Mary Arakelian's biography of Dr. Orra Phelps is the story of an exceptional woman whose unselfish contribution to our knowledge of the Adirondacks is a legacy still enjoyed by lovers of the outdoors. Using letters written between Orra and her mother, the author provides an intimate portrait of Orra's life as a physician, naturalist, botanist, hiker, mountaineer, teacher, and writer. From the hardship of growing up at the turn of the century, through her difficult years as a woman in medical school, to her writing of the Adirondack Mountain Club's 1934 Guide to Adirondack Trails, Arakelian introduces us to a gifted woman. Phelps's intelligence, physical stamina, and boundless enthusiasm underscore her legacy as one of New York State's truly remarkable women of the 20th century.
