Fierce Country: The Untold Story of Three Women Who Ignited America's Love for the Wild

by Heather Hansman

The inspiring, untold story of three incredible women who spearheaded recreation, conservation and resilience in America’s most beloved landscapes, for readers of Pam Houston and David Grann

In the spring of 1945, when just a handful of people had been through the Grand Canyon in boats, Georgie White jumped into the river in just a lifejacket and swam through the rapids. She spent the rest of her life bringing people through the canyon, kickstarting river running and the recreation industry.

While Georgie was guiding the river, pioneering wilderness guide Anne LaBastille protected endangered species and predicted the impacts of climate change from her isolated, off-grid cabin in the Adirondacks. Meanwhile, groundbreaking powder skier Dolores LaChapelle was developing an environmental philosophy that shaped everything from the radical environmental movement of the ‘70s to modern conservation ethics.

All three women were obsessed with the places they love and unwilling to compromise about being outside. They were relentless and revolutionary. But they were largely ignored except in small circles.

Now, outdoor journalist and celebrated author of Powder Days Heather Hansman goes deep into three rugged American landscapes to bring these women’s fascinating lives to the forefront of the outdoor movement, affirming the rightful place in the larger story of an evolving American wild.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, History, Feminism, Biography, Environment, American History

320 pages, Hardcover

First published July 14, 2026

Reviews

[Heather]

I love these women.

[Ash Davidson]

A thoroughly enjoyable read. On the surface, Fierce Country is the story of an unlikely trio -- a daredevil, a hermit, and a philosopher -- but it's also the story of the essential tension between conservation and recreation, and the intense pain of watching a place you love change and be changed. Like Georgie on the river and Dolores on the slopes, Hansman chooses her line and navigates it skillfully, in spare, muscular prose.

[Booknblues]

In Fierce Country: The Untold Story of Three Women Who Ignited America's Love for the Wild, Heather Hansman tells the stories of three outdoors women who loved the area in which they lived and worked and became concerned about the environment.

The women Georgie White, Anne LaBastille and Dolores LaChapelle all worked on being recognized equally to men in their fields and faced hostility because of it. Georgie White was one of the first to lead river boat trips through the Grand Canyon, Anne LaBastille was an environmental scientist who lived as a hermit in a cabin in the Adirondacks for much of her life and Dolores LaChapelle was a powder snow skier who philosophized about deep ecology. Both Georgie White and Dolores' story is set firmly in the West.

Hansman weaves their stories with strands about history, environmental and women's issue with her own personal story. I found it all to be well done and interesting.

[Emma Allison]

Heather’s books are my favorite books <3 She has such a gift for intertwining personal stories, emotions, and reflections with scientific and historical narratives. This one captivated me through all three stories, and I found connections with the author’s and subjects’ stories alike. I am grateful for the multitudes we contain, the challenges of living a life outdoors, and the opportunities to connect with others through it all.

“If you just think about landscapes as a canvas for recreation, and think about protecting them just for that, then you’re still stuck in a colonial, anthropocentric, extractive mindset…” (270)

[MJ Carroll]

Best book I’ve read all year. I’ve loved every single book written by Heather Hansman. She always picks thoughtful, relevant topics weaving in diligently researched history and present day issues. Also, I always appreciate how she integrates her personal perspective to humanize the situation or significance. As a female who has built a life around outdoor recreation, I have extra appreciation for the three stories of these women who made change in the space and places I love. This book is a beautiful tribute to their life’s work as much as it is a gift to our modern day society. 12/10 recommend.

[Kelly - readinginthe419]

This was such a fascinating look at three women who pioneered outdoor adventure, conservation and living as one with nature in a time when women faced undisguised sexism in a field populated almost exclusively by men. Throughout the early 20th Century Georgie White, Anne LaBastille, and Dolores LaChapelle followed their passion and love of the great outdoors and sought to share their lived experiences while encouraging others to live life on their own terms.

Georgie was the first woman to raft the Grand Canyon & the first to lead rafting trips in the Canyon
Anne was an author and groundbreaking ecologist, most known for the Woodswoman series of memoirs about her decades living alone in a cabin deep in the Adirondacks Mountains of Pennsylvania. And Dolores was a pioneering figure in powder skiing, leading trips and training others, and considered a key leader in the Deep Ecology movement, encouraging a fundamental shift in the way humans interact with nature.

