I’ve always been a voracious reader, and I love the outdoors, so I’ve read a lot of adventure books. (I love reading so much that I actually had a book review blog years ago!)

If you read online reviews of women’s adventure books, sometimes you’ll find negative reviews (mostly from men) who complain that women are whiny or angsty if they express emotion about how hard their expedition is, how things are challenging because they are female in a male-dominated sport, or how they miss home.

But the open and honest emotion is what I love about outdoor books written by women.

The traditional narrative of adventure stories is a strong (male) protagonist who sets off on an impossible task and “conquers” nature.

You won’t find that in most of these female-authored books. Instead, I’ve picked books that celebrate oneness with nature, self-discovery, and honesty. And of course lots of cool outdoor adventures and accomplishments.

I’ve read dozens of women’s adventure books over the years, but the ones on this list are my favourites. (I update it every year or two.) I hope you enjoy them too. 

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

You’ve probably heard of Wild. It’s on every single list of outdoor adventure books ever. They even made it into a movie starring Reese Witherspoon! But it is worth reading. After her mother dies and her marriage falls apart, Cheryl Strayed sets out to hike the Pacific Crest Trail alone. She’s totally inexperienced, but she pushes through and heals herself along the way. 

Rising by Sharon Wood

Sharon Wood was the first woman from the Americas to summit Mount Everest in 1986. She tells the story of that climb in Rising, but what I found more interesting was her exploration of the way the climb and the fame that it brought has shaped her life since. (Sharon is Canadian too! As a proud Canadian, I’ve also got a whole post about the best Canadian adventure books.)

Higher Love by Kit Deslauriers

Kit Deslauriers was the first person to ski the highest mountain on each continent, known as the seven summits. Honestly, I’ve read outdoor books like this one written by men, and they get quite boastful. But Kit is so humble. She is quick to credit members of her team and she is frank about how challenging some things were for her. And above all else, Higher Love is a well-written and fun adventure story, worthy of being on this list of the best women’s adventure books.

The Pants Of Perspective by Anna McNuff

Today Anna McNuff is a well-known British adventurer. But in 2015 she was a woman with no real distance running experience who set out to run the length of New Zealand, mostly to see if she could. She’s open and honest about the struggles she faced on her journey, but she also knows how to look on the bright side. And that the best thing to pack for an adventure is a pair of loudly patterned cheer-you-up leggings, a.k.a. the Pants of Perspective.

(Update: I also read Anna’s newer book, Llama Drama about her cycling trip through South America with her friend Faye. It’s a great adventure story, but the stand-out for me was the amazing and supportive female friendship the two women forged along their journey.)

All That Glitters by Margo Talbot

This is a book about ice climbing, but it’s also a book about pain and a book about hope. Margo Talbot shares everything, warts and all, in this intensely personal memoir. She battles through some rough times, finding solace in climbing. All That Glitters is a tough read, but a powerful one. 

Thru-Hiking Will Break Your Heart by Carrot Quinn

I enjoyed Carrot Quinn’s perspective on the PCT in Thru-Hiking Will Break Your Heart since it’s a bit different. She’s not an experienced hiker. She’s queer. And she gets personal (and sexual) and tells it like it is. This book is a detailed, day-by-day account of life on the trail, which I sometimes find tedious in other thru-hiking books. But Carrot’s words let you into her heart, so I couldn’t put it down and I recommend it as one of the best women’s adventure books.

Be Brave, Be Strong by Jill Homer

Jill Homer has written several memoirs about her long-distance biking adventures, but this one is my favourite. It chronicles her 2009 race in the Tour Divide, an off-road, self-supported mountain bike race through the Rocky Mountains from Banff to the Mexican border. Her courage on this trip inspired me, and I often use her mantra “Be brave, be strong” when I find myself in tough situations outdoors. 

Gorge: My Journey Up Kilimanjaro at 300 Pounds by Kara Richardson Whitely

The outdoor community is becoming more inclusive, but we still have a long way to go. I loved Kara Richardson Whitely’s memoir, Gorge, about her journey to trek to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro as a plus-sized woman. She’s open, honest, and emotional. And it turns out the mountain she needed to conqueror was not Kilimanjaro but instead self-acceptance. 

Grandma Gatewood’s Walk by Ben Montgomery

Did you know the first woman to walk the entire Appalachian Trail was a 67-year-old grandmother from Ohio? Neither did I! Grandma Gatewood’s Walk tells the story of Emma Gatewood who hiked the trail alone and didn’t tell her family she was going since she thought they would disapprove. She became a bit of a celebrity in the 1950s. We have her advocacy to thank today for increased trail preservation and maintenance on the AT.

Lands of Lost Borders: Out of Bounds on the Silk Road by Kate Harris

This beautifully written book is the story of Kate Harris’ cycling trip along Asia’s Silk Road. But Lands of Lost Borders is really so much more than that. It’s about transcending borders and cultures, connecting to nature, and exploring our place in the world. 

Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube by Blair Braverman

Blair’s last name literally has “brave: in it. And this book is definitely brave. Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube is a memoir about a girl from California who works desperately hard to become a sled dog musher, a very male-dominated field. It’s a coming of age story, but absolutely not a typical one. 

A Beautiful Work In Progress by Mirna Valerio

If you haven’t heard of Mirna Valerio yet, go google her now. She’s awesome. Mirna is an African American, female, plus-sized trail runner. In a sport dominated by thin, white men, she stands out. Mirna’s book, A Beautiful Work in Progress, is definitely inspirational. 

Pure Land by Annette McGivney

Pure Land is a true crime book, but with an outdoorsy twist. It tells the story of Tomomi Hanamure, a Japanese woman who was murdered on the Havasupai Indian Reservation at the bottom of Grand Canyon in 2006. But it’s also the story of the author, Annette McGivney.

After she wrote a magazine article about Tomomi, she couldn’t stop thinking about her and her killer. In the years Annette spent learning about the murder, she recognized parallels to the trauma she faced in her own long-buried history and could finally heal. 

Thirst: 2600 Miles to Home by Heather Anderson

Also known by her trail name, Anish, Heather Anderson has been quietly chalking up insane outdoor accomplishments for years. Thirst is an intensely personal and emotional memoir that takes you inside her attempt to set the fastest known time for a self-supported hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. A must read for anyone who loves women’s adventure books.

Unbound: A Story of Snow and Self-Discovery by Steph Jagger

Steph Jagger was riding the ski lift one day when she literally saw a sign: “Raise restraining device”. She took the hint and left her corporate life, bought a bunch of plane tickets and set out to ski 4 million vertical feet in a year. Unbound is partly a travelogue, recounting the adventures of that year. But mostly it’s a memoir about finding yourself and learning how to be a strong woman in a masculine world. Inspiring. 

Honouring High Places by Junko Tabei

Junko Tabei was the first woman to climb Mount Everest and the first woman to climb all of the Seven Summits. At only 5 feet tall, so she was often underestimated by other mountaineers, and by the public. Honouring High Places is a collection of highlights from her mountaineering career, translated from her native Japanese.

Her storytelling and ruminations on nature are beautiful. And it’s interesting to read about the experience of a woman in a male-dominated sport, in a male-dominated Japanese culture, in an earlier very male-dominated era.

Go Find by Susan Purvis

When I took my avalanche course a few years ago, my instructor had her avalanche rescue dog with her. I’ve been fascinated by the idea of dogs that dig through ice and snow to recover buried people ever since. I initially picked up Go Find because I wanted to learn about Susan Purvis’ journey training an avalanche dog.

But by the end of the book, I realized that Susan wasn’t just trying to find avalanche victims. She was trying to find and redefine herself. 

A Long Trek Home: 4,000 Miles by Boot, Raft and Ski by Erin McKittrick

In 2007 Erin and her husband Hig decided to move to Alaska from their home near Seattle. But they decided to do it entirely by human-power. In this fabulous adventure story, Erin explains how they hiked, paddled and skied up the Pacific coast.

They wanted to raise awareness about environmental and conservation issues along their route. I think anyone who reads A Long Trek Home and learns about the wildlands they travelled through will feel compelled to help protect them. 

Tracks by Robyn Davidson

Who would have thought trekking across the red center of Australia’s outback with camels would be a good idea? Robyn Davidson apparently. Nevermind that she didn’t know anything about camels. (If this sounds familiar, it’s because it was made into a movie in 2013). Tracks is a great women’s adventure book about a solo trek, set in the sexism of 1970s Australia.

Found: A Life in Mountain Rescue by Bree Loewen

Found is a gritty book that explains what it’s like to volunteer for search and rescue in the busy Seattle area, with lots of depictions of harrowing rescues. But it also shows what life is like for the humans underneath the climbing helmets and reflective vests: how they process the trauma of their jobs and why they keep heading out into the dark and the rain time and time again. 

