Overview

"What's it like to be an intrepid explorer . . . and a woman? Expedition to Mystery Mountain is a come-along adventure of a city-dwelling woman who, with five fellow climbers, re-enacts the 1926 exploits of fearless trailblazers and pioneering Canadian mountaineers Don and Phyllis Munday. The team's ambitious mission: to recreate the Mundays' route to Mount Waddington, the highest peak of British Columbia's Coast Mountains, outfitted with vintage hobnail boots, fifty-pound wood-frame packs, and only antique ice axes for safety. Is the one woman in the crew prepared to endure the hordes of mosquitoes, the grizzly bears, the thickets of devil's club, and the other dangers on the List of Doom? The way forward is uncertain. Fear is not. Her mantra: ""Just keep going."" Far from civilization the gear and the team start falling apart, and the fate of the expedition hangs in the balance. At every turn, another stumbling block-yet her biggest obstacle may not be the impenetrable bush, the punishing weight of the pack frame, or her aching muscles. What is holding her back? To push on, she'll need to find inspiration in Phyllis Munday, a badass woman of courage, good humour, and old-fashioned grit. She'll have to come to terms with her fear of not being good enough-even when the path ahead is only more arduous. She'll be strong if she can remain centred, moment by moment, and take yet another step. She'll be unstoppable if she can trust herself in the face of uncertainty and unleash her inner wild woman. This unique, off-the-beaten-path adventure will enthrall the armchair traveller or seasoned hiker who enjoys reading about courage, resilience, and rebel women who dare to live by their own rules. Beautifully designed and illustrated with photographs from the Mundays' original voyage and its modern re-enactment, Expedition to Mystery Mountain is a visual feast that will take you back in time."

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9780993918711

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What happens when modern climbers follow early explorers, Don and Phyllis Munday in search of a mountain? From hobnail boots to wood framed packs, this book keeps you engrossed, imagining how you would fare on such an adventure. Offering a glimpse of the bravery, stamina, and determination of early mountaineers. - Heather Anderson, author of Thirst: 2600 Miles to Home and Mud, Rocks, Blazes: Letting Go on the Appalachian Trail You could travel to the Himalayas for remote and rugged peaks or you can search for the Mystery Mountain on Canada's west coast. In Expedition to Mystery Mountain, we are introduced to Phyllis Munday, part of a husband-and-wife climbing duo who explored Canada's west coast mountains in the early part of the 20th century. The author and her team tackle this perilous adventure. She doesn't overly focus on the gear, the goals or milestones but offers a glimpse into her experiences and the men she climbs with. It's a heartwarming, and refreshing perspective to typical mountaineering literature. The comparisons between her struggles and what Phyllis must have endured are insightful and relatable. This expedition to re-create Canadian history is unique. The hobnail boots, heavy packs and wool clothing require a level of courage and resilience that I'm happy to know women have been taking part in for the better part of the last century. --Dr. Shaunna Burke, 2nd Canadian woman to summit Mount Everest, Team Discovery and cast member of Ultimate Survival: Everest [2004 T.V. series] Discovery Channel A thoughtful account re-creating the Munday's climb through the Homathko Valley's logging roads, an ever-tangled nightmare to find and traverse. Legendary mountaineer Phyllis Munday, who Susanna portrayed during this re-creation climb, was always prepared. She made the gear, dried the food, cooked and served it and would retire to her tent to embroider wildflowers onto handkerchiefs if it rained. Way too high a barrier to jump! --Judith Williams, author of, Cougar Companions: Bute Inlet Country and the Legendary Schnarrs An eye-opening travelogue you don't want to miss Expedition to Mystery Mountain is the documented literary account of an intriguing premise brought to life. Playing the roles of intrepid mountaineers from a century ago proves to be as grueling mentally as it is physically for Susanna and her crew. The underrepresented viewpoint of a female climber adds a balanced, yet vulnerable perspective as the group struggles to trust one another while fighting against the elements. As a woman, the expectations for Susanna feel more dramatic than the men in her group, as though she has more to prove. Not only is she representing mountaineers and adventurers everywhere, but she is specifically representing women of the 21st century, all while holding her own amongst a group of men physically stronger than herself. The comparisons between Phyllis Munday and Susanna Oreskovic in the struggles they share are insightful and heartwarming. One of the most moving aspects of the book is the inclusion of photographs captured by the author through the lens of a camera as old as the original expedition. The honest anecdotes and personal turmoil heighten the sense of wonder and discovery as the team moves through an unforgiving Canadian wilderness. If you love the outdoors, are interested in climb

Author Information

Susanna Oreskovic is a photographer, writer, and adventurer at heart. She is the author of, Expedition to Mystery Mountain: Adventures of a Bushwhacking, Knickerbocker- wearing Woman. Her come-along adventure, with five fellow climbers, re-enacts the 1926 route of legendary Canadian mountaineers Don and Phyllis Munday. In addition to being an expedition member, she is also the team's photographer, using a 1921 Kodak film camera; and contributed to the documentary film, The Mystery Mountain Project.

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