Each of these women were passionate, stubborn, complicated people determined to live life on their own terms. They were relentless in their work and their beliefs but also made mistakes along the way. They were largely ignored except in small circles of like-minded environmentalists and other outdoor enthusiasts.

Brought to life by outdoor journalist Heather Hansman, this is a story of adventure, grit, and the fight for the places we love. Hansman does a fantastic job underscoring each woman's achievements and does not sugar coat their missteps and misguided attempts to push others to their ways of thinking. Hansmann's research was detailed and enlightening, and I was fully absorbed by each woman's story.

Thank you, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Hanover Square Press, for my complimentary finished copy of the book, which I paired with the audiobook from Harlequin Audio and Netgalley, narrated by Kimberly Wetherell.

[Gail]

Three strong willed women. Ironic that I finished reading this book on the day we lost a very strong willed woman Gloria Steinem.

[Melissa]

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade for the advanced reader's copy of Fierce Country.

I really wanted to enjoy Fierce Country because I found the stories of the women featured throughout the book fascinating. Their experiences and perspectives were the parts that kept me reading and made me want to learn more. Unfortunately, the writing style just wasn't the right match for me. I wasn't as invested in the memoir portions from the author and found myself wishing the focus had stayed more on the women and their stories.

While this one didn't fully work for me, I think readers who enjoy memoir blended with cultural and historical exploration may have a different experience.

[Leslie Oberhaus]

This was a well done, inspiring look at three women whose contributions to outdoor recreation, conservation, and ecology far surpass their level of recognition throughout the U.S. Writing in narrative nonfiction style, Heather Hansman gives us a well-rounded look at each of the three subjects. We learn about the origins of their connection to the outdoors, their groundbreaking accomplishments, and a bit about their personalities (for better or worse).

The author does a nice job weaving in her own experiences as an outdoorswoman and her thoughts on each woman's legacy, along with historical information from the relevant time periods and regions. The societal norms, dismissive attitudes, and outright sexism that each woman faced make their stories that much more inspiring. One of the strengths of the book is the way this aspect is discussed right alongside the rest of the story, quietly underscoring how much it was a part of each woman's journey rather than addressing it in a more heavy-handed way. The latter would have served to distract from each woman's story, pulling focus from their accomplishments and humanity onto the barriers they faced instead (at least IMHO).

After reading Fierce Country I'm motivated to learn more about each woman and to be even more appreciative of the connection I feel during my outdoor activities.

[Laura Hoffman Brauman]

Fierce Country looks at the lives of three outdoorswomen you probably haven't heard of - Georgie White, Anne LaBastille, and Dolores LaChapelle. Each was a trailblazer in her own way - White in guiding rafting trips down the Grand Canyon, LaBastille in her work in the Adirondacks, and LaChapelle for her powder skiing and work in the Colorado mountains. Hansman explores both their lives and experiences as well as the connections between outdoor recreation and conservation. Interwoven in this are Hansman's personal experiences with the outdoors and what drives her connection with the natural world. I appreciated that the author doesn't gloss over the aspects of each woman's character that might be perceived as negative. It does stick out to me, though, that we have to defend that women can be successful, influential, and multi-faceted in a way we rarely see someone feel the need to do with men. All in all, this hit a sweet spot for me - these women were inspiring, each in their own way. All of them made me want to get back outside.

[Laura Wernick]

Hansman’s beautiful writing and highly personal story telling brings these 3 complex women to full-color life with all their strengths and frailties. She pays tribute to their passion for the out-of-doors and their contributions to the environmental movement that are still terribly relevant to our lives today. She also explores the lens through which we view our heroines, asking who gets to tell their stories, and how do we judge assertive women leaders in a world traditionally dominated by men.

[Alison]

I get nervous around non-fiction books about multiple people, because I get them mixed up too easily, but Hansman conveniently separates the stories into their own little sections, with a few callbacks to a previous subject in later sections. Also convenient, I found these three women to be as interesting and complicated as Hansman did, so I enjoyed all three women's stories equally. And I enjoyed them so much that I'm seeking out the books written 50 years ago by these women to learn more. If you like nature and forces of nature, you can find both here!

