Fierce Country by Heather Hansman
Heather Hansman’s engaging new work of nonfiction is Fierce Country: The Untold Story of Three Women Who Ignited America’s Love for the Wild. The women were Georgie White, Anne LaBastille and Dolores LaChapelle, who, despite never meeting and their quite dissimilar temperaments, were each ferociously independent and shared a passion for preserving America’s wilderness. These 20th century risk takers and environmentalists have remained largely unknown, overlooked and rather disdained by the men in their areas of expertise.
The Redefining of a River Rafting Guide
Georgie White (1911-1992) made a foolhardy leap of faith in 1945 by jumping into the Colorado River wearing only a swimsuit, sneakers and a life jacket, swimming for dear life and bouncing through the boulder-strewn white water rapids of the Grand Canyon. The exhilarated Georgie couldn’t wait to repeat the experience and soon launched a lifelong career as a professional river runner, becoming the sole woman Canyon guide for 20 years. Initially lashing together WWII Army surplus rubber rafts for greater stability, she created the “Royal River Rats” raft company whose reputation grew, along with hers, for being a maverick nonconformist. Trim, athletic and clad in leopard-spotted leotards, she guided affordable river runs with one hand on the tiller and the other holding a can of Coors while spinning tale tales to awestricken tourists.
A Woman’s “Walden”
New Jersey native Anne LaBastille (1933-2011), inspired by the writings of Henry David Thoreau, purchased land on the edge of Black Bear Lake in the Adirondacks following her divorce and built a primitive log cabin where she could hike, contemplate nature and write. This refuge was without running water, indoor plumbing, electricity, phone or any nearby neighbors. Having earned a Ph.D. in Wildlife Ecology from Cornell University, Anne was able to identify all woodland flora and every bird just from hearing its song.
During her lifetime, she published a dozen books, over 150 magazine articles and numerous scientific papers. She is best remembered for Woodswoman: Living Alone in the Adirondack Wilderness, which has remained in print since its original 1976 publication date. First in a series of four Woodswoman memoirs spanning four decades, it documents and celebrates her love of the outdoors, solitude and resilience. Renowned for her fine nature photography, lectures and wilderness workshops, Anne LaBastille became a sought-after international conservation consultant on the destructive effects of acid rain and pollution.
A Skier on a Solo Path
Born in Denver, Colorado, Dolores LaChapelle (1926-2007) was a fearless mountain climber, ski instructor and trailblazer in the male-dominated sport of deep powder skiing, as well as an exacting researcher and writer who operated the “Way of the Mountain” Center from her home in Silverton. Dolores had moved to this nascent ski resort area while married to pioneering avalanche expert and snow scientist Ed LaChapelle, who later relocated to Alaska. Her several books incorporate her passion for backcountry wilderness skiing with her environmental concerns as a philosopher and ecologist.
Filmmaker Warren Miller built his successful niche career on capturing elite skiers and snowboarders seeming to float or soar atop pristine deep fluffy looking powdery snow located in remote off-trail, high-country. Dolores participated in one of his films but preferred the independence of her method of “tuning” while skiing solo; listening to and being guided by the mountains themselves. Not for the faint of heart, deep powder skiing requires extraordinary skill and balance with ever present perils of avalanches or snow immersion suffocation from falls.
Trailblazing Figures to Remember
Georgie White, Anne LaBastille and Dolores LaChapelle are unsung heroes in the vanguard of the outdoor movement. In Fierce Country, Hansman sheds light on the impact of these pioneers in the areas of conservation, outdoor tourism and recreation in a thoroughly researched, informative and entertaining work of nonfiction.
Heather Hansman is a writer and editor. She is author of Fierce Country, Powder Days, and Downriver. She lives in southwest Colorado, close to desert rivers and big mountains. You can find out more about updates and events on her website.