Into the Planet by Jill Heinerth

Caves have fascinated me for a long time, but they are an inherently scary place. Add in water and frankly they get a bit terrifying. So I found Jill Heinerth’s memoir Into the Planet, about her life as a cave diver both fascinating and scary. Jill is a woman in a macho and male-dominated field, so it was also interesting to get her perspective on pushing the limits of her sport. 

The Sun is a Compass by Caroline van Hemert

Caroline is studying deformed bird beaks as part of her PhD, but she feels stuck. So she and her husband take off on their version of the ultimate wilderness journey: paddling, hiking and skiing from Washington State to Alaska, via the Arctic Ocean. The Sun is a Compass is her memoir of the journey, but it also includes healthy doses of introspection and some beautifully written descriptions of nature. 

Eating Dirt by Charlotte Gill

I loved Eating Dirt when it first came out in 2013 and I recently reread it. It’s a memoir about tree planting and the realities of the tough lives that planters live. It was interesting to read a women’s adventure book that was about work, rather than play.

But Charlotte Gill’s words are often poetic, and the book is also a love letter to forests, especially the coastal forests of British Columbia. A portion of the book also takes place around Holberg near Cape Scott Provincial Park, which is an area close to my heart.

Girl in the Woods by Aspen Matis

Girl in the Woods is about a young woman hiking the Pacific Crest Trail to escape trauma and learn how to be an adult after growing up with an exceptionally overprotective mother. Aspen’s writing is poetically beautiful and I couldn’t put it down.

Breaking Trail by Arlene Blum

I recently finished Arlene Blum’s memoir, Breaking Trail, and before I had finished it, I knew it was one of my favourite women’s adventure books. It is divided into chapters detailing her many expeditions to Everest, Denali, Annapurna, and other high peaks. But it was the themes that tied the chapters together that really drew me in to her writing: her struggle for acceptance in the male-dominated worlds of mountaineering and science, and more broadly, her struggle to find her place in the world after a tough childhood.

Solo by Jenny Tough

I was interested in reading Solo since Jenny Tough is Canadian (although she lives in Scotland). The book tells the story of her audacious goal to run solo across a mountain range on each continent. She has some amazing adventures all over the world, but what really stuck with me was her mental fortitude. It’s a grittier read than I was expecting, but a good one.

Keeper of the Mountains: The Elizabeth Hawley Story by Bernadette McDonald

If you know anything about mountaineering in the Himalayas (Everest, Annapurna, etc.), you know that record-keeping of all the “firsts” is super important to that community. The first ascent, first winter ascent, first ascent on an alternate route… all that stuff. It wasn’t until recently that I found out the person who kept all those meticulous records was an American woman named Elizabeth Hawley. She moved to Kathmandu on her own as a journalist in the 1940s and found herself at the center of the burgeoning mountaineering community. I loved learning about her fascinating life through Keeper of the Mountains.

BeWILDered by Laura Waters

I’ve read a lot of memoirs about thru-hiking, but this was my first one about the Te Araroa, which traces a 3000 kilometer path along the length of New Zealand. Laura’s hiking partner quits on their first day, leaving her undertake her entire hike alone. Her beautiful writing in BeWILDered captures the landscape and her connection to nature as well as her inner struggle.

Hopefully, I’ve given you a few things to add to your reading list. I loved each of these women’s adventure books and will probably re-read some of them again soon. Do you have any other outdoor books by or about women to add to the list? Leave them in the comments. Happy reading!

Read Next:

• 80+ Women’s Adventure Films You Can Stream
• The Best Canadian Adventure Books
• The Best Vancouver Hiking Books

Outdoor Advice for Women:

• Which Women’s Specific Hiking Gear is Actually Worth Buying?
• How to Camp and Hike on Your Period
• Women’s Hiking Gear to Fit Your Body Type – Recommendations From Female Hikers
• Female Hikers Recommend Women’s Hiking Clothing to Fit Your Body Type
• Women’s Plus Size Hiking Clothes: The Best Brands and Where to Find Them
• Best Hiking Underwear For Women and Men

The post 25+ Women’s Adventure Books That Will Inspire You appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

Guidebooks provide a curated hiking experience: the author went out and hiked tons of trails, then chose only some of them to include in his or her book. And unlike some online sources, you can be sure that book authors have knowledge and credibility about their subject.

Read on for my list of the best Vancouver hiking books including:

• Vancouver hiking guidebooks
• hiking maps for the Vancouver area
• natural history books about Vancouver and British Columbia
• outdoor skills books for hikers

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Best Vancouver Hiking Books

105 Hikes In and Around Southwestern British Columbia

Stephen Hui, Greystone Books, 2018

This book provides a selection of day hikes within a few hours’ drive of Vancouver, plus a few on Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, and Washington state. 105 Hikes is actually an update to the 103 Hikes series, which dates back to the 1970s. It has a great mix of hikes with a bunch of shorter and less difficult trails thrown in for those days when you have less time or energy.

Shop: Amazon | Indigo

READ NEXT: 103 Hikes and 105 Hikes: The History of Hiking Guidebooks in BC

Destination Hikes In and Around Southwestern British Columbia

Stephen Hui, Greystone Books, 2021

Also by Stephen Hui, Destination Hikes is a companion book to 105 Hikes. It contains 55 new hikes to spectacular destinations including swimming holes, waterfalls, mountain peaks, and more. Each hike also includes a stop of interest nearby, such as viewpoints, historical sites, and nature reserves so that you can make a day of it. Like 105 Hikes, it’s a beautiful book with gorgeous photos and detailed maps.

Shop: Amazon | Indigo

Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia: The Essential Guide to Overnight Hiking Trips

Taryn Eyton, Greystone Books, 2021

Of course, I’m going to include my own book on a list of the best Vancouver hiking books! I wrote Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia to be the guidebook I wanted when I first started backpacking. It has details for 40 backpacking trips within a few hours of Vancouver including where to camp, how to Leave No Trace, and day hikes you can do from your backcountry campsite.

Shop: Amazon | Indigo

Get My Book…

Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia

A one-stop resource for backpackers in beautiful British Columbia.

• 40 backpacking trips within a few hours of Vancouver
• Info about permits, reservations, and campground facilities
• Detailed maps and photos
• Advice for extending your trip
• Points of cultural and natural history

Get the book

109 Walks in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland

John Halliday, Alice Purdey, Mary & David Macaree, Greystone Books, 2019

The 109 Walks series has been running since the 1970s as a complement to the 103/105 Hikes series. This latest edition has lots of short and easy hikes and nature-oriented neighbourhood walks from Squamish to Chilliwack. The hikes in this book are great for rainy days, shoulder season, and days when you don’t have time for a long hike.

Shop: Amazon

Squamish Hiking

Marc Bourdon, Quickdraw Publications, 2017

Squamish Hiking is the definitive guide to hiking the Sea to Sky corridor between Horseshoe Bay and Whistler. It includes 82 hikes along with stunning photos and easy-to-read maps. As a Squamish resident, this is the book that I pick up first if I want to try out a new local hike that might be a bit off-the-beaten-path.

Shop: MEC

The Glorious Mountains of Vancouver’s North Shore: A Peak Bagger’s Guide

David Crerar, Harry Crerar, Bill Maurer, Rocky Mountain Books, 2018

Not exactly a hiking guidebook, The Glorious Mountains of Vancouver’s North Shore provides directions for summitting 67 popular and obscure peaks, some on well-worn trails, others on flagged scrambling routes, and a few via off-trail bushwhacks. It also provides everything you would ever want to know about the history, culture, and geography of the North Shore Mountains since it’s a whopping 503 pages long!

Shop: Amazon | Indigo

READ NEXT: The Glorious Mountains of Vancouver’s North Shore: A Review

Best Vancouver Hiking Maps

Backroad Mapbooks Vancouver, Coast & Mountains BC

Backroad Mapbooks, 2019

Many Vancouver area hikes require challenging drives on logging roads to reach the trailhead. The Backroad Mapbooks series are great for finding your way through the maze of road branches. I also like using the books to discover new areas since the maps highlight trailheads, waterfalls, parks, and other areas of interest for hikers.

Shop: Amazon | MEC

Clark Geomatics Maps

Jeff Clark makes beautiful and detailed trail maps through his company, Clark Geomatics. They are topographic maps with clear overlays for trails, campsites, ski routes, and logging roads. On the back, they have detailed trail descriptions and info about natural history and culture. Vancouver hikers should pick up the Callaghan Valley Area, Garibaldi Provincial Park, and Manning Park maps.

