The Magnificent Mountain Women: Adventures in the Colorado Rockies

by Janet Robertson

Since the Pikes Peak gold rush in the midâ nineteenth century, women have gone into the mountains of Colorado to hike, climb, ski, homestead, botanize, act as guides, practice medicine, and meet a variety of other challenges, whether for sport or for livelihood. Janet Robertson recounts their exploits in a lively, well-illustrated book that measures up to its title, The Magnificent Mountain Women. Arlene Blum provides a new introduction to this edition.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Womens, Feminism, Travel, Adventure

220 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1990

Reviews

[Emily Palm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally, a book that actually acknowledges the contributions that women have made to the sport of mountaineering. I checked this book out from the library, but am realizing it must become a part of my collection as I find myself bringing up various tidbits I read in conversations.

Robertson covers a wide spectrum of women throughout the past century that have accomplished feats you don't read about in other historical mountaineering books. Compelling writing makes this an enjoyable as well as educational read.

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was all interesting but at the same time sometimes rather disappointing. At first I wasn't sure if it was just the writer's style, but in the end I realized it depended on the subject and the women involved. This book is NOT all about climbing, although obviously the is some of that, but I don't like accounts of climbing in extreme climates and cold. I did like a couple of the accounts of 20th century climbers who weren't climbing in those sorts of conditions. I have actually done a wee bit of rock climbing in New Mexico--NOT for me and it wasn't in snow or ice, although I liked the Australian rappelling (hated rappelling going down backward) but not enough to ever do it again. What this means is that I at least understand some of the terminology. In addition, I have spent a couple of weeks in Colorado and was at the top of Pikes' Peak, but we didn't have time to hike it since that wasn't the purpose of my trip there (thankfully--this was after that New Mexico adventure).

The author obviously couldn't include nearly all of the key women involved, and in her epilogue points out that the (American) west was racist and so it's largely Anglo (that's not accurate--more like Northern European to be frank) because in the 19th and early 20th century it was hard enough even for women of the majority of those in Colorado to be breaking boundaries by climbing, not always climbing in dresses, and doing the other things in this book.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book as a gift twenty-five years ago and I finally had the chance to read it!

Janet Robertson has kind of a tough job with this book. She has chosen to write about as many as she can of the women in Colorado's early days. There are actually many incredible women and Robertson had to choose. There are many fascinating stories in this compendium and I enjoyed reading it very much. I got to meet "Doc Susie" -- the only doctor in the Granby/Winter Park area for many years at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. I met some masochistic (and, IMO, not very bright) women scientists from the 1970s who didn't even have the sense to be sure they had decent sleeping bags before spending a winter in a cabin up on Trail Ridge (but they did make sure they had the same spiritual center...) or be sure their stove worked. I met Isabella Bird (awesome woman) and some incredible climbers and scientists.

The writing is uneven and toward the end the book as the feel that Robertson was trying to "get her done" so to speak and the stories were not as well told. I'd give the women in the book five stars, Robert 4 stars for having had the vision to write this and 3 stars for the writing itself. But it doesn't matter; no one reads a book like this for the way it's written and I loved it.

[Leyssandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a great look into the lives of the pioneering women breaking gender boundaries in Colorado. I particularly enjoyed the chapters on the homesteaders and botanists. My grandmother is in this book too, which perhaps makes me a little biased!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for mountain stories

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

From 1858 to the present (book was published in 1990), women "took to the hill" or rather, the Colorado Rockies. They climbed, skied, established tea houses, inns, out-door schools, and doctored. Some were born in the state, others came for their health, came with their parents or spouses, and others came for the adventure, to homestead for a place of their own, to carry on alpine botanic studies. Each of the women portrayed here were exceptional in their accomplishments.
A very interesting read.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not exactly what I was expecting, but I really enjoyed the book. I thought it would be talking more in generalities, but specific women and their accomplishments are detailed. Many of the stories are of women with grit and determination. Most are highly educated and find an existence outside the norm of what society expected from women of their means. Mountaineers, botanists, doctors, homesteaders and political organizers are all showcased in the book.
It is well written and keeps your interest in every woman.

