Woodswoman: A Young ecologist's life in the log cabin she built herself in the Adirondack Wilderness

by Anne LaBastille

Woodswoman

Genres: Nature, Feminism, Memoir, Nonfiction, Autobiography

277 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Anne 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.

Reviews

[Kathrin Passig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Auf den letzten 50 Seiten aufgegeben. Es hatte gute, interessante Kapitel, aber stilistisch fand ich es oft ungeschickt und gegen Ende wird lokale Geschichte vermittelt, indem die Autorin und ihr Freund sie sich auf total glaubhafte und kein bisschen unnatürliche Weise gegenseitig erzählen. Außerdem macht es mich unzufrieden, wenn Leute mit Gasherd, Gefrierschrank, Motorboot und Snowmobile an einem schwer erreichbaren See wohnen und sich dann darüber beschweren, dass andere Leute zu viel Zivilisation und Technologie einschleppen. Die eigene Lebensweise ist genau richtig und geradezu naturbelassen, aber schon der Nachbar mit dem nächstgrößeren Boot zerstört alles. (Gut allerdings: Hier wird auch mal erwähnt, was passiert, wenn man in so einer dünn besiedelten Gegend Besuch von schwarzen Freundinnen hat.)

[Charley Rains · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed that this self proclaimed ecologist not only trimmed her trees making a more park like environment. And allowed a tamed fox wander who ended up killed for not being afraid of humans.
Her lumberjacking did permanent damage to the fragile ecosystem that she supposedly loved.
Did not bother to finish.

[Kristi Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite book of all time!!!!! Can not put into words how great this book was!!!

[Grace Wiles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I had enjoyed this book more. It took me FOREVER to read its 279 pages, which were well-written enough, but I just. Was not compelled. I think a different, less character-interested reader would like it more.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great memoir. LaBastille's writing makes it easy to imagine life on Black Bear Lake. Her observations about the natural world were moving. I am inspired by her fortitude and resilience! And I wonder, are there people and places still living like this in the Adirondacks?

[Gigi Imperatore · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good. I wanna be Anne.

[Madeline Walczak · Rating 4 out of 5]

If a woman in the 1960s can divorce her husband and go build a cabin in the Adirondack wilderness and live there with her dog — I think I can do anything

[Ralph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anne LaBastille took on the rigors of leading a life on her own in the often unforgiving wilderness of the Adirondacks. She not only over came many difficulties but learned that she was born to be a woodswoman. The natural environment of the woods, its wildlife inhabitants, the helpfulness of “nearby” neighbors, and reality of facing everyday challenges in a remote location are artfully and adeptly presented in this book. In addition, there is much to be learned about the history of the Adirondack region including the wilderness guides of yesteryear, the why and wherefores of railways that provided access to the rivers, lakes, resorts, and expansive estates of the area, and the issue of land management in the Adirondacks.

It is certain that things have changed since this book was written due to the ever increasing influx of tourists and demands placed on the fragile environmental resources. However, due to the limits and restrictions of the regulations enforced by the Adirondack Park Agency and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on unfettered development, the essence of a “forever wild” area has been preserved. LaBastille accurately notes that when the book was written in the mid-1970s there were many complaints from the native population about being told what they could and could not do with their land. A good deal of that feeling remains but it also has come to pass that many people now realize the importance of protecting an area as precious as the Adirondacks.

Read this book and gain an understanding of this region. You won’t be disappointed. In fact, if you have never been to the Adirondacks you may well be inspired to visit. Just remember that you will be a visitor and tread lightly on the soils, waters, and forests.

[LuAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anne LaBastille's story of building a cabin and living alone in the Adirondacks made me want to move there and spend my days hiking and writing, or at least visit, which I was able to do this past week! Her writing has both style and substance, as she did herself. I enjoyed the organization of her first memoir, starting with building the cabin, life there through the seasons, then topics such as the Adirondack RR, dangers, loneliness. I'll definitely look for her other memoirs and add her to my list of "heroes".

[Brenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really, really enjoyed this book. Beautiful writing. I’m interested in reading more of the series and seeing how certain topics have aged overtime - drinking from most any lake or stream unpurified, or her seeming practical acceptance of snowmobiles, to name a few...

Page 91 - “regardless of how miserable or how splendid the circumstances, the sheer experience of camping seems a total justification for doing it.”

[Gerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pulled this book off my shelf. I know it was given to me by a friend, but I never got around to reading it. So glad I finally did!

Written in 1976, this book relates the experiences of the author in her initial years living in the Adirondacks in a cabin she built herself (with some help). An ecological memoir about living in pretty isolated conditions through many seasons, many years. Intimate, honest, authentic.

LaBastille has a way of writing that brings you into her world, not just the beauty, but the struggle and the challenges too.

[Georgia Gazette · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I love LaBastille's flair for imagery and prose. She always seems to conjure up a new way to describe an Adirondack sunset or "freeze up". She's clearly an impressive woman, however, I agree with other reviewers who say this is more of a journal than a story. I wanted a string to tie me along but all I got were a few stories slotted in between wintery scenes and abundant land history. I learned quite a bit and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it but with the previous caveats!

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is not for you if you are hoping for the narrator to be a scientist or a feminist. She is not that, at least not how a reader 50 years later might want her to be. But it is fun and enjoyable to read if you like imagining life alone in the woods.

[MK · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars really. GREAT first half of the book — lovely illustrative nature writing. Once she got into talking more about people, it got a lot less compelling for me.

[Greynomad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read and one determined woman

[Jes Elliot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a baddie

[Pmuldary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book to read.

[Brielle Howlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admire Anne in her journey to solitude & simpleness. Her writing makes my heart flutter.

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read 1979 and several times more before I lent it to someone. I attended a conference called FOCUS at Amherst University in 1979 (I think it was) with my grandmother Elsie Kennedy. This book was purchased then.

[Harriet Slaats · Rating 5 out of 5]

my brother's favorite book and one of mine now too! anne's life is such a real life fantasy to me, i even started looking at land for sale... easiest read ever - the flow is impeccable