On the Trail

In the early twentieth century, while young men were flocking to explore the beauty of the American wilderness, their female counterparts were typically relegated to the domestic sphere. But as the fight for equality of the sexes strengthened, so too did the feminine desire to discover the wilderness. In On the Trail, pioneering outdoorswomen Adelia and Lina Beard answer that call with a hiking and camping guide for women. Written specifically for the “sturdy, independent, and self-reliant young woman,” On the Trail includes dozens of practical, timeless trekking tips on topics such as tracking, setting up campsites, outdoors cooking, canoeing, woodcrafting techniques, and more. A true classic, On the Trail: An Outdoor Book for Girls is a perfect read for women of any age who love the freedom that comes when exploring the beauty of the outdoors.

Adelia B. Beard and Lina Beard were cofounders of the first American girls’ scouting group, known originally as the Girl Scout Society, then the Girl Pioneers, and finally as the Camp Fire Girls. Both were greatly interested in equal franchise for women and were members of the Equal Franchise Society of Flushing. Lina and Adelia coauthored several books together, the most well-known of which is The American Girls’ Handy Book. They lived in Suffern, New York.Ann Marie Brown is the author of more than thirteen hiking guidebooks and is a dedicated California outdoorswoman. Brown’s work has appeared in Sunset, VIA, Backpacker, and California magazines. She regularly writes and edits for several environmental groups, including the Sierra Club and the National Resources Defense Council. Brown lives in South Lake Tahoe, California.