[Susan Kovach]

3.5 ⭐️ An interesting read about 3 inspiring yet complicated women. I liked that the author didn’t sugarcoat their stories. She told the positive parts of their lives but also talked about their flaws as well. I’d recommend reading if you like outdoor recreation and ecology

[Amanda Sonon]

Heather Hansman does it again. What an incredible author. I'm so happy to exist in a world where she writes, shares these stories and keeps them alive. She belongs right right up there with Georgie, Anne, and Dolores! Thank you for this absolute gem of a book ❤️

[booksbymonth]

This was a fascinating book. It was slow throughout but I enjoyed each woman's story. I learned something new as I read and found out women are powerful creatures when they set their minds on a goal.

[Connie Johnson]

Three women who chose to live life on their own terms, while pursuing ecology, conservation and recreation. Interesting 🎧

[Martish]

The book Brave the Wild River about 2 female botanists who went down the Colorado in the 30s was a favorite from a couple of years ago so I this would be in a similar vein but alas it was not. I’m giving 2 stars because I while enjoyed learning about the 3 women but the author came across as a whiny and judgmental and interjected too many of her own opinions vs. letting these women shine.

[Jessica]

"The problem with looking for heroes is that when you go digging, you find dirt."

Heather Hansman brought Georgie White, Anne LaBastille, and Dolores LaChapelle, three women whose names I'd never even heard before picking up this book, to life on the page, while also taking an honest look at the society they were part of and the complexity of who they were, including the parts that don't fit neatly into the conventional “hero” status.

Prior to reading this book, when I heard the word "fearless," I would think of someone, probably a man, who could do scary things without a second thought. But that was quickly reshaped early on when Hansman described Georgie as "fearless and reckless and wild. Or maybe not fearless, exactly, but not caving to her fears." Each of the women in this book embodied what it means to be fearless and brave in their own ways. They were imperfect, and I appreciated that Hansman didn't shy away from that, showing that women don't have to be perfect to be worth recognition next to men. I was fully engulfed in their stories and Hansman's own adventures, and found myself picturing what it would be like in their shoes, having to balance things society would never think twice about if a man were doing the same.

Hansman's well-rounded analysis of these three larger-than-life pioneers gave me such a deep understanding of the historical context women have navigated in the outdoors, and left me with a real sense of pride for the women who came before me. Throughout the book, she also highlights how many experiences and societal struggles women universally face, including the reality that statistically, men are the biggest danger to us outdoors, not bears or injury.

It only added to my experience to also get glimpses into Hansman's own journey writing this book, her firsthand observations, her adventures, and even her own struggle with identity as a woman in the outdoors, oftentimes mirroring some of what we can imagine these women experienced decades earlier. Hansman's perspective and her own questions she brought to light helped me grapple with unconscious bias I didn't even realize was ingrained into my thinking.

Throughout, I experienced so many moments of frustration in just this glimpse into the scope of how much society is built around affluent white men, and how the rest of society, and in this case women, suffers because of it. This unfortunate truth was a thread that wove the stories of these three women, from completely different corners of the outdoors, together, and ultimately gave me hope to see how far we've come and how much progress there still is to make. And, maybe most impactfully, understanding my own bias and how I can work to dismantle it, to be a woman who truly embodies a girls-girl and uplifts women in day to day life. Between the outdoor history and the deeper look at women refusing to shrink into the boxes built for them, this one really left a mark on me.

[Jeimy]

I received an advance listening copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This was exactly my kind of nonfiction for several reasons. First, I love books in which the author becomes part of the narrative, and Heather Hansman's decision to retrace the paths of the three women she profiles adds an autobiographical layer that makes the book feel personal. Second, I am always drawn to biographies that rescue overlooked women from the margins of history. And finally, I love traveling vicariously through books, especially when they take me into landscapes I may never experience firsthand.

After being swept into Georgie White's adventures on the Colorado River, I honestly didn't expect the next sections to capture my imagination quite as completely. They did. Anne LaBastille's determined pursuit of solitude in the Adirondacks was every bit as compelling as the rapids of the Grand Canyon. Like Hansman, I found myself reflecting on the contrast between LaBastille's hard-won isolation and the far more performative solitude of Henry David Thoreau at Walden Pond. By the time I reached Dolores LaChapelle, I was equally invested despite never having skied a day in my life. Her experiences on the slopes became the foundation for a forward-thinking environmental philosophy that is still relevant today.

What I appreciated most, however, was Hansman's refusal to turn these women into untouchable heroes. She clearly admires them, but she also presents the traits that frustrated colleagues, complicated relationships, or undermined their own causes. By allowing them to remain messy and contradictory, Hansman makes their accomplishments feel all the more extraordinary.