Shop: Amazon | MEC

Trail Ventures BC Maps

Burnaby-based Trail Ventures BC makes the best maps for most Vancouver-area trails. Their easy to read maps are made from tearproof and waterproof paper that even I haven’t been able to wreck (despite folding and refolding their North Shore Trail map on dozens of off-the-beaten-path hikes). They also have maps for Chilliwack, Port Moody/Port Coquitlam, and the Stein/Joffre area.

Shop: MEC

Best Vancouver Natural History Books

Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast: Washington, Oregon, British Columbia & Alaska

Jim Pojar and Andy Mackinnon, Lone Pine Publishing, 2016

This book has become my bible for plant identification. Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast has detailed photos and descriptions of hundreds of species of trees, shrubs, mosses, flowers, and more. I got really into learning about plants during the pandemic – it was cool to discover what grows in different microclimates on our local trails depending upon elevation, sun exposure, soil conditions, etc.

Shop: Amazon | Indigo

Popular Wildflowers of Coastal British Columbia and Vancouver Island

Neil L. Jennings, Rocky Mountain Books, 2020

This thin book is my go-to resource for wildflower IDs. Popular Wildflowers is also light and small enough to carry on a hike. It sorts the flowers by colour and has great photos, which makes it easy and fast to find what I’m looking for.

Shop: Amazon | Indigo

All That the Rain Promises and More… A Hip Guide to Western Mushrooms

David Arora, Ten Speed Press, 1991

If you are interested in mushroom hunting, this is the best book for the Vancouver area. All that the Rain Promises and More… has great photos and descriptions of the mushrooms as well as notes on edibility. But the feature I like best is the flowcharts on the inside covers that help you narrow down what type of mushroom you are looking at.

Shop: Amazon | Indigo

British Columbia: A Natural History of Its Origins, Ecology, and Diversity

Richard Cannings and Sydney Cannings, Greystone Books, 2015

This beautiful book starts with a section on geology and then the remainder is divided into sections representing the different ecosystems of BC. British Columbia: A Natural History is illustrated with gorgeous photos, cute drawings, detailed maps, and informative charts. It’s the only book you need to learn about nature in BC.

Shop: Amazon | Indigo

Best Outdoor Skills Books for Hikers

Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills

The Mountaineers Books, 2017

Even if you never plan to get into climbing, Freedom of the Hills is a must-read for any hiker. It’s a how-to guide for pretty much everything in the outdoors. In addition to tips for rock climbing and mountaineering it includes info on wilderness navigation, emergency preparedness, Leave No Trace, first aid, snow science, and mountain weather.

Shop: Amazon | Indigo | MEC

The Avalanche Handbook

Peter Schaerer & David McClung, The Mountaineers Books, 2006

If you snowshoe in winter or hike on steep slopes with lingering snow in the spring and summer, you need avalanche training. While this book doesn’t replace a formal avalanche course, it’s a great reference since it’s used as a textbook in most courses. The Avalanche Handbook includes tons of info on avalanche formation, terrain, prediction, and self-rescue.

Shop: Amazon | Indigo

Wilderness Navigation: Finding Your Way Using Map, Compass, Altimeter & GPS

Bob Burns and Mike Burns, The Mountaineers Books, 2015

In the age of smartphone apps, map and compass navigation is a dying skill. And that’s a shame since it’s so important! Phones die or lose reception and apps aren’t always correct. Every hiker should understand how to read a topographic map and use a compass. Wilderness Navigation is a great book for teaching these skills in an accessible way.

Shop: Amazon | Indigo | MEC

Wilderness Medicine: Beyond First Aid

William W. Forgey M.D., Falcon Guides, 2017

A wilderness first aid course is a great investment for any hikers. You’ll learn how to treat common hiking injuries with a basic first aid kit and the gear you are already carrying. But it can be tough to remember everything you learn in a course. That’s where a book like Wilderness Medicine comes in. It’s great as a refresher for the course, or for general knowledge.

Shop: Amazon | Indigo

So there you have it – my picks for the best Vancouver hiking books. There are lots of other hiking books for Vancouver and British Columbia, but these are the only ones I truly recommend. What is your favourite Vancouver hiking book? Tell me in the comments.

READ NEXT:

• 103 Hikes and 105 Hikes: The History of Hiking Guidebooks in BC
• The Glorious Mountains of Vancouver’s North Shore: A Review
• The Best Canadian Adventure Books
• 20+ Women’s Adventure Books That Will Inspire You

The post The Best Vancouver Hiking Books appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. Thanks for supporting my website! -Taryn

How to Read New Books If You Can’t Leave The House

I know a lot of us are cooped up at home right now, and going to the library or a bookstore isn’t possible. Here are some tips on how to read new books right now:

• Download an ebook reading app: There are lots of options including the Kindle app from Amazon, Kobo, Google Play Books, and Apple Books. The apps are free and there are versions for your phone, computer, or iPad. 
• Order an ebook reader: I have been using an Amazon Kindle for over a decade and love it. It has a backlight so I can read it in bed without bothering my husband. And I love having hundreds of books all stored in one place. 
• Check your public library: Most lend out ebooks. But check to make sure that the format they use is compatible with your ebook reader or app.
• Buy ebooks online: You can order from Amazon or support independent bookstores through Bookshop.org. They are usually much cheaper than physical books. You can also sign up for services like Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited that let you read as many books as you want for a monthly fee (typically around $10/month). You can even try it for free for a month.
• Download an audiobook: If you sign up with a service like Audible, the first month is free, then it’s $15/month.
• Buy physical books online: Of course you could use Amazon, but a better option is to buy online from an independent bookstore through Bookshop.org. You can also call your local bookstore. Many of them are shipping books right now, and they could use your support.

The Golden Spruce by John Valliant

This fascinating book tells the story of a rare golden-needled spruce tree in Haida Gwaii and the man who chose to cut it down. But The Golden Spruce is about much more than a man and a tree. It’s about the intersection of logging, environmentalism, and indigenous culture. I like this book so much, I’ve read it twice. 

Check prices: Amazon | Chapters-Indigo

READ NEXT: Things to Do in Haida Gwaii

Big Lonely Doug by Harley Rustad

This is another book about a man and a tree, but in this case, the man chooses not to cut the tree down. Big Lonely Doug is about the massive douglas fir of the same name that stands alone in a clearcut on Vancouver Island. It’s a great read, but it’s even more special if you make the pilgrimage to Port Renfrew to see Big Lonely Doug in person. (Here’s my post about how to visit Big Lonely Doug and the other old-growth trees in the area. )

Check prices: Amazon | Chapters-Indigo

Lands of Lost Borders by Kate Harris

This beautifully written book is the story of Ontarian-turned-Yukoner Kate Harris’ cycling trip along Asia’s Silk Road. But Lands of Lost Borders is really so much more than that. It’s about transcending borders and cultures, connecting to nature, and exploring our place in the world. 

Check prices: Amazon | Chapters-Indigo

Rising by Sharon Wood

Canadian Sharon Wood was the first woman from the Americas to summit Mount Everest in 1986. She tells the story of that climb in Rising, but what I found more interesting was her exploration of the way the climb and the fame that it brought has shaped her life since. 

Check prices: Amazon | Chapters-Indigo

Bear Attacks: Their Causes and Avoidance by Stephen Herrero

While not exactly light reading, Bear Attacks is a must for anyone who hikes and camps in bear country. Stephen Herrero is a professor at the University of Calgary and an expert in  the study of  bear behaviour. While parts of this book may scare you, by the end you’ll feel more prepared to encounter bears. (Looking for a quick bear safety overview? Read my post about Bear Safety for Hikers, Campers and Backpackers)

Check prices: Amazon | Chapters-Indigo

All that Glitters by Margo Talbot

This is a book about ice climbing in the Canadian Rockies, but it’s also a book about pain and a book about hope. Margo Talbot shares everything, warts and all, in this intensely personal memoir. She battles through some rough times, finding solace in climbing. All That Glitters is a tough read, but a powerful one. 

Check prices: Amazon | Chapters-Indigo

Once They Were Hats by Frances Backhouse

Beavers are Canada’s national symbol, so of course, this list includes a book about these fascinating creatures. After beavers moved into an urban pond near my old office, I wanted to learn all I could about them. Once They Were Hats is one of the best animal books I’ve ever read. It covers everything from beaver behaviour to the fur trade (that’s the hats reference) to the ways that beavers shape our landscape. And it’s told in such an engaging way. Highly recommended. 

Check prices: Amazon | Chapters-Indigo

Where the Mountain Casts Its Shadow by Maria Coffey

Vancouver Island-based Maria Coffey lost her partner on Everest in 1982. In Where the Mountain Casts Its Shadow she speaks with the spouses, parents, and children of renowned climbers about the dark side of adventure and what happens when people don’t come home. 

