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!)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.