The audiobook is elevated by Kimberly M. Wetherell's narration. I was already familiar with her from Susie Dumond's novels, and she proves equally adept at nonfiction. She conveys Hansman's curiosity, frustration, admiration, and wonder with a natural ease that never feels performative. Of course, it is Hansman's evocative prose that creates such vivid scenes, but Wetherell brings those words to life with warmth and conviction.

Like Hansman, I began this book knowing very little about Georgie White, Anne LaBastille, or Dolores LaChapelle. By the end, I wanted to seek out their own writings, learn more about their lives, and continue exploring the environmental ideas Hansman introduces along the way. I love works of nonfiction that leave me with a sense of curiosity; to me, that it is the mark of a successful book.

[Beverly]

This is more of a 3.5. A lot of the writing could often get very detailed about how each woman.
There is a lot that the author brings up to think about. These women were not often welcome by the community where they chose to live and by people around them. Too forceful in their thinking and not willing to think another way

Except for Georgie the other two stories took place in the 70’s when I was just starting UVM and introduced to environmental issues and in one class trying to develop an environmental philosophy. It is hard to accept all that these women wanted in today’s society. Not everyone can go off and live in the woods. Promoting outdoor recreation is great but then all the natural land gets overwhelmed with visitors, then building resorts etc. Many people who go off and build a cabin/house in the wilderness are those with money that allows them to leave their home/work life to take time off in wilderness. People find out about a beautiful quiet lake and are suddenly building houses, driving power boats etc around the lake. Anyway lots of issues to consider.

I will mention this fulfilled my bingo square of read a new release

The inspiring, untold story of three incredible women who spearheaded recreation, conservation and resilience in America’s most beloved landscapes, for readers of Pam Houston and David Grann

In the spring of 1945, when just a handful of people had been through the Grand Canyon in boats, Georgie White jumped into the river in just a lifejacket and swam through the rapids. She spent the rest of her life bringing people through the canyon, kickstarting river running and the recreation industry.

While Georgie was guiding the river, pioneering wilderness guide Anne LaBastille protected endangered species and predicted the impacts of climate change from her isolated, off-grid cabin in the Adirondacks. Meanwhile, groundbreaking powder skier Dolores LaChapelle was developing an environmental philosophy that shaped everything from the radical environmental movement of the ‘70s to modern conservation ethics.

All three women were obsessed with the places they love and unwilling to compromise about being outside. They were relentless and revolutionary. But they were largely ignored except in small circles.

Now, outdoor journalist and celebrated author of Powder Days Heather Hansman goes deep into three rugged American landscapes to bring these women’s fascinating lives to the forefront of the outdoor movement, affirming the rightful place in the larger story of an evolving American wild.

[Chrissy]

This very well written and well researched. i enjoyed the bits of the author’s own life in the book. I loved the opportunity to learn about women in the outdoors. I think heroes is maybe not the right word for them but I have trouble thinking of anyone as a hero - people are too fallible for that. I liked that all the women were writers and activists and were philosophers or at least thinkers. The parts of their personalities/actions that weren’t desirable it seems people use a reason to keep them in obscurity/not talk about their accomplishments while if they were men they would be justified as nobody’s perfect or their contributions outweigh their detractions. These women were all similar ages which I think gave insight into the time and while it definitely could’ve been worse, previously, women wouldn’t have been able to be as independent it was still not a great time. It made me sad that they couldn’t have productive long term relationships. It seemed that the era they were living did not for men to accept their independent lifestyles. I was happy this was not true for the author. This made me think a lot of female exceptionalism and how (again) the era made it difficult for these women to even help other women without feeling like they would lose their cache. I’m happy this has changed (somewhat) there is a feeling of these women being almost androgynous in wanting to be seen as a guide, a scientist, a skier first and not really identifying as women. This almost seems like it’s because they have a bias against women as well. Like adding female in front of any of those titles would lessen it somehow. I like that today women embrace the female part of their identities and i think it’s important because it recognizes that it’s harder to become those things as a female, it makes the title more impressive. I wish there was a more contemporary example included perhaps in the climbing/mountaineering space. But I understand that these women were foundational figures so they had to be from a certain era. My fave was Anne LaBastille.

[Tiffany]

I love meeting, talking to and reading about ladies who have went against the norm to pave the way for other women (whether they wanted to or not) and bring attention to the nature around us.

