“Wild Snow” most prominently refers to the foundational book and digital publication created by legendary American mountaineer Louis “Lou” Dawson, which serves as the ultimate authority on North American backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering.
Because the term can refer to a few different concepts in outdoor culture, the primary meanings are broken down below. 1. Wild Snow: The Book (1997)
Written by Lou Dawson, Wild Snow: A Historical Guide to North American Ski and Snowboard Mountaineering is widely considered the “encyclopedia” of the sport.
The History: It features meticulously researched archives documenting the evolution of human-powered skiing across the continent. It chronicles legendary historical figures like Bill Briggs (the first to ski the Grand Teton).
The Guide: The book outlines 54 classic mountain descents across North America. These range from Tuckerman Ravine on New Hampshire’s Mount Washington to the massive peaks of Denali in Alaska. 2. WildSnow.com (The Website)
Following the success of the book, Dawson launched WildSnow.com in 1998, which became the world’s first independent website dedicated entirely to ski touring and ski mountaineering. Snow Leopard Facts: Habitat, Behavior & Conservation | WWF
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