Check prices: Amazon | Chapters-Indigo

Beyond the Horizon by Colin Angus

Many Vancouverites followed local adventurer Colin Angus as he attempted to circumnavigate the globe entirely by human-power between 2004 and 2006. In Beyond the Horizon, he tells the story of that trip, which included bikes, rowboats, skis, and a fairly public split with his adventure-partner. (If you liked this one, you’ll also like Colin’s earlier books Lost in Mongolia: Rafting the World’s Last Unchallenged River, and Amazon Extreme: Three Ordinary Guys, One Rubber Raft, and the Most Dangerous River on Earth. 

Check prices: Amazon

Unbound by Steph Jagger

Vancouver-native Steph Jagger was riding the ski lift one day when she literally saw a sign: “Raise restraining device”. She took the hint and left her corporate life, bought a bunch of plane tickets, and set out to ski 4 million vertical feet in a year. Unbound is partly a travelogue, recounting the adventures of that year. But mostly it’s a memoir about finding yourself and learning how to be a strong woman in a masculine world. Inspiring. 

Check prices: Amazon

Owls in the Family by Farley Mowat

Farley Mowat is Canadian royalty. His books about the outdoors and the Canadian north are beloved. His best-known works are Never Cry Wolf and People of the Deer. But my favourite is Owls in the Family. Aimed at kids, it tells the story of a boy who adds owls to his eclectic collection of pets.

Check prices: Amazon | Chapters-Indigo

Being Caribou by Karsten Heuer

In 2003 Karsten Heuer and his wife Leanne Allison trekked for five months across the Yukon and Alaska, following the migration of the 100,000+ animal Porcupine caribou herd. Being Caribou is an incredible story about adventure, biology, and the way that humans are impacting our planet. (Leanne also made an amazing film about their trek that you can watch for free on Canada’s National Film Board website.)

Check prices: Amazon | Chapters-Indigo

Lines on a Map by Frank Wolf

Frank Wolf is one of our country’s most accomplished contemporary adventurers. Also, he’s badass and pretty damn funny. Lines on a Map is a compilation of his stories from the last two decades of adventures in Canada and around the world. Definitely one of my favourite Canadian adventure books from the last few years.

Check prices: Amazon | Chapters-Indigo

Surviving Logan by Erik Bjarnason and Cathi Shaw

I read Surviving Logan in a single afternoon. Erik Bjarnason took part in an expedition to climb Mount Logan (the highest mountain in Canada) in 2005 with fellow members of North Shore Rescue, Vancouver’s famous Search and Rescue team. After a storm pummels the mountain, Erik and his teammates struggle to survive. (I first heard about Erik’s story through a short film about his journey called Be a Man of More Words. It’s a great short film – and it’s on Youtube.)

Check prices: Amazon | Chapters-Indigo

Into the Planet by Jill Heinerth

Caves have fascinated me for a long time, but they are an inherently scary place. Add in water and frankly they get a bit terrifying. So I found Toronto-born Jill Heinerth’s memoir Into the Planet, about her life as a cave diver both fascinating and terrifying. Jill is a woman in a macho and male-dominated field, so it was also interesting to get her perspective on pushing the limits of her sport. 

Check prices: Amazon | Chapters-Indigo

The Killer Whale Who Changed the World by Mark Leiren-Young

Today orcas are perceived as friendly, intelligent whales, but just a few decades ago, they were seen as bloodthirsty killers, capable of devouring anyone who got too close. The Killer Whale Who Changed the World explains how that perception shifted, and I was surprised to learn that it happened in my hometown at the Vancouver Aquarium. Even if you’re not a whale nerd, this is an excellent read – I finished it in one sitting! (Also, I recently went kayaking with whales in the Johnstone Strait. What an insane experience!)

Check prices: Amazon | Chapters-Indigo

Stories from the Magic Canoe by Cecil Paul

Cecil Paul, also known as Wa’xaid is an elder and activist from the Xenaksiala First Nation in Northern BC. Stories from the Magic Canoe is part memoir about his life, part musings about the environment and our relationship to nature. But the thing that I found most interesting, is that it is an oral history: Briony Penn recorded Wa’xaid’s stories over a period of 15 years and complied them thematically into a book. A must read for an insider perspective on indigenous context in Canada.

Check prices: Amazon | Chapters-Indigo

Blue Sky Kingdom by Bruce Kirkby

Bruce is a Kimberly, BC-based adventurer with a wife, two kids and a freelance writing career. But he feels distracted and disconnected from his life and his family. So they take the bold step of heading to a Tibetan buddhist monastery for a few months. Blue Sky Kingdom is a memoir tells the story of their overland journey to the Zanskar valley as well as their time at the monastery. I read this book in just a few days while on a backpacking trip and Bruce’s self-aware telling of the story really resonated with me. Sometimes we do need to be away in a place where life is truly simple to understand who we are and how we connect with those we love.

Check prices: Amazon | Chapters-Indigo

Eating Dirt by Charlotte Gill

I loved Eating Dirt when it first came out in 2013 and I recently reread it. It’s a memoir about tree planting and the realities of the tough lives that planters live. But Charlotte Gill’s words are often poetic, and the book is also a love letter to forests, especially the coastal forests of British Columbia. A portion of the book also takes place around Holberg near Cape Scott Provincial Park, which is an area close to my heart.

Check prices: Amazon | Chapters-Indigo

The Oil Man and the Sea by Arno Kopecky

With Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline looming, the author and a friend sail up BC’s northern coast in the summer of 2012 to explore the region and hear from the indigenous people who have lived along the proposed oil tanker route since time immemorial. Arno and his friend approach the project as beginners and non-sailors. The Oil Man and the Sea has plenty of humour, but also contains some beautiful prose. Although the pipeline project was cancelled in 2016, the book is not out of date since the temperate rainforests and wild seas of the Great Bear Rainforest are continually under threat from other developments.

Check prices: Amazon | Chapters-Indigo

More Canadian Adventure Books on My Reading List

Like many avid readers, I have a long list of books I want to read. Here’s are some adventure books about Canada or by Canadians that are currently on my reading list. As I work my way through them, I’ll add the recommended ones to this post.

• The Wayfinders: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World by Wade Davis
• Chasing Clayoquot: A Wilderness Almanac by David Pitt-Brooke

How many of these Canadian adventure books have you read? What else should I add to my reading list? Tell me in the comments.

Read Next:

• Women are underrepresented in the adventure memoir genre. But their books are usually SO good. Read my list of 20+ Women’s Adventure Books That Will Inspire You
• Get more adventure inspiration: 80+ Women’s Adventure Films You Can Stream
• Check out my recommendations for The Best Vancouver Hiking Books

The post The Best Canadian Adventure Books appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

I haven’t been to a Hollywood movie in years, but I always go to the theatre to see adventure films. For the last few years, I’ve been volunteering at the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival. And my husband is a volunteer pre-screener for the festival, so that means we watch a LOT of films at home ahead of time, and then even more at the festival. I’ve seen SO many outdoor films.

So it seemed like the right time to concoct my own little film festival, online of course. I want to celebrate women in adventure films since even now, they don’t get enough press. I first saw most of these films as part of film festivals, but I also hunted down many others online. All of these women’s adventure films are available for online streaming. Most of them are free, but a few are available for digital purchase or rental. 

In this list of over 80 female adventure films, you’ll find some of my favourites. I’ve tried my best to provide diverse films that represent several outdoor sports and athletes of different abilities, ethnicities, and career trajectories. You’ll find both classic clips of athletes shredding hard and heart-wrenchingly emotional personal journeys. And everything in between.

Note: Unfortunately, about 70% of these films don’t have closed captions. It looks like the adventure film world still has some steps to take to achieve inclusivity for all viewers. I’ve included “CC” next to the films that do have captions.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. Thanks for supporting my website! -Taryn

General Women’s Outdoor Adventure Films 

Where the Wild Things Play

2017, 4 minutes, CC

This short film from adventure photographer Krystle Wright is an homage to badass, adventure women, set to an amazing song. Watch on Youtube

Where the Wild Things Keep Playing

2019, 4 minutes, 

Krystle Wright’s follow-up to Where the Wild Things Play features more women doing rad stuff outdoors and another great soundtrack. Watch on Youtube

Being Here

2016, 5 minutes

Hilary Oliver, the director and writer of this short film, is one of my favourite outdoor writers. The film juxtaposes her beautiful words with scenes of outdoor women to help us remember how wild places make us feel. Watch on Youtube

My Mom Vala

2018, 10 minutes

This cute women’s adventure film follows the Icelandic family of Vala Árnadóttir and her daughter Mathilda. Vala balances time being a mom and her work as a fly fishing guide in Greenland. Vala knows she can do it on her own, and that’s what she wants to teach Mathilda too. Watch on Youtube 

The Motivator

2018, 4 minutes, CC

This film celebrates filmmaker Aaron Hitchins’ mom, Maureen. She’s an active woman, and her example is what motivated Hitchins to build a life connected to the outdoors. Watch on Youtube

