Lou Dawson's Backcountry Skiing Blog & Website -- Content Pages

This backcountry skiing, snowboard, telemark booklist is taken from the bibliography compiled by Louis Dawson for his Wild Snow history project. This is the most complete backcountry skiing booklist available on the web. Updated frequently, with an effort made to keep it focused. If you're gift shopping for a backcountry skier, telemarker, or backcountry snowboarder, stop here first!

Baldwin, John. Exploring the Coast Mountains on Skis: A Guidebook to Mountain Ski Touring in Southwestern British Columbia. Author published, 1994.
(Here there be adventure. Backcountry skiing at its best!)
[shop for this book]

Beck, David. Ski Touring In California. Pika Press, 1980.
(Another classic that belongs in every backcountry skier's collection.)
[shop for this book]

Beckey, Fred. Cascade Alpine Guide. Volumes 1 and 2. Mountaineers Books, 1987.

Beckey, Fred. Challenge of the North Cascades. Mountaineers Books, 1969.

Beidleman, Neal. Aspen Ski and Snowboard Guide. Wolverine, 2006.
(Inbounds guidebook for all of Aspen, Colorado's ski areas. These resorts include a huge amount of natural snow terrain, hence inclusion of this book here.)
[shop for this book]

Bradley, Tyson. Backcountry Skiing Utah. Falcon, 2002.
(Truly an excellent book if you want to get the most out of Utah, or just dream about the powder capitol of the world. Nice gift for any skier with an adventurous heart.)
[shop for this book]

Bergdorfer, Rainer. 100 Classic Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Routes in Washington. Mountaineers Books; 2 edition, 1999.
(Rainer worked hard on this book for years, and it shows in this quality offering. Collectors, note that Reiner's first book is the out-of-print "Backcountry Sking in Washington's Cascades.")
[shop for this book]

Bernbaum, Edwin. Sacred Mountains of the World. Sierra Club Books, 1990.
(Interesting take for mountain lovers of all stripes. Large format book with beautiful photographs.)
[shop for this book]

Bronski, Peter. Powder Ghost Towns. Wilderness Press, 2008.
(Guidebook for Colorado's former and now closed ski resorts, includes excellent historical information.)
[shop for this book]

Brower, David. Manual of Ski Mountaineering. Sierra Club Books, 1962.
(The famed conservationist came from backcountry skiing roots, and wrote the first North American version of a backcountry skiing how-to. Terrific gift.)
[shop for this book]

Bowers, Vivien. In the Path of an Avalanche. Greystone Books, 2003.
[shop for this book]

Bueler, William. Roof of the Rockies. Pruett Publishing, 1974.
(Classic overview of early Colorado alpine climbing.)
[shop for this book]

Burhenne, H.J. Sierra Spring Ski Touring. Mountain Press, 1971.
(The original guidebook for mountain backcountry skiing descents in the California Sierra, hard to find, collectible.)
[shop for this book]

Burton, Hal. The Ski Troops. Simon and Shuster, 1971.
(Early book about the 10th Mountain Division is still worthy.)
[shop for this book]

Campbell, Tavis & Cox, Sam. Stepping Up . Author published, 2nd edition, 2009.
(Guidebook The Ridge at Bridger Bowl ski area in Montana.)
[shop for this book]
[read review]

Clellan & O'Bannon. Allen and Mike's Really Cool Backcountry Ski Book. Falcon, 1996
(The best bathroom reading ever sold -- if you're near a bathroom. Highly recommended.)
[shop for this book]

Cliff, Peter. Ski Mountaineering. Pacific Search Press, 1987.
(First book to cover the sport in a modern sense -- now a classic.)
[shop for this book]

Corcoran, Thom. Mount St. Helens. KC Publications, 1985.
(This large format staple-bound book has the photos. Includes the shots of the guys on a neighboring peak watching the eruption and falling to the ground in amazement. Classic.)
[shop for this book]

Cowman, Charles E. Mountain Trailways For Youth, Devotions for Young People. Zondervan, 1978.
(Christian devotional for young people, with emphasis on mountains and natural world, nice gift.)
[shop for this book]

Daugherty, Sean. Selected Alpine Climbs in the Canadian Rockies. Rocky Mountain Books. (Includes a number of ski routes, and describes access to many backcountry ski areas and peaks.)

Dawson, Louis. Colorado 10th Mountain Trails. WHO Press, 1991.
( Out of print but still available on used market. Somewhat dated but includes alternate routes.Good collector's item. Lou will sign your book if you mail it to him with SASE.)

Dawson, Louis. Colorado High Routes. Mountaineers Books, 1987.
(The first Colorado guidebook to cover ski mountaineering and the 10th Mountain Huts.)
[shop for this book]
[information about this book]

Dawson, Louis. Dawson’s Guide to Colorado’s Fourteeners: Volume 1, The Northern Peaks. Blue Clover Press, 1995.

Dawson, Louis. Dawson’s Guide to Colorado’s Fourteeners: Volume 2, The Southern Peaks. Blue Clover Press, 1996.

Dawson, Louis. Dawson's Guide to Colorado Backcountry Skiing, Roaring Fork Area Blue Clover Press, 2000.

