In this episode of The High Route Podcast, we speak with Lou Dawson. As much as anyone in North American ski mountaineering, Dawson has been a cornerstone of the sport and the broader culture.

Last spring, he released his memoir, Avalanche Dreams. Already reviewed on the site, here's what our writer Alex Lee had to say:

Lou Dawson, pioneering American ski mountaineer, climber, and writer, dissects hard-earned wisdom of the mountain in Avalanche Dreams: A Memoir of Skiing Climbing and Life. Avalanches are, as Lou puts it, the "sword of Damocles," whispering "rocks, snow, people—all fall." Lou's story of his "unrecoverable addiction" to the mountains is a hero's journey of facing dragons and overcoming Herculean trials to find comfort beneath that sword through partnership and family. He also catches literal rattlesnakes, managing to get his elementary school evacuated when the sheriff comes to kill them. 

If you know who Lou is, or if you don't, his story is a gripping wallop of adventures, family, and gravity. 

Alex joins the podcast as we discuss the writing process with Lou and converse about his decades-long life and continuing adventures in the hills.  

You can find more information about Lou here, where you can also learn how to purchase the book. 

If you are new to The High Route, we are a reader and listener-supported enterprise focusing on human-powered turn making. Our mission is simple, but it takes real deal calorie burning to piece it all together.

We are also excited to announce Issue 1.0 of The High Route magazine is in the works. Fancy paper. Good reads. High-octane photos. And some fine mountain ranges. And turns. You can learn more about our subscription options here.

The theme music for The High Route Podcast comes from Storms in the Hill Country and the album The Self Transforming (Thank you, Jens Langsjoen). You can find a link to the album here—there are so many good songs on this album. And if you think you've spotted a UFO in the past or visited the 7th dimension, "Beautiful Alien" is a good tune to start with.

Thanks for listening,

The High Route Team