book. LaBastille is an extraordinarily poor dialog writer. The last few chapters, in which she breaks her solitude to enter into a relationship, are full of stagey, expository, ham-fisted back-and-forth between herself and her lover as they discuss all manner of conservationist policy and Adirondack history. Fortunately, by the time I got this far in the book, I was so besotted with and charmed by her lifestyle and her narrative voice that I didn't really mind, and in fact actually found myself chuckling at the awkwardness. Every writer has a weak spot, and one would expect a woman who lives alone in the remote woods to fall behind when it comes to practicing her verbal skills.
On the whole, I was very impressed by her ability to segue naturally from personal anecdotes to historical context. She accomplishes this in a seamless way that Cheryl Strayed, in a similar book from this year (see my review of "Wild"), was unable to.
On a personal note, I was intrigued by a passing reference she made to some "famous" guide boat builders based on Long Lake, NY. It turns out they're distant relatives of mine from the same ancestor who arrived in Connecticut during the 1630s. Chalk this up to yet another reason the Adirondacks region fascinates me. You truly can't spit in Upstate or Central NY without hitting someone in my family tree.
I've been fascinated with the Adirondacks ever since attending a one-week summer camp there when I was 16, so I wrote her name down and ordered the book from the library the next day. I finished tearing through it last night, and I adored it. I'm now very sad never to have had the chance to meet Ms. LaBastille. I spend my summers near the Catskills and would gladly have hiked in to visit her at her cabin.
Here's an excerpt from the chapter "Survival" that particularly spoke to me:
"The first thing was to convince myself that I could handle anything I had or wanted to. The time-old excuse of being a woman, hence frail, dumb, afraid, in need of protection and a man's assistance, has no place in an isolated and rustic life-style. I believe a woman can do whatever she sets her mind to, once she's learned how."
This may sound antiquated now--of course women can do whatever they want--but for many of us, that voice is still there. I find myself all the time saying things like, "I'd like to do that, but as a woman alone, it's unwise." I hate that voice, because it wasn't there when I was a kid. It was put there by my fearful family and the nightly news. Even into my twenties, I did many "risky" things alone. I biked alone in remote areas. (I still do.) I went to the shore alone. I hiked in the Angeles National Forest alone. It's only now that I'm older and "wiser" that I think about the risks more than I'd like to, sometimes to the point of deferring activities indefinitely. I think LaBastille, role model that she is, has just nudged me one step closer to a goal I've been talking about for years: getting a dog and camping and backpacking by myself if I can't find a pal to accompany me. (Though it better be a fierce dog.)
This is by no means a perfect book. LaBastille is an extraordinarily poor dialog writer. The last few chapters, in which she breaks her solitude to enter into a relationship, are full of stagey, expository, ham-fisted back-and-forth between herself and her lover as they discuss all manner of conservationist policy and Adirondack history. Fortunately, by the time I got this far in the book, I was so besotted with and charmed by her lifestyle and her narrative voice that I didn't really mind, and in fact actually found myself chuckling at the awkwardness. Every writer has a weak spot, and one would expect a woman who lives alone in the remote woods to fall behind when it comes to practicing her verbal skills.
On the whole, I was very impressed by her ability to segue naturally from personal anecdotes to historical context. She accomplishes this in a seamless way that Cheryl Strayed, in a similar book from this year (see my review of "Wild"), was unable to.
On a personal note, I was intrigued by a passing reference she made to some "famous" guide boat builders based on Long Lake, NY. It turns out they're distant relatives of mine from the same ancestor who arrived in Connecticut during the 1630s. Chalk this up to yet another reason the Adirondacks region fascinates me. You truly can't spit in Upstate or Central NY without hitting someone in my family tree.
December 8, 2008
Everybody who ever dreamed of living in a log cabin in the wilderness will be thrilled with LaBastille's first part of her 4 part autobiography.