The Shepherdess

2019, 6 minutes

The impact of extreme drought on the Navajo reservation in New Mexico is devastating. It threatens their traditional way of life. This short film about a Navajo shepherdess shows us how to find beauty and lessons and perseverance in a tough situation. Watch on Vimeo

Heart of the Valley

2017, 7 minutes, CC

This film follows Giulia Delladio, who lives in the Val di Fiemme valley in northern Italy. She is the first woman and fourth generation to run the family-owned business, the outdoor brand LaSportiva. Watch on Youtube

Okpilik

2019, 4 minutes

Mary Kudlak, an Inuit elder, talks about fishing in Okpilik Lake near Ulukhaktok in Canada’s North West Territories. This film is part of the Inuit Nunangat Taimannganit video project to record and share the stories of the Inuit people. Watch on Youtube

Chasing a Trace

2019, 20 minutes

Wolverines are one of North America’s most elusive animals. And one of the most tenacious. This film follows wildlife scientist Mirjam Barrueto as she explores the remote mountains of British Columbia to collect data about wolverine behaviour. Watch on Youtube

Home

2019, 91 minutes

Follow Sarah Outen on her four-year-long human-powered journey around the world by bike, kayak, and rowboat. It’s an emotional and inspirational film. Watch on Vimeo

A Walk in the Park

2017, 10 minutes, CC

Jackson, Wyoming local Kelly Halpin is an artist and athlete. This film tells the story of her attempt at the Picnic, a mountain triathlon in Grand Teton National Park. You start in town, bike 23 miles, swim 1.3 miles, hike and climb 6,000 feet, then turn around and it all in reverse. Watch on Youtube

Venturous Voices

2017, 24 minutes, CC

This short film follows four female entrepreneurs in the outdoor industry. Find out what happens when you take what you love and make it your business. Watch on Youtube

Facing Sunrise

2018, 9 minutes, CC

Azzah lives in Vancouver and is going through a rough time in her life. As a city girl, she doesn’t have outdoor experience, but a pivotal hike helps her realize that she is capable of more than she thinks. Watch on MEC

To Return

2019, 6 minutes

Virtual reality seems like the ideal technology to capture the outdoors. This short film features the words and artistry of figure skater Laura Kottlowski as she skates on remote lakes in the Rocky Mountains. The film is best viewed with a headset, but you can also use Google Cardboard or just click around your computer screen to see the whole view. Watch on Youtube

Women’s Watersports Films

Losing Sight of Shore

2017, 91 minutes, CC

In this film, four women set out to row the Pacific Ocean from the US to Australia, unsupported. It’s a physically and mentally challenging nine-month journey. Watch on Amazon

Into the Sea

2015, 52 minutes

This documentary tells the story of introducing surfing to women in Iran. Irish pro surfer Easky travels to Iran to help Iranian pro snowboarder Mona and Iranian diver Shalha learn to surf. Watch on Vimeo

Maidentrip

2014, 81 minutes, CC

Fourteen-year-old Laura Dekker went on a two-year voyage to try to be the youngest person to sail around the world alone. This documentary follows her sometimes controversial journey. Watch on Amazon

Rainbow Dive

2019, 26 minutes

Head to the Australian Outback with world champion cliff diver Rhiannan Iffland. She connects with the land, the local indigenous people, and ultimately, herself. Watch on Redbull TV

Chasing the Sublime

2018, 7 minutes

This beautiful film tells the story of Kate Rew and Kari Furre, the founders of The Outdoor Swimming Society. They take on cold water swimming adventures in stunning locations all over the UK. Watch on Vimeo

The Olin Sisters

2018, 7 minutes

Take a look into the lives of the Olin sisters, teenage professional surfers from Tofino, British Columbia. They spend countless challenging hours training and competing, but their love for the sport makes it look incredibly fun. Watch on Vimeo

The Ladakh Project

2019, 14 minutes

Pro whitewater kayaker Nouria Newman takes on a one-week solo expedition on three rivers in the Indian Himalayas. She shot the entire film herself while braving incredibly rough waters days from rescue. Watch on Redbull TV

Women’s Biking Films

Blood Road

2017, 95 minutes, CC

Not just another mountain biking film, this one has heart. Follow pro Rebecca Rusch as she pedals along the Ho Chi Minh Trail through Vietnam, looking for the site where her father was shot down 40 years earlier. I think this is one of the best women’s adventure films out there. Watch on Redbull TV

Afghan Cycles

2019, 88 minutes, CC

This feature-length documentary explores how women in Afghanistan are using bikes as a way to create empowerment and social change. Watch on Amazon

Moksha

2018, 22 minutes

Moksha is the story of three Nepali women who are at the forefront of the emerging female mountain biking scene in the Himalayas. The film follows them as they compete in races, become certified mountain bike guides and inspire other Nepali women to start mountain biking. Watch on Vimeo

Blue

2019, 4 minutes

A beautiful short film about female fat bikers exploring the ice and snow of Valdez, Alaska. Watch on Youtube

Life of Pie

2019, 11 minutes

Married couple Jen Zeuner and Anne Keller are creating community and inclusivity through pizza and mountain biking. This cute short film explores their conservative community of Fruita, Colorado and how their influence is changing it.  Watch on Vimeo

Do Better Together

2019, 7 minutes, CC

Ayesha McGowan wants to become a pro cyclist. But when she looks for role models, she only finds white men. This film follows her journey to become the first African-American pro cyclist while advocating for inclusivity and diversity. Watch on Youtube

Perspectives: India

2018, 5 minutes

Artist and pro mountain biker Micayla Gatto pedals through the chaotic cities and gorgeous mountains of India. The cinematography in this short film is strikingly beautiful.  Watch on Youtube

Fast Forward

2016, 8 minutes, CC

This film follows bikepacker Lael Wilcox as she takes on a self-supported race on the 800-mile long Arizona Trail in 2015. Lael is a force in long-distance cycling, setting records on races across America. Watch on Youtube

Women of Dirt

2010, 60 minutes

This is one of the first films ever made about women’s mountain biking, which is crazy since it’s only 10 years old. It follows a group of female bikers who were at the forefront of their sport at the time for downhill racing, dirt jumping and freeriding. Watch on Youtube 

If She Can Do It

2012, 34 minutes

The sequel to Women of Dirt, this film follows female mountain bikers at the Sugar Showdown, a women’s freeride mountain biking event. The film shows the community and camaraderie of women in a male-dominated sport. Watch on Youtube

Women’s Ski and Snowboard Films

This Mountain Life

2019, 77 minutes, CC

Watch this documentary just for the beautiful footage of the skiing nun. This Mountain Life is mostly the story of mother-daughter team Tania and Martina Halik as they attempt to ski from Vancouver to Alaska through British Columbia’s coast mountains. But the stories of several other mountain people are interwoven into it, including artists, photographers, and that photogenic nun. This is definitely one of my favourite women’s adventure films. Watch on Amazon. Canadians can also watch on the Knowledge Network App

All in

2018, 59 minutes, CC

Shot in 4K, this film is stunningly beautiful. The all-female cast of skiers wants to disrupt the male-dominated ski film formula and create their own legendary ski film. Watch on Redbull TV 

Follow Through

2017, 22 minutes, CC

Diminutive backcountry skier Caroline Gleich sets out to ski the 90 challenging ski mountaineering lines across Utah’s Wasatch Mountains. This film follows her journey to complete the challenge and to gain the respect she deserves. Watch on Youtube

Rise: 20 Years of Kelly Clark

2019, 6 minutes, CC

Pro snowboarder Kelly Clark is one of the winningest athletes of all time. This short film celebrates her life and career. Watch on Youtube

Shades of Winter: Couples

2018, 14 minutes

Pro skiers Janina Kuzma, Sandra Lahnsteiner, and Julia Mancuso experience the thrill and danger of heliskiing in British Columbia. But this time they bring their spouses along to share the stoke (and see if they can keep up). Watch on Youtube

The Ride

2018, 9 minutes

Ebbie Hansen competes in an uncommon (and pretty crazy) sport: skijoring. It’s a bit like waterskiing, except on snow. And instead of a boat, there’s a horse and Ebbie rides it. Follow Ebbie’s quest to claim her third National Championship in skijoring. Watch on Vimeo

Dream Job

2019, 15 minutes

In this hilarious film, Katie, a ski industry marketer, takes a close look at how fun it actually is to be a pro skier, a pro backcountry skier, or a ski guide. Guaranteed to make you smile. Watch on Youtube

Kindred

2018, 10 minutes

Izzy and Zoya Lynch grew up in a backcountry ski lodge in the Canadian Rockies. In this sweet film, they tell their family’s story through archival photos and beautifully shot contemporary interviews. Watch on Youtube

