Welcome to Louis “Lou” Dawson’s Website
THE MEMOIR — READERS AND REVIEWERS SAY YES!
In his new memoir, Avalanche Dreams, renowned mountaineer Lou Dawson shares a tumultuous coming-of-age journey, steeped in the counterculture revolution of the 1960s.
Amidst the towering peaks of Colorado and beyond, Lou discovers an enduring love for alpine sports: scaling cliffs, topping summits, skiing powder snow. However, as the avalanches fall and lifestyle choices veer, his pursuit of adrenaline becomes a poignant struggle for meaning in a culture where nothing succeeds like excess.
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This deeply moving narrative invites readers to join Lou as he navigates a precarious path toward fulfillment, showcasing his transformation from a reckless, thrill-seeking youth to a devoted father determined to build a stable foundation for his family.
Lou Dawson, Denali basecamp 2010.
Writer and ski mountaineer Lou Dawson is the founder and publisher emeritus of WildSnow.com, the first independent ski-touring dedicated website in the world, established in 1998.
Dawson is also the first person to ski down all 54 of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks (the fourteeners), a project he completed in 1991.
Along with his career in digital content, Dawson has authored numerous books and print articles covering ski touring and mountaineering.
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“When a ski or snowboard descent completes a fine climb, the alpinist becomes a joyful, even sublime part of the the wild landscape. No human game is more elegant and exalted that that of climbing to a summit, then sliding down a mountain on a glistening mantel of white snow.”
— Lou Dawson
Louis Dawson’s recently published guidebook details a variety of moderate ski tours in Colorado. Building on a successful first edition, this second edition adds a variety of trips, all intended as safer options for Colorado’s avalanche-prone winter snowpack. The concept is revolutionary! Skiing steep, avalanche-prone slopes can be fun, but there’s an entire world of safer terrain to enjoy.
Dawson’s ski mountaineering history book.
Shop for Light Tours of Colorado
Dawson has a special affinity for the history of ski mountaineering. In 1998 he authored the authoritative text on the history of the sport in North America. Titled “Wild Snow,” the book covers 54 classic mountain ski descents of North America, with chapters devoted to each major mountain region on the continent. In all, a historical narrative that will make both beginning and expert ski tourers anxious to grab their skis or snowboard and head for the hills.
Through his more than two decades tenure of the WildSnow.com website, he broke stories, promulgated history, and enjoyed many journeys to Europe where he covered the roots of ski mountaineering.
Currently, Lou continues work as a blogger and content creator, while enjoying the release of his memoir, Avalanche Dreams. He and his wife live in Colorado.