In the mid sixties when she got divorced, Anne bought a piece of land in the Adirondacks in upstate New York and lived there for several decades with her German shepherd dogs.
LaBastille's books contain funny stories about her dogs as well as her relationships with men and nature observations.
The first two autobiographies are equally good, the third one is still readable (actually she had planned to publish one part every 10 years), but part 4 is more of a selection of short stories on her Adirondacks neighbors and friends.
Another good book by her is "Mama Poc" which describes her trip to Atitlan Lake in Guatemala to try to save an endangered bird species.
This deserves much more than 5 stars and ranks among my 20 best books of all times...another book to take with me to a deserted island.
In the mid sixties when she got divorced, Anne bought a piece of land in the Adirondacks in upstate New York and lived there for several decades with her German shepherd dogs.
LaBastille's books contain funny stories about her dogs as well as her relationships with men and nature observations.
The first two autobiographies are equally good, the third one is still readable (actually she had planned to publish one part every 10 years), but part 4 is more of a selection of short stories on her Adirondacks neighbors and friends.
Another good book by her is "Mama Poc" which describes her trip to Atitlan Lake in Guatemala to try to save an endangered bird species.
This deserves much more than 5 stars and ranks among my 20 best books of all times...another book to take with me to a deserted island.
May 19, 2008
A remarkable book by one of my favorite enviromentalists, Anne LaBastille. After her divorce, Anne goes to the Adirondack Mountains and builds her own cabin in the back of beyond. The book is filled with amazing truths about life in the 1970's as well as examines the people, flora, and fauna of her new home. The book inspired a new generation of women environmentalsits.
July 27, 2008
This book came highly recommended by my boyfriend's mother. It is the first in a series of four books - true stories about the author and her life living in a cabin she built herself on a lake in the Adirondacks. I quite disliked her writing style, I'll be honest with you. It was jumpy, some of her word choices were very strange, and the detours she took from the main story of the chapter to describe things were quite distracting. Many times, by the time she got back to the point of the story, I had forgotten what she had been talking about in the first place. Also, much of it is just description. There are stories, and all the actual stories are worth reading. But there are also pages upon pages of description of things like ... the length of the boards used to put up a certain wall of her cabin. I dunno, it was just a very tedious read. I skipped more of it than I'd like to admit.
But, like I said, there were so many good stories there. I'd recommend suffering your way through the rest of it to get the stories. The story of her pet fox. The story of how she fell in love with her first husband. The story of rowing across the lake and watching the ice freeze up behind her. The story of her hike through the mountains and the history she found there. The story of the locals placing a 50lb barrel on the frozen-over lake and making bets as to when it would fall through the ice. And just the story of her survival in general. It was really inspiring and very interesting - I felt like I learned a lot while being somewhat entertained simultaneously.
But, like I said, there were so many good stories there. I'd recommend suffering your way through the rest of it to get the stories. The story of her pet fox. The story of how she fell in love with her first husband. The story of rowing across the lake and watching the ice freeze up behind her. The story of her hike through the mountains and the history she found there. The story of the locals placing a 50lb barrel on the frozen-over lake and making bets as to when it would fall through the ice. And just the story of her survival in general. It was really inspiring and very interesting - I felt like I learned a lot while being somewhat entertained simultaneously.
February 1, 2008
I was thorougly charmed by this book, despite a few flaws. The author's descriptions of the wilderness and life in a log cabin are beautifully written. My favorite section was a canoe trip she took on the day Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. Her passage about gazing up at the full moon while experiencing the utter stillness of the lake was gorgeous.
However, her dialogue is forced and she relies too much on exclamation marks -- it reminded me of the Nancy Drew books I read as a kid -- but I will forgive her those grammatical mishaps and happily recommend the book to anyone who loves the great outdoors.
However, her dialogue is forced and she relies too much on exclamation marks -- it reminded me of the Nancy Drew books I read as a kid -- but I will forgive her those grammatical mishaps and happily recommend the book to anyone who loves the great outdoors.
