A Novel That Blends Mystery, Memory, and Climate Reality

Nestled under the looming presence of Mt. Robson—the tallest peak in the Canadian Rockies—Under the Mountain’s Shadow by Peter J. Blenman is not your typical wilderness novel. It’s a sweeping, genre-blending narrative that touches on environmental catastrophe, lost love, personal transformation, and a decades-old mystery buried in glacial ice.

Set against a real-life climate event—the 2021 Pacific Northwest heat dome—this novel captures both the beauty and brutality of a changing world.

A Story Born out of Melting Ice

The opening chapters plunge us into a landscape in crisis. Rivers are bursting their banks. Trails are being closed. Helicopters ferry stranded hikers from collapsing campsites. It’s more than just a backdrop—climate change is a character in this novel, just as imposing as Mt. Robson itself.

We meet Peter, a hydrologist returning to the valley during a historic heatwave to collect data on glacial melt. What he finds is not only ecological upheaval but also a return to old ghosts—former friends, past lovers, and a strange sense that the mountain is pulling him back into its orbit.

“The glacier is sweating its balls off,” says one character, capturing the book’s grounded, sometimes irreverent tone.

A Cold Case in the Glacial Core

At the heart of the story is an unsolved mystery: the disappearance of a woman named Rose Beaumont in 1981. Her story unfolds in parallel chapters, where we follow her cross-country journey from Montreal to Mt. Robson. Intelligent, independent, and yearning for freedom, Rose’s voice is bold and modern—even as she vanishes into the wilderness.

Years later, a waterproof camera is discovered melting out of a glacier—possibly hers. The question lingers: What happened that summer?

Characters That Feel Like They Belong to the Land

Blenman’s cast of characters feels lived-in and complex. There’s Chris, the aging park ranger facing retirement and the loss of identity that comes with it. There’s Julian, the local with one foot in the past and another in survival mode. And then there are Roger and Jimmy—former guides whose falling out may be tied to the events of that fateful summer.

Each character is drawn with empathy, humour, and just enough mystery to keep the reader turning pages.

Why This Book Matters Now

Under the Mountain’s Shadow is more than just a gripping wilderness tale. It’s a reflection on:

• How climate change is reshaping our landscapes—and our lives
• What it means to grow older and let go of who you were
• The cost of secrets left buried, whether in ice or in memory

It’s a novel that asks hard questions about our past while hinting at the work needed to rebuild a future—one trail, one bridge, one relationship at a time.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a fan of Canadian wilderness writing, eco-fiction, or stories that weave memory with mystery, Under the Mountain’s Shadow offers a powerful and timely read. It’s a story that feels both intimate and epic, reminding us that some landscapes—internal and external—are never fully mapped.

As one character says, gazing out at the mountains, “I miss who I am up here.”

In an age of climate uncertainty, that sentiment hits hard.

Interested in reading it? Check out Under the Mountain’s Shadow by Peter J. Blenman — a novel that stays with you like a sunset turning the mountain peaks pink.