Colorado's 54 fourteen-thousand-foot summits have long captured the imagination of mountaineers. But for ski alpinists, the prize isn't just reaching the top - it is skiing back down. Fourteener Snow, by legendary ski alpinist Louis "Lou" Dawson, is the definitive guide to that pursuit.
No one is better qualified to write this book. Dawson made history when, in 1991, he became the first person to ski all the fourteeners, a feat that earned him induction into the Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame and recognition from Powder Magazine (in 2006) as one of "The Most Influential Skiers of the Past 35 Years." What is more, as a top rock and ice climber in the 1970s and a NOLS and Outward Bound instructor of that same era, Dawson brings a truly unique blend of experience to every page.
Fourteener Snow delivers everything a backcountry skier needs: concise route descriptions, safety tips, and annotated photographs covering more than ninety ski routes on Colorado's most iconic summits. But this is no ordinary guidebook. Dawson weaves in plenty of first-person storytelling from his epic days on the peaks - Capitol Peak, Longs Peak, the Maroon Bells, and more - bringing the mountains to life for armchair adventurers and seasoned ski mountaineers alike.
The book is enriched by interviews with Colorado's leading ski and snowboard alpinists. Christy Mahon, the first woman to ski all the fourteeners, shares her perspective. Chris Davenport, who skied every fourteener in a single calendar year and set a speed record, also lends his voice. And guidebook writer and fourteeners skier Brittany Konsella chimes in as well. Beyond all that, Dawson also interviews Jarrett Luttrell, the first person to snowboard all the fourteens. Their accounts add depth, inspiration, and a sense of history to this compelling volume.