September 25, 2014
OK, I'm ready to move to the woods, learn to use an ax, swim and canoe in a lake every day, and learn to photograph wildlife. Let's do it! I'm still a little scared of chainsaws and appendicitis, though. And I would like to grow vegetables instead of eating mostly beaver meat and champagne.
As a DC resident, I enjoyed the later part of the book where Anne moves to Georgetown for a short-term contract job and contrasts the District with the Adirondacks. Spoiler: DC does not come out on top.
As a DC resident, I enjoyed the later part of the book where Anne moves to Georgetown for a short-term contract job and contrasts the District with the Adirondacks. Spoiler: DC does not come out on top.
March 11, 2023
*Re-read March 2023 - Still great nature writing from a formidable woman living alone in the wilderness. Much enjoyed.
Original review: Amazing nature writing and personal journey from Anne LaBastille.
Raw, honest, self-deprecating.
Descriptive, imaginative, informative and educational.
This is Thoreau re-imagined in feminism.
Fabulous.
And you know what, I'm going to stop with LeBastille whilst the going is good as reviews of her 2nd, 3rd and 4th parts of the Woodswoman series are too variable. I don't want to be disappointed!
Original review: Amazing nature writing and personal journey from Anne LaBastille.
Raw, honest, self-deprecating.
Descriptive, imaginative, informative and educational.
This is Thoreau re-imagined in feminism.
Fabulous.
And you know what, I'm going to stop with LeBastille whilst the going is good as reviews of her 2nd, 3rd and 4th parts of the Woodswoman series are too variable. I don't want to be disappointed!
January 19, 2022
Reminded me of the better parts of Wild, only this author knew quite a bit more about what she was getting into. I like how she defied the norms of her era! I also liked her points of view re ecology. I would've loved to have been able to meet her.
May 19, 2011
I was captivated by Anne's story! I admire her pioneer spirit and fortitude and envy her peaceful life in the heart of the Adirondack's. Looking forward to reading Book 2!
January 29, 2018
This was very inspirational. It's conversational and sometimes boring, too. I kept putting it down to add a first aid kit or ax to my wish list, which I think is a great quality in a book.
May 4, 2017
For a woman who's always lived in the suburbs, I've always been fascinated by those who turn their backs on what we term civilization to carve out an existence somewhere quite remote. I was especially interested in The Final Frontiersman: Heimo Korth and His Family, Alone in Alaska's Arctic Wilderness, detailing the story of Heimo Korth and his family in the back country of Alaska.
But usually these stories are of solitary men, and when women are involved, they're always as part of a team. LaBastille wants no other human near her, unless it's a man she loves, and she prizes her self-sufficiency and her skill at keeping herself and her dog Putzi healthy, fed, and warm through the long Adirondack winters. She's relentlessly independent, which I found so inspiring, especially as she admitted she had had to learn to throw off society's expectations of women as weak or unable to manage. She proves over and over again that all one needs to survive is a willingness to learn how to do something, and then to do it, even if it's hard.
I think my favorite vignette in this memoir is when the astronauts landed on the moon. Unlike everyone else in the country, LaBastille wasn't watching the historic event on television. She had no electricity so it wasn't even an option. Instead, she went camping in that night, and stared up at the full moon in wonder, knowing men were finally landing on another part of our solar system. What an amazing way to commemorate this event!
The writing in this book is beautiful. It's so vivid, and it makes the reader feel as though she's right there with LaBastille, hearing the slap of beavers' tails on the water, smelling the crisp and pure air, admiring the gorgeous sunrises and sunsets. It makes me want to head to Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, and spend a weekend at my friend's cabin, away from everyone and everything.
Highly recommended, and I look forward to reading the other two books in this series.
