Hiking Inspiration: Books

I love this hiking inspiration topic!

Here's Mary's question: "Wow! I just discovered your website and, believe me, I am thrilled. I am an avid hiker and for my 60th birthday this year, I have convinced fourteen women to go to Colorado to do a couple of "fourteeners". Do you have any suggestions for prior reading for us on hiking--either fiction or nonfiction and preferably something about women. Thanks."

And here's my answer:

"Hello Mary! Thanks for your email. I'm jazzed just thinking about what a great time you will have, celebrating your birthday in such a fabulous way!

Here are a few suggestions. I wasn't sure if you wanted adventure stories, or inspiration, or how-to, so I threw in a bit of all three.

Here's a book with a special "60th" twist called "In Beauty May She Walk": http://www.allreaders.com/Topics/info_32278.asp?BSID=155237597

Female adventure tales: http://thedamari.wordpress.com/2010/03/05/book-list-women-of-adventure/

A list of outdoor adventure tales here (sadly, none by women): http://adventure16.com/content.asp?itemid=58

Here's a site you might find interesting, given your plans: http://www.squidoo.com/colorado-trail

And here's a book I still like to dip into, called Gifts of the Wild: A Woman's Book of Adventure. It's a compilation of essays, edited by Adventura Books. Since you have a lot of women in your hiking group, the stories might resonate differently with each of them. It could be a great topic of discussion!"

I want all women to have a chance to see the wild places, to be inspired by the strength in their legs and the ability to feel awe at the sight of mountains, glaciers and the moon conspiring to make life a grand adventure.

So there you have it: my first attempt at suggesting some hiking inspiration reading material. I think this is a great question, because when the weather turns nasty, I always curl up with a book. If you have anything to add, please use the contact form below. I think I have a few spots left on my bookshelf!

Hiking inspiration comes in many forms. Try a few more here.