The Uninvited

2018, 28 minutes

This film is billed as featuring a group of up and coming female snowboarders with bigger hearts than budgets. It has an old school indie feel. And of course lots of sick tricks.  Watch on Vimeo

Super Mom

2014, 10 minutes, CC

Wendy Fisher used to dominate the big mountain freeskiing scene. But then she had kids. In this film, she wants to see if she’s still got it a decade after “retiring”. Watch on Youtube 

Shades of Winter: Between 

2016, 96 minutes, CC

Follow a group of female skiers and surfers on a trip around the world. The film celebrates their sports, the journey they are on, and the moments in between. Watch on Redbull TV

The Icey Ladies

2014, 12 minutes

In 2012 Annelise Loevlie put together a group of women to travel to Chile to compete in the 2nd annual Eye of the Condor ski, photo, and video competition. During the competition, each team of 4 skiers, 1 videographer and 1 photographer has 5 days to shoot and edit a ski film and photo portfolio. This is the film her team made. Watch on Vimeo

A Land Shaped by Women

2018, 52 minutes, CC

Pro snowboarders Anne-Flore Marxer and Aline Bock have been fighting for gender parity in their sport. So they spend the winter riding in Iceland, the world’s number one ranked nation for gender equality. Watch on Redbull TV

Listen to the Eyes

2018, 16 minutes

Female riders on the Vans Snowboard team shred in the Pacific Northwest in this short film. Shot entirely on Kodak 16mm film, it has a fun retro feel and a great soundtrack. Watch on Youtube

Evolution of Dreams

2019, 26 minutes

Eva Walker and Jackie Paaso were downhill skiers. But when their passion for competition faded, their dream evolved into big mountain skiing and ski mountaineering. Watch on Youtube

Shaped by the Wild

2019, 5 minutes

Pro skier Christina Lustenberger has competed at the Olympics, but the wildness of British Columbia’s mountains is where she feels most at home, and where she feels she skis the best. Watch on Youtube

Women’s Rock Climbing Films

Women are Mountains

2018, 15 minutes

Brazilian climbers Mônica Filipini and Danielle Pinto balance their passion for the mountains with their family responsibilities at home. The mountains are their happy place and climbing is their active meditation. Watch on Vimeo

Within Reach

2017, 12 minutes, CC

This short film is about women who rock climb and the origins of the Women’s Climbing Festival. But it’s about a lot more than that. It’s about the culture of rock climbing and the outdoors and the ways that women and other groups are marginalized within that culture. Watch on Youtube

Spice Girl

2014, 22 minutes, CC

For decades British climbers were strictly traditional, super-competitive, and definitely macho. But Hazel Findlay is changing the face of British climbing as she sends it as hard as the men. Watch on Redbull TV

Mama

2017, 44 minutes, CC

Kinga Ociepka-Grzegulska is a Polish climber who wants to show the world that she can do it all: rock climb at a world-class level and be a mother to her two kids. Watch on Amazon

Obe and Ashima

2012, 22 minutes, CC

Ashima Shiraishi was only nine when this film was shot. But the New York City native is a rock climbing prodigy. Her coach, Obe Carrion was a prodigy himself and wants to find redemption by teaching Ashima what he couldn’t learn himself. Watch on Redbull TV

Creek Sessions

2018, 7 minutes

Jess Kilroy is a musician and climber. She records nature sounds and incorporates them into her compositions. This film follows Jess as she creates music and climbs in Utah’s Indian Creek. Watch on Vimeo

Dead Last

2019, 9 minutes

Kaitlin Heatherly opens the film by declaring that she placed last in a World Championships climbing competition and she is f@#%ing stoked about it. Born without the lower part of her left arm, she discovered rock climbing as an adult. And 5 months later, she started competing in paraclimbing. This short film tells her story.Watch on Youtube

Operation Moffat

2016, 23 minutes, CC

Gwen Moffat redefined what women can achieve in the mountains as Britain’s first female mountain guide. Writer and climber Claire Carter follows in her footsteps as she attempts to ascend the same routes as Gwen. Watch on Redbull TV

If I Can

2019, 5 minutes

Anoushé Husain is a British paraclimber who has competed at the national level in indoor climbing. In this film, she takes on her toughest challenge yet: learning to climb outdoors.  Watch on Youtube

Brette: A Year on the Road

2016, 20 minutes

Follow up-and-coming climber Brette Harrington as she climbs in Canada, at El Capitan in Yosemite and free solos in Patagonia. Watch on Redbull TV

Free Flow

2019, 4 minutes

Climber Hazel Findlay runs out her front door, into the mountains of Wales to go climbing. This stunning film features some beautiful scenery and some incredible free soloing from Hazel. Watch on Youtube

China Doll

2017, 20 minutes

Heather Weidner became the first woman to climb a 5.14 trad route called China Doll in Colorado. This film tells the story of her climb and explores the pervasive nature of unconscious gender roles. Watch on Youtube

Speak to Me Softly

2019, 6 minutes

Like all of us, Jenny Abegg experiences self-criticism and doubt. But Jenny fights through it while climbing. This film is an honest look at what is happening inside a climber’s head while they are on a route. Watch on Youtube

Break on Through

2018, 29 minutes, CC

Margo Hayes is on a quest to be the first woman to climb a 5.15 rated route. This film follows her as she attempts La Rambla in Spain and Biographie in France. Watch on Redbull TV

Young Guns Part 1 and 2

2016, 25 minutes and 23 minutes, CC

Teenage climbers Kai Lightner and Ashima Shiraishi are climbing prodigies. In this two-part series, the young climbers, who are most at home in the gym, travel to Norway and Japan to take on some tough outdoor climbs.  Watch on Redbull TV: Part 1 and Part 2

Women’s Running Films

Running for Good

2018, 74 minutes

This film follows marathon runner Fiona Oakes as she attempts to complete the toughest race on earth, the Marathon des Sables. It’s a 250km race through the Sahara Desert.  Watch on Vimeo

The Mirnavator

2017, 11 minutes, CC

Ultrarunner Mirna Valerio doesn’t look like most trail runners. She’s female, black, and fat. But she’s still out there, crushing big miles. This inspiring short film shows how Mirna has persevered in the face of many obstacles. (Want more of Mirna? Her memoir is on my list of the Best Women’s Adventure Books.) Watch on Youtube

Par for the Course

2019, 4 minutes

This film follows unconventional ultra-runner Mirna Valerio as she takes on her first-ever high altitude race at the Broken Arrow Skyrace in Squaw Valley, California. Watch on Youtube

Frosty

2019, 15 minutes

Anna Frost is an elite ultra-runner at the highest level. But she values connection and community over competition, especially as she starts a new chapter of her life: motherhood. Watch on Youtube

Changing Course

2017, 8 minutes

Clare Gallagher was going to go to medical school, but she realized it wouldn’t make her happy. So she changed course and discovered that she could make a career out of ultrarunning.  Watch on Youtube

This Land

2019, 10 minutes

Faith E. Briggs didn’t use to think of herself as an activist. She just thought of herself as a runner. But with public lands under threat, she teams up with locals to run 150 miles through three U.S. National Monuments. This film is about access to recreational land, inclusion, and empowerment. Watch on Youtube 

Mira Rai

2019, 12 minutes

Mira Rai is an up and coming trail runner from Nepal, despite not knowing that trail running was a sport just 18 months before winning the prestigious Mont-Blanc marathon. This short film tells Mira Rai’s story… so far. Watch on Youtube

Aziza

2018, 7 minutes

Aziza is an ultrarunner from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Despite social and cultural challenges, she finds time to train and is a role model for other female athletes in her home country. Watch on Vimeo

Ramsay’s Round

2018, 21 minutes

Ramsay’s Round is a Scottish running challenge. In 24 hours, participants have to run up and down 24 peaks, gaining 280,000 feet in the process. Only 99 people have completed the challenge, and of those 99, only four were women. America ultra runner Alicia Hudelson attempts to be the fifth. Watch on Vimeo

The Source

2019, 39 minutes

Courtney Dauwalter is a force to be reckoned with. She’s a high-level ultra-runner who regularly wins long-distance races, often beating the men as well. This documentary explores what makes Courtney so successful. Watch on Youtube

Batgirl

2019, 11 minutes

Rhonda-Marie Avery is known as Batgirl since she is legally blind, has no depth perception, and has no daytime vision. She actually sees better at night. She wants to break down the barriers she faced as a child. So she runs ultramarathons. Watch on Youtube

Women’s Mountaineering Films

Liv Along the Way

2018, 22 minutes, CC

Liv Sansoz makes her life in the mountains climbing, ski mountaineering, and base jumping. In 2017 she set out to climb all 82 of the 4000m peaks in the European Alps in a single year. She also added the extra challenge of not using any ski lifts. Watch on Youtube 

