Janet Robertson (1) (1935–)

I first learned about the "mountain women" of Colorado back in 1983 while talking with my wife's surgeon. He had a great picture of Long's Peak behind his desk and got me interested in Isabella Bird. I'm sure if all these women are characters but but I guess it has to do with the air (or lack of same)!

The year before we went up into Rocky Mountain National Park and received our first lesson about alpine plants in the tundra. We were taught by Bea (called Bettie in the book). My wife and I both got a mild case of altitude sickness on that jaunt - the only case we have ever had and we have gone to altitude many times since then in the US, Canada, Switzerland, Austria and Itaiy.

If you know Colorado at all, you will recognize many of the places. She even mentions Enos Mills several times. The last chapter talks a lot about technical climbing. We have been up parts of the 14ers but never on the end of a rope. . .

This is an enjoyable read if you know the area and know about the impact these women had on Colorado in particular and on botany, mountain ecology, etc in general.… (meer)