We’ve all heard about John Muir, Henry David Thoreau, and Ralph Waldo Emmerson. But have you heard of Nan Shepherd, Isabella Bird, or Ann Grant?
On a recent trip to Scotland, I visited the National Library of Scotland’s exhibition, Petticoats and Pinnacles: Scotland’s Pioneering Mountain Women.
This exhibit reveals how women have overcome physical and social barriers to spend time in the mountains — not only as climbers but as writers, artists, and leaders. As you wander through the displays, you learn how these women went to extraordinary lengths to simply enjoy their hobbies in the outdoors. They encountered discouragement and even anger from the public for wanting to walk alone in nature. Society could not comprehend why a woman would want to leave her household chores to spend time in nature, especially doing so alone without a male chaperone. These women learned to adapt to wearing men’s outdoor clothing because outdoor clothes for women were not created until the mid-20th century. Imagine having to choose between wearing a long, heavy skirt with laced boots not designed for hiking, or wearing oversized male clothing and shoes, or boys' clothing. They also were often excluded from historical records due to their “unsuitable” hobbies.
One such pioneer is Nan Shepherd, a Scottish Modernist writer and poet, who is best known for her groundbreaking memoir, The Living Mountain, based on her experiences of hiking in the Cairngorm Mountains. Before my journey to her native homeland, I had only recently learned about Shepherd by reading Windswept: Walking the Paths of Trailblazing Women by Annabel Abbs, which we discussed at the April meeting of Bookish Trailblazers. When I arrived in Scotland, I immediately sought out her book, The Living Mountain, to read as we trekked across the country so I could be transported to her world. This book is now one of my favorites. It’s a quick read, less than 200 pages including the introduction and epilogue, yet it perfectly and eloquently encapsulates the atmosphere and life of the Cairngorms. Her writing, while deeply profound, is more simple and easy to follow than the daunting works of Thoreau or Emerson. As you read her thoughts, it’s hard to believe she has only recently been officially recognized as one of Scotland’s greatest authors, when in 2016 the British 5-pound note was reprinted with one of the few known photos of her on the front of the bill. She is the only female, besides the Queen, to be featured on any British currency.
After visiting the exhibit in the National Library of Scotland and after devouring The Living Mountain, I was inspired to look into the American counterparts of the women in the Scottish exhibit. Here are a few of the extraordinary and overlooked female American pioneers:
Clare Marie Hodges (1890-1970) was the first female National Park Service ranger and remained the only female ranger for 30 years.
Isabella Bird (1831-1904), although not American, traveled across Rocky Mountain National Park, often alone and unarmed, and she was one of the first women to make a living as a travel writer and photographer.
Ruth Dyar Mendenhall (1912-1989) shocked 1930’s gender norms by choosing a life of adventure after having two children, becoming one of America’s first female mountain climbers. She and her husband co-authored several climbing guide books.
I highly encourage you to check out the exhibit’s page on the National Library of Scotland’s website to learn more about Scottish women in the outdoors and how they influenced the perception of women in the outdoors. Also be sure to check out FCPL’s outdoor book club, Bookish Trailblazers. In this book club, we read and discuss books about outdoor adventure and nature from all different perspectives. If you decide to read The Living Mountain, I recommend having photos of the Cairngorms at hand so you can easily visualize what Shepherd describes in her book. And if you ever have a chance, the wild Scottish Highlands are a must visit.
Here are a few more recommended reads in FCPL's collection.
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