Harper, Mannering and Ross Challenge

2017, 11 minutes

As president of the New Zealand Alpine Club, Penny Brothers challenged local climbers to visit features named after club founders to celebrate the clubs 125th anniversary. She only discovered how difficult this was on her own nine-day expedition through the Southern Alps in New Zealand’s Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. Watch on Youtube

Lhotse

2019, 23 minutes

Mountaineer Hilaree Nelson and her partner Jim Morrison completed the first ski descent of Lhotse in 2018. It’s a 27,940-foot peak in the Himalayas and the fourth-highest mountain in the world. This film tells their story. Watch on Youtube

A Woman’s Epic Journey to Climb 7 Mountains

2016, 13 minutes

National Geographic Explorer Wasfia Nazreen wanted to show the world how much women from Bangladesh had accomplished. So, she decided to climb the Seven Summits, the highest mountains on each continent. And she shot this short film entirely on her iPhone. Watch on Youtube

I Am Here

2018, 7 minutes, CC

As the children of Mexican immigrants, Yesenia didn’t realize that the outdoors were an option for her. This film follows her journey to climb Washington’s Mount St. Helens and inspire other Latinx immigrants to enjoy the outdoors too. Watch on Youtube

Aconcagua: A New Chance

2016, 46 minutes, CC

Ultramarathoner Fernanda Maciel wants to become the first woman to climb up and down Aconcagua in a single day. It’s one of the highest mountains on Earth and the highest summit in South America. Watch on Redbull TV

With over 80 movies on this list, you could spend over 33 hours just watching women’s adventure films! Which ones were your favourites? Tell me in the comments. 

READ NEXT:

• 20 Women’s Adventure Books That Will Inspire You
• The Best Canadian Adventure Books
• Want to learn more about women’s outdoor gear? Read these guides to the best outdoor clothing for women, where to find women’s plus size hiking clothes, and the best outdoor gear for women. And then read my opinion about whether women’s specific gear is actually worth it, or if you can just buy unisex. 

The post 80+ Women’s Adventure Films You Can Stream appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. Thanks for supporting my website! -Taryn

Disclosure: I received a complimentary review copy of this book. However, all opinions are my own.

Basic Stats:

Author: Roy Jantzen

Format: Paperback with lots of full colour photos and maps

Publication Date: 2015

Publisher: Rocky Mountain Books

List Price: Paperback $25CAD

Where to Buy: Amazon.ca (where it’s often on sale)

What’s in the Book?

One of the things that I liked best about the book is the fact that the majority of the activities are within Metro Vancouver. Too often books claim things are in Vancouver when in reality they are several hours drive away. It’s nice to be able to pick an activity, head out the door, and be outside in the fresh air quickly. There are also public transit directions so you aren’t tied to your car.

Another thing I really liked about Active Vancouver is that most of the activities are very beginner-friendly. As well, Jantzen included an index at the back of the book. It has specific recommendations for trips that are good for dogs, kids, teens, seniors, and out of town visitors. 

Active Vancouver is broken up into sections for a variety of active outdoor pursuits. There are sections for trail running, hiking, snowshoeing, cycling, paddling and picnicking. There’s also a bonus section at the back called “Other Adventures” that includes swimming, inline skating and rock climbing.  There are 48 adventures in all, with a handful in each section. Each adventure includes a map, directions and beautiful photos.

However, for me the best part of each adventure was the “Eco-Insight” section with interesting ecological info. I’ve done the Quarry Rock Hike in Deep Cover countless times. But I’ve never stopped to think about the close relationship between the tree roots I’m stepping over and fungus. The author is a professor of natural history at Capilano University and it’s obvious that he’s put a lot of thought into the ecological info in this book. After reading the Eco-Insight for Quarry Rock, I know next time I do that hike I’ll spend some more time looking carefully at the forest floor! (Psst: Did you know that Quarry Rock is one of the most Instagrammed hikes in Vancouver?)

Who Will Like This Book?

Active Vancouver includes adventures in all four seasons, so it’s something locals can use year round. I think this is a great book for any outdoor adventurer in Vancouver. It’s especially good for those new to town, new to the outdoors or new to getting outside with their growing family. Even if you’re a seasoned Vancouver outdoors-person, I think the Eco-Insights alone are reason enough to own a copy.

More Book Reviews:

• The Glorious Mountains of Vancouver’s North Shore: A Review
• 103 Hikes and 105 Hikes: The History of Hiking Guidebooks in BC
• 20 Women’s Adventure Books That Will Inspire You
• The Best Canadian Adventure Books
• The Best Vancouver Hiking Books

More Vancouver-Area Outdoor Adventure Ideas:

• The 10 Best Hikes in Vancouver: A Local’s Guide
• Waterfalls Near Vancouver You Can Hike To
• 35 Vancouver Hikes You Can Get to on Transit
• 15 Unusual Hikes Near Vancouver
• 100+ Snow-Free Hikes in Vancouver: Trails You Can Hike Year Round
• The Ultimate Guide to Snowshoeing in Vancouver: 10 Places to Go
• 6 Easy Hikes in Vancouver for Beginners and Tourists

The post Active Vancouver: Book Review appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

Basically, The Glorious Mountains of Vancouver’s North Shore provides directions for summiting 67 peaks on Vancouver’s North Shore – all without the use of rock climbing gear. Some of the routes are hikes, some are an easy walk, some are scrambles and some are hideous off-track, bushwhacking, route-finding missions. And the book doesn’t just have route descriptions in it. It also has probably the most detailed history of outdoor activity in the North Shore mountains ever printed. Oh and did I mention it’s a beast? This thing clocks in at 503 pages! I’ve been poring over this book since I got, so here’s my honest review.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. Thanks for supporting my website! -Taryn

I received a complimentary review copy of this book. However, all opinions are my own, and honestly I would have purchased this book with my own funds if I hadn’t been given a copy. 

Basic Stats:

Authors: David Crerar, Harry Crerar and Bill Maurer

Format: Paperback with lots of full colour photos and maps . Also available as an eBook

Publication Date: 2018

Publisher: Rocky Mountain Books

List price: Paperback: $40CAD

Where to Buy: Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, Indigo

More Info: BaggerBook.ca

READ NEXT: The Best Vancouver Hiking Books

What’s in the Book?

The Glorious Mountains of Vancouver’s North Shore includes info and route descriptions for 67 peaks. Most peaks include multiple route options. Each peak also includes a topo map, a brief section on name origins, First Nations history, geology, first ascents and other historical trivia. Many of the peaks will be familiar to casual hikers (e.g. Mount Seymour, Hollyburn), but others were new even to me (e.g. Zinc Peak, Mount Jarrett).

The peaks are separated into 7 mountain ranges or groups stretching from Howe Sound and Furry Creek in the West to the Fannin Range around Mount Seymour in the East. There are also some great suggestions for trips that combine multiple peaks. The section on the Howe Sound Crest Trail is particularly detailed. I actually carried photocopies of some of that section on my trip on the HSCT this August and found them really helpful.

At the end of the book there are a staggering 24 separate appendices covering all manner of interesting topics including:

• Various rankings of peaks from easiest to hardest, etc. and connoisseur’s lists of best peaks for rainy days, camping, mushrooms, etc.
• A glossary of terms (Find out what “waterbag” and “veggie belay” mean.)
• History of local mountain clubs, aboriginal peoples, and the people and events some of the peaks are named after
• Info on flora and fauna, geology, creeks and other natural features
• A list of local peaks with hidden whiskey caches. A friend and I actually went on a mission to find one these recently… and were so excited to find it. Nevermind that we both hate the taste of whiskey, we drank some anyway!

What is the “Bagger Challenge”?

Vancouver’s trail runners and hikers have been forging their own routes to the North Shore peaks for years. In 2009 David Crerar organized the first formal “Bagger Challenge” – an annual contest to summit as many North Shore Peaks as possible in a calendar year. Since then, the Bagger Challenge has grown from a small group of friends to a Facebook group with hundreds of members. Each challenger reports their peaks bagged on the honour system and at the end of the year trophies are awarded for the champions of each gender, a kids division, a canine division and a spirit award. I haven’t formally participated in the Bagger Challenge yet, but I have been keeping up with the fun discussion in the FB group. (And I’ve also privately noted my own peaks bagged. I’m at 22 in my lifetime and 10 in 2018. Curiously, the book doesn’t have a tick list page where readers can keep track of all the peaks they’ve bagged.) Maybe next year you’ll see my name on the official baggers list though?

Who Will Like This Book?

