"In addition to providing interesting and valuable views of the early Canadian Rockies, This Wild Spirit provides an almost equally valuable overview of that small, interrelated group of women who traveled west for their own reasons....[T]his collection is a valuable addition to any shelf of Rocky mountain history. The insights and observations are enjoyable and memorable reminders of a special time in the European 'discovery' of the blue Canadian Rockies." -- Ken Tingley -- 20061008
"[This Wild Spirit] is both a good read and a welcome contribution to the history of Canadian Mountain literature....The collected materials of these women botanists, painters, essayists, novelists, photographers, glaciologists, geologists, teachers, physicians, hikers, climbers, cooks and lodge managers constitute a necessary and enlightening base camp, from which I ardently hope Skidmore will attempt an ascent on volume two, tracing the period from 1963 to the present." -- Pamela Banting -- 20070301
"Many of the excerpts represent published works, but there are some private and previously unpublished writings such as Catharine Robb Whyte's letters to her mother. They impart a touching, personal impression of life in the mountains, and, alongside the many photographs, stand as a complement to the more official depictions of Rocky Mountain women of that time." Mari Sasano, Legacy, Summer, 2007.
"During this period when Rocky mountain travel was in its infancy (from the late 19th to the mid-20th century), women strove to capture their impressions of a very challenging yet inspiring area. They did this using many literary and visual forms, including diaries, plays, poetry, essays, letters, photography, paintings, and beadwork. The result is a 'creative and cultural legacy' unequalled in its richness. This anthology is a 'portable archive,' organized into six groupings: Metis and Aboriginal women, botanists, explorers, mountaineers, mountain culture and wilderness, and literary travellers. The issues of racial difference and women's rights permeate the collection. Substantial excerpts from diaries, letters, and other literary works are supplemented with archival documents, photos, and samples of CPR advertising posters that used images of women to promote travel in the Rockies. The collection lends itself to browsing and sampling, enjoying short extracts at random as a way of experiencing a little-known piece of Canada's social history." Janet Arnett, Canadian Book Review Annual 2007
"It is clear that women have been a shaping force in our understanding of the mountains and their inhabitants. This book sets out the early history with respect, enthusiasm, and a treasure of illustrations." Joanna Dutka, University of Toronto Quarterly, Winter 2008
"The assorted journal entries, essays, letters, photos, drawings, paintings--even the script of a play--all illustrate the pluck and determination required by women who wanted to push the conventions of the time in pursuit of adventure and knowledge. In an era when independent travel by women was virtually unheard of, these pioneers achieved a series of significant milestones, from botanical fieldwork to cross-cultural friendships to the traversing of glaciers and high passes...often while wearing an ankle-length dress and bustle." -- 20070201
"The editor has made an excellent selection for this book, providing a most readable and inspiring account of women and their relationship to the mountains." -- 2007
"Skidmore...examines women's encounters with the Rocky Mountains by investigating a diverse collection of material spanning the years from 1887 to 1993, most of which dates from the years 1907 to 1912....[She] has created an important resource and gives voice to the women who were drawn to the Rockies....Skidmore shows that women sought out the Rocky mountains for their own reasons, and on their own terms." -- Amy L. McKinney -- 2006
