The Start (and impact) of Adventure Writing

This post has three surprises, mostly great. The first surprise is sharing an amazing find that I just discovered, "Project Gutenberg, founded in 1971, is the oldest producer and distributor of free ebooks." Once found, I have since downloaded scores of titles. These are not first-run, bestsellers by any stretch. Welcome to the land of the delightfully obscure. Here are three examples:

The Slang Dictionary by John Camden Hotten from 1874

The Deserter, and Other Stories: A Book of Two Wars by Harold Frederic from 1898

Why Authors Go Wrong, and Other Explanations by Grant M. Overton from 1919

And while there are familiar options, like Agatha Christie's, Murder on the Links, the second surprise is a rich collection of vintage adventure guides and outdoor fiction. First up on my reading list was Camping in the Canadian Rockies by Walter Dwight Wilcox. This 1896 book was published by G.P. Putnam's Sons (now part of Penguin Random House) under the publisher's imprint, The Knickerbocker Press.

Even though this was a download, the photo of the original cover brought me back. This style and type of book was found in my home and cottage. Heavy hard copy with embossed cover. Old-style text and graphic raised in tough fabric. It was like holding a precious, religious object. The heft and bespoke nature demanded respect. It turns out that most of the books, I chose to download are from this era and sport this design.

Let's talk about the author because that is a clue to the third surprise. Walter Dwight Wilcox (1869–1949) was an early explorer of the Canadian Rockies. Born in Chicago, Illinois, he was educated at Andover and Yale. While he was still in college, he ascended Mount Hood, and the summer after his senior year he made the first ascent of Eagle Peak in the Selkirks. 

This was the first of a number of important Canadian climbs he made annually from 1893 to 1896 and again in 1899. Among his first ascents in this period were Mount Aberdeen, Mount Temple, Observation Peak and Mount Niblock. He crossed several new passes, and was the first white man to go by what is now known as Wilcox Pass to Fortress Lake. 

Interest in the mountains never left him. Nineteen years later, he made a first ascent of Mount Baker in the Canadian Rockies; and in 1940, when he was 71 years old, he again revisited the pass in his name. A Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, past president of the Trail Riders of Canada, a corresponding member of the Appalachian Mountain Club and an honorary member of the Alpine Club of Canada, the man had established his bona fides.

After reading this highly entertaining book, I see something else behind its publication. More on that in a bit. First off, I loved that it opened with a profile of Banff, Alberta. This Rocky Mountain mecca has a rich history and Wilcox captures its salad days. In fact, when he wrote the book in 1896, he speaks of Banff having only a ten year history. What he noted is not far off current circumstances:

The difference being, Banff's population was just 500 in his time. Having spent time in Banff, it was cool to hear him describe various terrain and ascents like Tunnel and Rundle Mountains. He gets a snooty stab in at the novice, which happens in most sports and activities throughout history.

I must stop here and report that Wilcox lugged an old-time camera on these adventures. The book features, "twenty-five full-page photogravures". These are amazing in quality and incredibly impressive given the circumstances and time.

He tells tales of past expeditions like that of Sir George Simpson while providing a history of Canada along the way. Wilcox's writing is engrossing. Descriptions are both sparse and full at the same time (that is an art in writing). Consider this:

There are fun anecdotes and some, be warned, uncomfortable dated references. Wilcox talks of idle Indians and trails easy enough for ladies. This can be forgiven with the passage of time and is balanced with descriptions of large tree stumps, one whose rings began in 1492 when Columbus set forth on his big trip. Then he talks of forty pound trout and a hermit prospector named Hunter, who is extremely well-read. At several points, he curses "bull-dog flies" and the bites they take out of skin.

Overall, there is, understandably, a Victorian charm and entitlement to his efforts:

Wilcox was not an armchair vacationer. He got out and was exceedingly casual about big events and accomplishments. The last sentence, in the following, is a smart anticipation. Travel with others may not work out.

What I wondered as the book progressed from Banff to all points within the Rockies, was what would readers of his day take away from the book. Then it struck me, the third surprise. The book is one big promotion. If Wilcox was alive today, he would be writing for Outdoor or Backpacker or even Travel+Leisure. He would not be penning misleading advertorials, Wilcox would be regaling readers with true adventures.

The problem is the adventures are ads. They get people thinking about traveling to places. From Wilcox to Krakauer (and Hemingway in between), these writers have romanticized summiting, running with bulls, and the sites of ancient civilizations. Prior to Covid, the debate involved limiting tourism. Small villages in Europe were looking at quotas, Venice was in crisis, pyramids and paths falling apart.

We intend to write on this subject more as travel again opens up. What has happened during Covid was concerning enough. Parks and the outdoors were overrun and basic considerations to the environment ignored. When the world travels again, we are headed for impacts no one has properly considered. In Wilcox's day, travel was an expensive privilege, now the masses move with little or no awareness of what it means to their destinations.

Wilcox didn't take much into account. He made his living by promoting adventurism and was well-funded. Wilcox traveled in style.

At one point, he laments development and forecasts that resorts will rise and tourists will tame the land. At the same time, he is a cheerleader for excess.

Wilcox was a literal trailblazer both in exploring and adventure and in exploring and adventure writing. In future posts, we will examine the impact of travel, Instagram culture, and how brands may come to control your favourite hike or lookout. We are on a continuum that may lead to an unfortunate future. One where we are all hypocrites and offenders.