But usually these stories are of solitary men, and when women are involved, they're always as part of a team. LaBastille wants no other human near her, unless it's a man she loves, and she prizes her self-sufficiency and her skill at keeping herself and her dog Putzi healthy, fed, and warm through the long Adirondack winters. She's relentlessly independent, which I found so inspiring, especially as she admitted she had had to learn to throw off society's expectations of women as weak or unable to manage. She proves over and over again that all one needs to survive is a willingness to learn how to do something, and then to do it, even if it's hard.
I think my favorite vignette in this memoir is when the astronauts landed on the moon. Unlike everyone else in the country, LaBastille wasn't watching the historic event on television. She had no electricity so it wasn't even an option. Instead, she went camping in that night, and stared up at the full moon in wonder, knowing men were finally landing on another part of our solar system. What an amazing way to commemorate this event!
The writing in this book is beautiful. It's so vivid, and it makes the reader feel as though she's right there with LaBastille, hearing the slap of beavers' tails on the water, smelling the crisp and pure air, admiring the gorgeous sunrises and sunsets. It makes me want to head to Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, and spend a weekend at my friend's cabin, away from everyone and everything.
Highly recommended, and I look forward to reading the other two books in this series.
April 5, 2011
What a wonderful book, especially for those who crave the wilderness, being alone in nature or have a love for Thoreau. It's THE book for those of us who live to go camping and backpacking, who daydream what would be like to escape into the wilderness.
The skinny is Anne LaBastille goes through a divorce then re-invents herself in the wilderness of the Adirondacks in the early 1970's. She, much like "Pa Wilder," Laura Ingalls Wilder's father, lives like a pioneer, hewing her own logs, making a cabin from scratch the pioneer-way. It's such fun seeing how she does this. I was reminded of the Little House books and how Laura Ingalls Wilder was attentive to detail, explaining how one builds a log cabin with just basic tools, a saw, a hammer. You feel like you're right there as she's teaching you.
Just lately I was thrilled to discover she wrote a sequel, the perfect early summer read, about her building a new cabin even farther in the woods.
Three cheers for Ms. Anne LaBastille!
The skinny is Anne LaBastille goes through a divorce then re-invents herself in the wilderness of the Adirondacks in the early 1970's. She, much like "Pa Wilder," Laura Ingalls Wilder's father, lives like a pioneer, hewing her own logs, making a cabin from scratch the pioneer-way. It's such fun seeing how she does this. I was reminded of the Little House books and how Laura Ingalls Wilder was attentive to detail, explaining how one builds a log cabin with just basic tools, a saw, a hammer. You feel like you're right there as she's teaching you.
Just lately I was thrilled to discover she wrote a sequel, the perfect early summer read, about her building a new cabin even farther in the woods.
Three cheers for Ms. Anne LaBastille!
June 7, 2017
So happy to have stumbled upon this book! It was just wonderful! Recently divorced, Anne LaBastille builds a small log cabin on a wild plot of land in the Adirondacks and lives there alone for many years, writing and exploring and learning what it means to exist in connection with Mother Earth. Her prose was engaging and visual. Every time I came to the book, I was able to escape into the woods with her. Also, it amazes me that this book was written in 1975, but it's still so incredibly relevant today. Even more so because our technology has only increased and we are still not taking care of our planet and our fellow creatures the way we should. Highly recommended read!!!
May 14, 2017
Very interesting read. I was intrigued and impressed by what LaBastille did building and living in a small, off grid cabin in the Adirondacks.
September 28, 2022
LaBastille is enchanting and inspiring.
December 17, 2025
I had some qualms about the way Anne did things. She didn't fit my idea of the perfect conservationist (though I admit this is probably a judgmental me problem). And the Adirondack facts annoyed me a bit. But she has so many interesting stories, and I find her inspiring. She is a badass for real.