Fierce Country focused on three ladies; Georgie who guided the wild rapids of the Grand Canyon, Anne who saw climate change happening right in front of her and attempted to save endangered species, and finally Dolores who revolutionized skiing and brought attention to environmental ethics.

What I thought was amazing was that throughout the novel we got these amazing achievements that the ladies went through, but also the complications of their life. Whether that being; hard to work with, stubborn, not really being uplifting to other females, stalked or complicated relationships it all made them seem like normal ladies all the while still paving the path for others.

I work with a lady, who is in her 70s, and she told me stories about riding mountain bikes in the Wasatch Mountains when ladies didn't do such a thing, she was a single mother putting herself through school and she is also an avid skier and she reminded me a lot of Dolores with sprinkling of the other ladies. I am very grateful that she has and still does take me under her wing, uplifts me and pushes me to be a better version of myself.

I am not really a river rafting person, but I have been to the Grand Canyon and just listening to Georgie's story really made me miss that place. I should really go back. While listening to Dolores's story it made me laugh because I have heard stories of when it was just Alta and the times before Snowbird and it makes me a little jealous now that I live in SLC.
Overall I had a good time with this book and really learned some amazing history

[Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews]

Thanks to NetGalley, Edelweiss, Hanover Square Press and Harlequin Audio for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I’m so glad I live in the time I do, when women are finally getting their due, instead of reading white male-centric histories like what we grew up on. I love digging into the as yet untold stories of women in history who did great things. Fierce Country talks about some female pioneers wo defied cultural and societal norms to shape American civic or natural landscapes. The women featured in Fierce Country were doing their part to contribute to society and the country as a whole.

Ostensibly, Fierce Country is a biographical look at three women who loved nature, but there’s a lot of study about female identity in society and culture, a lot on conservationism (showing that John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt weren’t the only ones who wanted to protect the land), and in general, how we treat the earth as a whole.

The women featured aren’t lionized in any way, and let’s be real, they had rough, tough lives that weren’t easy by any stretch, in part, because of their path in life. And even though this is a celebratory book about women who defied convention, Fierce Country also shows how the women didn’t always accomplish what they intended.

I listened to the audiobook, and Kimberly M. Wetherell is a really good narrator. There were times where I thought the book dragged a little, but it wasn’t as bad as it could have been because of the engaging narration.

[Casey]

Thank you NetGalley, HTP Books, and The Hive for the advanced copy of this e-book (all opinions are mine)!

This was such an insightful read! I’ve been challenging myself to read outside of my typical genre this year so this seemed like the perfect fit for me to try something new. As many people know, I love to learn about nature, ecosystems, and conservation. Add a little feminism and some environmental baddies and I’m all for it!

I loved how this was a book with stories within a story; the author did a great job of complimenting her own thoughts and adventures with the stories of women in conservation before her. I enjoyed every bit of it and thought the author’s writing style was engaging enough to keep me entertained; something I sometimes struggle with in this genre.

Most of all, I love learning new things and I really learned so much valuable information from this book. Exploring how hard women in conservation had to fight for their place in the environmental world, pieces on National Parks systems, balancing motherhood and research, and more.. each of the three women this book focused on had a different niche so we could explore a broad range of topics with the author.

If you’re interested in fierce environmental women warriors, enjoy learning about conservation, connecting to nature, and love an outdoorsy adventure, this book might be for you! Thanks again to HTP Books, NetGalley, and The Hive, Fierce Country releases July 14th.

[Pamela]

I went in expecting standard biography and got something richer. Hansman profiles three women — Georgie White, Anne LaBastille, and Dolores LaChapelle — who each shaped how Americans experience the outdoors, and it's kind of wild I'd never heard of any of them. A woman swimming the Grand Canyon rapids in a life jacket in 1945 should be common knowledge.

What makes it work is that Hansman's an outdoorswoman herself, so her own time on the river and in the mountains threads through the book alongside theirs — it never feels like a dry history lesson. She also lets these women stay complicated and human rather than turning them into feminist icons on a pedestal.

My one gripe: juggling three life stories plus conservation history plus her own reflections makes the pacing sag a bit in the middle.

Still, genuinely inspiring — great for fans of outdoor writing or Pam Houston.

4/5 stars — lost one star to pacing, not heart.
I am grateful to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read and review this e-ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
Fierce Country: The Untold Story of Three Women Who Ignited America's Love for the Wild

[Annie Hegedus]

This was so well done. On the surface, it’s a biography of three women who loved the wilderness, but at its core, there’s also so much good insight on conservationism, female identity, and how we interact with the land around us.

