A Woman's Place© Cameron Walker
Apr 9, 2001
Although often spectacular, the change of seasons can be difficult on anyone who loves the outdoors. I had just started to dust off my running shoes for the spring sunshine and to treat skiing as a fond memory, when two feet of fresh snow appeared. The flowers have started to appear, but an April shower may change your plans for a weekend camping trip. On days like these, I like to curl up with a book and learn about the adventures of others.
I first read Annapurna: A Woman's Place when I was in grade school. My parents had books everywhere, and they knew if they left one in an almost-hidden spot, I would tear through it with abandon. So I found this book tucked away behind my mother's nightstand. Reading it again as a pseudo-adult, I now understand all the vocabulary, but have not lost any of the fascination and amazement with the group of women climbers who sent a summit team up this Nepalese peak, considered one of the most treacherous climbs in the world.
Arlene Blum, the author of the book, leads an all-women expedition to Annapurna in 1978. At the time, women were even less represented in the alpine mountaineering world than at present. Oppositions swirled from all sides-American networks, Nepalese officials, and acquaintances of the women involved and those who supported their mission. Blum takes the reader from the organization of the expedition to Nepal, where the trek begins to the Base Camp. Interviews with team members, both from the expedition and looking back at the experience fill the book, as well as photographs of snow-covered peaks, team members, and climbing.
Throughout the book, the reader shares in the fears, joys, and dreams of these amazing women. Blum conveys the difficulties she has leading the team-personality conflicts, the decision-making process, and the responsibility she feels for the success of the expedition. It is interesting to learn that each member defines success differently-some want to reach the summit, others have personal altitude records and skills that they want to develop-and that the women respect the unique goals of their companions. The 20th anniversary edition also contains bios of the team members. I really enjoyed this segment. The book gave a very personal look into the lives of these women, and reading about their more recent experiences made me feel as if I was catching up with an old friend.
This book will inspire female (and male) climbers and mountaineers to continue to challenge themselves. Annapurna may also spark an interest in alpinism to those who have not experienced the rugged beauty of the mountains. But I believe that all readers will be touched by the struggles and accomplishments of these women, as individuals and as a team working to create a world where women can succeed.
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The copyright of the article A Woman's Place in Outdoor Recreation is owned by Cameron Walker. Permission to republish A Woman's Place in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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