December 22, 2011
this summer I biked 1000 miles through the northern midwest and upstate NY. when I was in the Adirondacks, in a bike-and-outdoors-shop, I came across Anne LaBastille's books. it turned out that I was there just a few weeks after Ms. LaBastille's death; she was a local celebrity. she lived in the Adirondacks her entire adult life, and even though I picked up the books for a friend, I ended up borrowing them and devouring them. I found Woodswoman compelling and fascinating. it wasn't superbly written, but it was a fascinating story. Ms. Labastille was a gusty, fiercely independent, strong-willing woman who absolutely loved the woods she lived in, and was totally committed to building a life in the wilderness she loved. fascinating, inspiring, and full of descriptions and photos that tug my heart toward the trees. a great read.
March 1, 2016
I can't say enough great things about this book. I purchased this second hand, without knowing she turned this into a series (I'm assuming I have an earlier print copy before she decided to continue on), I would love to get my hands on the continuations.
I found this book still very current, regardless of the time it was written. From living in such a remote area by choice to feeling resentment from males as she learns to be self sufficient, as a female.
Her gratefulness and love of nature is inspiring. Not only to go outside but to continue the fight to preserve what little we have left.
Though I am inspired by Thoreau and London, it's nice to read such similar understandings from a female perspective (personal preference, really). I found this easier to digest, as well. Definitely a page turner!
I found this book still very current, regardless of the time it was written. From living in such a remote area by choice to feeling resentment from males as she learns to be self sufficient, as a female.
Her gratefulness and love of nature is inspiring. Not only to go outside but to continue the fight to preserve what little we have left.
Though I am inspired by Thoreau and London, it's nice to read such similar understandings from a female perspective (personal preference, really). I found this easier to digest, as well. Definitely a page turner!
March 9, 2012
I read this years ago, as well as her second book. But those years have not erased the pure enjoyment of reading Anne LaBastille face the wilderness, alone, save for her ever faithful dog. The courage and adventure in this woman's heart was inspiring and so entertaining...I didn't want the book to end. It was an incredible journey to take with her, through her simple, yet perfectly written words. Read both this book and Book 2...it's a joy and you will be inspired to face your 'giants', step out and do what your mind tells you isn't possible. This is on my list to read and be entertained once again.
January 29, 2016
Really enjoyed reading this account of life in the Adirondacks on Black Bear Lake... sounds pretty wonderful to me. The only part I didn't like was thinking about how pollution, even having more boats on the lake, is damaging this ecosystem which seemed so perfect when she first moved there. It's nice to fantasize about moving somewhere like this, but if a place this isolated is feeling the effects of pollution, it seems like there is nowhere left to go. Even if you're in the middle of nowhere, you are victim to the effects of acid rain, ground pollution, air pollution, natural gas companies, etc. etc.
October 23, 2019
What a thoroughly enjoyable read. This is more of a journal than a story, but for fans of the Adirondacks, it's a treasure. Many of us have dreamed of abandoning the trimmings of the hustle and bustle and disappearing into the wilderness, but know that that is not in the cards. LaBastille's book is a great way to live that dream surreptitiously!
August 11, 2017
This was a fascinating book about a young woman that leaves traditional society to love in the woods. She builds a small, rustic cabin to live in while she studies nature and finds herself. It is very intriguing to think that someone could live this way in this day and age!
October 27, 2017
I just happened upon this book in an Illinois Goodwill store and it sounded interesting so I took it home. It was a nice slow relaxing read and definitely made me want to build a cabin of my own and live out in the mountains where I can read all my books in the quiet. 😉
September 16, 2023
Phenomenal
February 21, 2025
Solid 4.5.
Read based on recommendation of a friend. It’s a slow memoir with no climactic events. I am not sure I would have loved it sitting down and reading cover to cover, but reading a chapter here and there over a month, it was a great and enjoyable read.
Read based on recommendation of a friend. It’s a slow memoir with no climactic events. I am not sure I would have loved it sitting down and reading cover to cover, but reading a chapter here and there over a month, it was a great and enjoyable read.
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