[Satara Johnson-Nadarajan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Each chapter shared stories of strong women conquering mountains and having grand adventures at a time when it wasn’t common for women to do such things. Each story was just long enough to hold your attention. I learned a lot about the Colorado landscapes and highly recommend!!

[Marieta Grissom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not always a fan of compilations of stories, but Ms. Robertson did a nice job of linking one story to the next. It is amazing how her research enabled her to flesh out the stories of so many remarkable women making their experiences and locations very relatable.

[Karri Hoopes · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing was okay. The subject was interesting. It is a collection of brief biographical sketches about women of Colorado. It was okay but not great or even fascinating, other than to the author. The sketches were short enough to be informational but not long enough to engage interest.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The content was great, the writing style was hard.

[Sharon McCleary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable book. Interesting how women played such a major part in mountain climbing in Colorado.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting stories about women climbers and life in the mountains as far back as 1858.

[Ruth Olivas · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic history!

[Xzs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is rich with history, spanning generations of mountain minded women with varying passions ranging from climbing to homesteading to geology. The book deposits the reader into Colorado’s rugged and alluring landscapes with tales of boldness, veracity and determination. It was a fascinating smorgasbord of Colorado’s female trailblazers. Among the most memorable is Doc Susie, a medical doctor practicing frontier medicine at the turn of the 19th century. I snail-paced through this book, absorbed in the snippets of life in the Colorado Rockies bygone days. I was equally impressed by the pluck of these great women, many lost to history, as I was by the grandeur of the Colorado landscape. The photos included in the the book are an additional treat worth pondering.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Down-to-earth collection of stories about women who pioneered studying, climbing, enjoying and protecting the Rocky Mountains. Makes me wonder what could have been accomplished if more women felt they were allowed to do as much as men. Or forced to.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took a little while to get into the writing style. However once I did I enjoyed the book. The chapter I enjoyed the least was the last chapter which was on the modern mountain women. It was a case of the author being too close to the subject to allow it to be as conversational as the rest of the book. There were technical terms used which felt more like an instructional manual than a history telling . Also the last chapter jumped around suddenly between the stories of women. It felt like it was written quickly and with little editing.
I enjoyed reading about all the early women of the Colorado mountains and the struggles they went through and conventions they had to buck in order to do what they did.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great collection of outstanding Colorado women and their contributions to the advancement of women in outdoor activities. The book begins with the first women to climb notable Colorado peaks (i.e. Longs, Pikes, etc.). But the book also encompasses women influential in the establishment of several Colorado National Park Service units, guides, botanists, conservationists, and so much more. An inspirational and motivational read for women who love the outdoors!

[Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for CO History book club. A look at women living in and climbing mountains of Colorado. Some are climbers; others homesteaders. Parts of it are very interesting; others seems like author's friends have been added. A few of the women seemed to take unnecessary risks for no very good reason. Probably not something I would have read on my own.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was awesome. It was a bunch of short essays about women who went against the norm and climbed mountains when most women wouldn't even dream of such a thing. Some of them would even wear pants! How scandalous. Great, inspiring read.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far I have only just started today 7.7.10. I will add more when I am abit further in the book. I finished this book on 7.17.10 and it was very interesting about how women played an important role in the history of our National Parks here in Colorado.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I have ever read. Very impressive what these women have done! LOVED IT.

[Joanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't enjoy this book much. The author was a little too overcome with how unfair life has been for women.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't usually like books that are essentially a collection of shorter stories. But I enjoyed this, maybe because I already knew a little about most of these women.

[Alishia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well organized. Brimming with interesting stories of a full array of pioneering women in our fascinating state. Lots of photos. Loved it.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved learning about the historical figures who paved the way for women in outdoor sports. The writing read more like a text book than memoir, and so it was rather dry.