You don’t have to be a dedicated member of the Bagger Challenge to enjoy the book. (Although, like me you might be planning some future peak bagging trips based on the books instructions!) I think the following types of people will love this book: those that like off-the-beaten-path hikes, people interested in local history, hikers looking to make the jump to scrambling, and anyone who wants to take their North Shore hikes to the next level but isn’t ready to learn roped climbing. This book is sure to spark some trip-planning ideas for many Vancouver-area hikers! I’m already dreaming of an overnight trip deep into the Fannin range behind Mount Seymour next year!

Have you got your copy yet? Which peak from the book is now on your must-hike list? Tell me in the comments.

Read Next:

• The Best Vancouver Hiking Books
• 20 Women’s Adventure Books That Will Inspire You
• The Best Canadian Adventure Books
• Active Vancouver: Book Review
• 103 Hikes and 105 Hikes: The History of Hiking Guidebooks in BC

The post The Glorious Mountains of Vancouver’s North Shore: A Review appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. Thanks for supporting my website! -Taryn

History of 103 Hikes in Southwestern British Columbia

When I got into hiking in my university days, a friend recommended I get a copy of 103 Hikes. The 5th edition was on the shelves at the time, so I bought it and started working my way through the hikes. My boyfriend (who is now my husband) and I would put our initials next to each hike in the index as we completed them. When the 6th edition of 103 Hikes came out I rushed to MEC to buy it, then sat down to pore over it and see what was different.

A few months later I spotted the 2nd edition of 103 Hikes at a used book store. Leafing through it, I was struck by the awesome vintage black and white photos (HUGE external frame packs anyone?) and the descriptions of old routes that have now fallen into obscurity or been obliterated by road building and development. Over the next few years I tracked down the other editions of 103 Hikes. Eventually I had the complete set, editions one through six.

This week when 105 Hikes came in the mail, I sat down to read it cover to cover, just as I did back in 2008 when the 6th edition of 103 Hikes was released. And then I walked over to the bookshelf and grabbed all my editions of 103 Hikes to take a tour through BC hiking history. I’ve put together some highlights for you in case you don’t have a complete 103 Hikes collection of your own. (I’m probably one of the only weirdos who collects things like this.)

1st Edition (1973)

In 1973 The Mountaineers Books and the British Columbia Mountaineering Club (BCMC) published the first edition of 103 Hikes in Southwestern British Columbia. The introduction explains that a committee of BCMC members laboured over the book starting in 1967. But the author credit went to Mary and David Macaree, Scottish immigrants and long-time members of the BCMC. They went on to co-author every other edition of 103 Hikes (as well as it’s more sedate little brother, 109 Walks in Southwestern British Columbia).

The 1st edition of the book had hand-drawn maps (done by Mary Macaree), black and white photos and gave distances and elevation in miles and feet. It focused on trails in the Lower Mainland but also included many on Vancouver Island.

It’s interesting to read between the lines of the trail descriptions to get an idea of what trails were like at the time: There was no downhill ski resort at Cypress yet, and no road up there either. The current Elfin Lakes hut didn’t exist – instead there was a private lodge and you could pay to be driven up in a jeep or snowcat. And there were no hikes listed past Pemberton because highway 99 didn’t extend any further.

In today’s Instagram age I was shocked to read that even in the 70s the authors were worried about trails getting over used:

“A question often asked is why a group of outdoor types should produce a work such as this at all, given the very real danger that exposure of wilderness country to a wider public may well lead to its abuse, or even, in areas of heavy usage, to its complete despoilation…”

It’s crazy to find so many parallels to things we read about sharing info on hiking trails today! There are also numerous pleas throughout the book to pick up garbage, use camp stoves to reduce reliance on fires in fragile areas and to camp in designated campsites rather than trampling vegetation. The book never uses the words “Leave No Trace” but it’s clear that those ethics were important to its authors from the start.

2nd edition (1980)

The 2nd edition of 103 Hikes came out in 1980. The content of this book is much the same as the first edition except for the odd hike swapped in. The most noticeable difference is in the physical size of the book. While the first edition was nearly square, the second edition came in the now familiar rectangular format.

The 2nd edition also saw the introduction of the metric system to 103 Hikes. Despite Canada going metric in the 1970s, the first edition didn’t embrace it. By 1980 hikers still weren’t sure about metric so the 2nd edition uses BOTH feet and inches as well as kilometers and meters.

3rd edition (1987)

By 1987 the Macarees were able to find 103 hikes on the Mainland, so they removed the Vancouver Island hikes that had been in previous editions.  New hiking areas were opening up to BC hikers at this time: The Coquihalla highway had been built and trails were starting to be cut in that area. The formerly closed watershed areas of Lynn Headwaters and Buntzen Lake areas had also opened up and lots of trail building was happening. In particular, long-time BCMC member Halvor Lunden built many trails around Buntzen Lake that appear in the book for the first time. These include the Diez Vistas, Lindsay Lake, Swan Falls, Mount Beautiful, and Dilly Dally trails. And apparently hikers were finally ok with the metric system since the 3rd edition drops miles and feet entirely.

4th edition (1994)

There aren’t any glaring changes between the 3rd and 4th editions of 103 Hikes. The bulk of the hikes are the same. The stand out for me is Mount Cheam. The old route to Mount Cheam had been in the previous three editions. It started beside highway 1 outside of Chilliwack and gained over 2000m of elevation over the 30km round trip. It took most groups 2 days. By 1994 the logging roads had pushed far enough up the flanks of Cheam from the Chilliwack Valley side so that the current trail could be built. It gains 655m over 9.5km. If you think Cheam is a steep hike now, you should have tried it back in the 80s!

5th edition (2001)

This was the first copy of 103 Hikes that I owned. For the 5th edition Jack Bryceland joined Mary and David Macaree as a co-author. David Macaree actually passed away in 1998 (and Mary in 2008), so Bryceland mostly updated the non-trail description portions and added descriptions for new hikes. The existing hikes remained the way the Macarees wrote them.

While the Macaree’s hike descriptions were very matter of fact, Jack Bryceland’s descriptions have a more distinct voice. Bryceland editorializes a bit more and has a clear conservationist agenda. Many of the new hikes he introduced in the 5th edition were Western Canada Wilderness Committee trails that were built to try to prove the recreation potential of areas threatened by logging or development. Many of these trails have long and difficult logging road approaches. Despite being in beautiful areas, most of them were rough trails to begin with and still saw infrequent use after the book was released.

Along with a new author, the 5th edition also got a new map style. Single colour shaded maps with typed labels replaced Mary Macaree’s black and white hand-drawn maps of previous editions.

6th edition (2008)

At first glance, the 6th edition of 103 hikes doesn’t look that different from the 5th edition and it contains a lot of the same hikes. However, it was written and researched during the pre-Olympic construction on the Sea to Sky Highway, which closed many trailheads. Therefore, the book has few Sea to Sky trails.  The 6th edition was also the first for current publisher Greystone Books.

105 Hikes In and Around Southwestern British Columbia, 1st edition (2018)

When I heard that Stephen Hui would be writing the successor book to 103 Hikes, I thought that the publisher couldn’t have picked a better author. Stephen wrote a long-running hiking column in the Georgia Straight for years and knows a lot about hiking in this area. (Full disclosure: I know Stephen personally and we’ve hiked together.)

Now called 105 Hikes in and Around Southwestern British Columbia, the new book makes some excellent improvements over the previous version. To start with, it has beautiful full colour maps that are much easier to read. Plus they have contour lines – so important in BC’s steep terrain! The book also has colour photos throughout, which I love.

Stephen has also completely cleaned house as far as the table of contents goes: there are tons of new trails! He has also removed some of the hikes that were in previous versions but had difficult access or just weren’t that scenic.  You might also get a bit of a hint as to another change from the title: 105 Hikes in and Around Southwestern British Columbia. That’s right, not just “in” but “around”. Hikes 80 to 105 are in Howe Sound, the Sunshine Coast, Victoria and Washington State.

Another important addition is the indigenous context. Stephen has evidently done a lot of research to include information about traditional indigenous place names and territories for each hike. It’s so important to remember that the land we hike isn’t just desolate wilderness. It is traditional territory for indigenous peoples and they have been here since time immemorial.

If you hike in Southwestern BC, you’re going to want to pick up a copy of this book. It’s available in stores now and you can order it on Amazon. It has a great mix of hikes with a bunch of hikes that are shorter and a bit less difficult thrown in for those days when you have less time. And if you’re a completionist you can join Stephen’s 105 Hikes Challenge Facebook group to trade notes with other hikes who are trying to finish all 105 hikes.

READ NEXT:

• The Best Vancouver Hiking Books
• 20 Women’s Adventure Books That Will Inspire You
• The Best Canadian Adventure Books
• Active Vancouver: Book Review
• The Glorious Mountains of Vancouver’s North Shore: A Review

The post 103 Hikes and 105 Hikes: The History of Hiking Guidebooks in BC appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.