My favorite part of this book was that Heather Hansman doesn’t look away from the less pleasant aspects of these women’s lives. So often in historical stories about women, the subjects tend to be portrayed as infallible and one-note. In Fierce Country, though, she spends a considerable amount of time talking about challenges with each woman’s legacy. She doesn’t pretend they had to be perfect or that they had everything figured out. She highlights their contributions and also directly mentions where they fell short with their beliefs or actions.

She also did a really great job of contextualizing their roles and experiences in their area of the wilderness with relevant history of the feminist movement, which was helpful for me as a reader too to think about the society they were operating in.

4.5 rounded down just because at times it did drag a bit, but overall, I really liked this one and am looking forward to reading more of her reporting!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the ALC!

[Lisa Jo Frech]

HUGE disappointment. Both the title and subtitle are misleading. Fierce country is not what the book is about. And it's not about 3 women, it's about 4 women, because the author inserts herself constantly - her anger, her confusions, her failures, etc which dilutes the 3 stories she promises to tell. She spends far more time on the women's negative attributes than the positive ones leading me to wonder if she sets them up in order to knock them down. Where was her editor? So many contradictions, some redundancies, gaps, lots of jumping around. It took a lot of effort to finish this book because I was wildly frustrated. The essence/spirit of the 3 women never gets to really shine - maybe because Heather relates to their anger so much that it just can't.

There are effective ways to inspire environmental advocacy and protection - through finding common ground, conflict resolution, and staying the course quietly. Being loud doesn't work in ANY field of advocacy. As our planet gets sicker and so do we, we need the kind of hope that Jane Goodall held out to us with the kind of calm determination that Rachel Carson showed us. If you're in need of heroes, look to them, or better yet, become your own hero. Start by taking the gloves off.

[Lacy]

Thanks to HTP Books for the giveaway.

I expected a history book, focused on these three women, and got more of a book-length article, that seems to be mostly based on interviews and the author's personal experiences. I'd just finished Silent Spring, which was meticulously researched and included about 50 pages of works cited, and while it's definitely not fair to compare the two books as they have very different aims, there wasn't even a works cited list in Fierce Country. There wasn't even an index. Hansman clearly did interview many people who personally knew these women, and tried to uncover the numerous facets of their complicated lives, but I was unclear on the source of the information at many points throughout the text. As a series of three longform articles or so in a nature magazine, these stories may have worked very well, but I was expecting more rigor out of a book aiming to tell untold historical stories. On a rather brusque note, I'm not sure why I should care about Hansman's stories of rafting or hiking or skiing, and it wasn't always obvious what their inclusion added to the book. Three stars because Hansman is an excellent writer on the sentence level, but I was left wanting more depth.

[Ann Listen’s]

Arizona, New York/Guadalupe, and Colorado

This non-fiction book about three women who fiercely loved the outdoors is broken into their individual stories. We have Georgie who raffs the Grand Canyon, we have Ann who studies the ecosystems in the Adirondack mountains and bird species in Guadalupe and Dolores, who is an avid skier and environmentalist in Colorado.

My quest this year is to read books all about the United States in honor for their 250th birthday and to also read one book revolving around each of the national parks so thank you NetGalley for giving me this opportunity.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the stories that were told because these women were remarkable in their own right and they deserve to have their life's work and admiration, documented, and shared. Sometimes the stories that don't make the huge headlines have the longest lasting impact and their stories are ones. I'm going to remember.

Life if much more appreciated when nature is involved and their stories reinforce that. It sure would be a better place if everyone championed one cause for the environment!

[Christina]

We love a feminist history!! Especially when it comes to niche topics that men have dominated for centuries!!

As someone who has read a considerable amount about the wilderness, from the southwest to the Appalachians, I had heard about many of the men mentioned in this book before. However, I had no clue about the women that were exposing Americans to the great outdoors alongside them. I loved that the women Hansman selected to include were spread out across the country, making the at least something from each of the stories relatable to a majority of American readers. I also loved the way she humanized each of these women as she told their stories; they read like historical fiction as we followed them on their adventures and no aspect of their stories was off limits. We learned about the great contributions each made, as well as the things that were not so great (and usually reckless!!) that they did. This would be an excellent read for those with an interest in 20th century history or the outdoors, as well as those that are just interested in reading about strong women!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of the audio version of this title!