Post by Lou Dawson | July 18, 2023
Lisa, Columbia Icefield, Canada.
“… In the evening twilight, the clouds lift like a stage curtain. We crawl from the tent and stand shoulder to shoulder. A full moon bobbles over massive peaks that ring the eastern horizon like theater walls. Banner clouds flag from Mount Andromeda and other matterhorns of grim north faces and rugged ridges — the sons and daughters of the roiled glaciers. The Rockies’ soul tightens around my heart. What union is this? Man and mountain; the human animal in its place. A taste of primitive joy? Or do I attach innuendos for simple chemistry?”
“I follow Lisa back into our shelter. Whether it’s the endorphins or the mystic, our pasta dinner tastes five-star—even the prepackaged, artificially enhanced cheese sauce is a tingling delight …”
Excerpted from my memoir: Avalanche Dreams.
All the best, Lou
Posted by Lou Dawson on July 18, 2023 | Filed Under
Avalanche Dreams - The Book,
Legacy Posts & Articles,
Trip Reports
Tags:
backcountry,
Canada,
columbia,
icefield,
romance,
skiing,
Snowdome,
touring,
Comments
Welcome to Louis (Lou) Dawson's personal website. Lou's passion for the past 50 years has been alpinism, climbing, mountaineering and skiing -- along with all manner of outdoor recreation. He has authored numerous books and articles about ski touring and is known as the first person to ski down all 54 of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks, otherwise known as the Fourteeners.
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Lou & Lisa, Great reprise of a wonderful place. It brought me back to a week I spent with college buddies on the Icefield in June ’83. We enjoyed ourselves making sloppy tele turns on Snow Dome using nordic gear with “heel locators”. We went up the Athabasca glacier and came down the Sasketchewan and hitched back to the car. Thanks for the trip back in time.
Gee Lou, 1995 doesn’t seem all that long ago. Were you still using a Kodak “Brownie” shooting B&W film?
Sounds like you had a good trip, which can happen under the most dire conditions.
I prefer smaller less problematic glaciers, less stress, and, still good vertical.
Great account of more than just another trip report. I really liked the dual perspective. Brings back fond memories of my own 3 month adventure up there in the spring of ’99, skiing the Wapta Icefield Traverse, etc.
Thanks,
Mike
When i read that, and look at where you all were, and now where you are, it really is something. Great family values, faith, skiing, kid in college, and continuing the traditions and way of life, it’s something i def aspire to with my own family and life. It simply doesn’t and can’t get any better than that in my view.