Dawson, Louis. Wild Snow, 54 Classic Ski and Snowboard Descents of North America. AAC Press, 1998.
[more information, and shop for this book]

Day, Richard. Mad Dog Mountain. Sutton Publishing
(Amazing work of mountain mystic fiction that yes, includes backcountry skiing.)
[shop for this book]
[read review]

Dyer, John Lewis. The Snow-Shoe Itinerant. Cranston and Stowe, 1891.
(The original is an out-of-print collector's book, but the text was re-editioned with photos in a modern book, available via following shopping link. Terrific way to gain a sense of Colorado's ski history.)
[shop for this book]

Farquhar, Francis. History of the Sierra Nevada. University of California Press, 1966.
[shop for this book]

Fay, Abbott. Ski Tracks in the Rockies. Cordillera Press, 1984.
(Brief yet excellent overview of Colorado ski history.)
[shop for this book]

Fredston, Jill. Snowstruck: In the Grip of Avlanches. Harcourt, 2005.
(Gripping account of avalanche accidents and her life as an avalanche expert.)
[shop for this book]

Goodman, David.Classic Backcountry Skiing Adventures
(Still the source for classic adventure skiing in the Northeastern United States.)
[shop for this book]

Goodwin, Tony. Classic Adirondack Ski Tours. Adirondack Mountain Club, 1994.
(Early effort at detailing this incredible area, must-have for any collection.)
[shop for this book]

Grauer, Jack. Mount Hood a Complete History. Author published, 1975.
(Interesting history with plentiful illustrations, tons of ski info.)
[shop for this book]

Greenberg, Nate & Mingori, Dan. Backcountry Skiing California's Eastern Sierra. Woverine Publishing, 2008.
(Solid details for many routes, no cultural or historical info.)
[shop for this book]

Haddad, Ron & Faughey, Eileen. Front Range Descents. Sigma, 2003.
(A truly excellent Colorado backcountry skiing guidebook. Will grow your skier's life-list by a quantum leap. Haddad formerly published Indian Peaks Descents. This new book includes all information in the former guidebook.)
[shop for this book]

Hart, John L. Jerome. Fourteen Thousand Feet. Colorado Mountain Club, 1971.
(The original guide to Colorado's Fourteeners, hard to find staple bound collector's book.)

Jay, John. Ski Down the Years. Award House, 1966.
(Incredible classic, out of print but available on used market. A must-have for any skier who enjoys the roots of the sport.)
[shop for this book]

Jenkins, McKay. The White Death. Random House, 2000.
(Covers the tragic and well known death of three young men in a 1969 avalanche in Glacier National Park. Mixes vivid description of the tragedy with a primer on snow and avalanches, opinion about risk, and philosophical musings about mountain recreation. A worthwhile read.)
[shop for this book]

Johannsen, Alice E. The Legendary Jackrabbit Johannsen. McGill-Queens University Press, 1993.
[shop for this book]

Kelner, Alexis. Skiing in Utah: A History. Author published, 1980.
(Excellent history with a backcountry slant.)
[shop for this book]

Kelner, Alexis. Wasatch Tours. Wasatch Books, 1976, Early edition..
(The first guidebook in the United States to cover steeper modern backcountry skiing, this edition is out of print and available as a collector's book, new edition is sold in two volumes, see below.)
[shop for this book]

Kelner, Alexis. Wasatch Tours, Volume 1. Wasatch Tours, 1995..
(New edition of original classic, hard to find for some reason.)
[shop for this book]

Kelner, Alexis. Wasatch Tours, Volume 2 - Northern Wasatch. Wasatch Tours, 1995.
(New edition of original classic, hard to find for some reason.)
[shop for this book]

Kelsey, Michael. Climbing and Exploring Utah's Mount Timpanogos. Kelsey Publishing, 1989.
[shop for this book]

Kerig, Bill. The Edge of Never . 1st edition, Stone Creek Publishing, 2008.
(Story of Trevor Peterson, movie "Steep," Trevor's son Kye..)
[read review of this book]
[shop for this book]

Kinney, Matt. Alaska Backcountry Skiing - Valdez & Thompson Pass . 1st edition, Prince William Sound Books, 2008.
(Where the goods are good and the odds can be good too! Highly recommended.)
[read review of this book]
[shop for this book]

LaChapelle, Dolores. Deep Powder Snow. Kivaki Press, 1993.
[shop for this book]
[read review of this book]

LaChapelle, Edward R. The ABC’s of Avalanche Safety. Second Edition. Mountaineers Books, 1985.
(This second edition provides current basics in avoiding snow avalanche danger. Highly recommended.)
[shop for this book]

LaChapelle, Edward R. The ABC’s of Avalanche Safety. Mountaineer's Books "First Edition." Mountaineers Books, 1978.
(The early editions of this small concise book were a seminal publication in avalanche safety. Most of the info in the early editions is still accurate, but they're more of a collector book than anything else. Note that the true first edition of this book was published in Colorado before 1970, and was not published by Mountaineer's books. The true first edition is tough to find.)
[shop for 1978 edition of this book]

Lavender, David Sievert. One Man’s West. Doubleday, 1956.
(Incredible memoir of life in the early west during the "quiet years." Available in several editions.)
[shop for this book]

Leigh N. Ortenburger and Reynold G. Jackson. A Climber’s Guide To The Teton Range. Third Edition. Mountaineers Books, 1996.
[shop for this book]

Lev, Peter (with Ed LaChapelle and Liam Fitzgerald). Snow Avalanche Atlas, Little Cottonwood Canyon U-210. Utah Department of Transportation, 1987.
(This little publication changed everything when extreme skier Andrew McLean got his hands on it, hard to find.)

Litz, Brian and Kurt Lankford. Skiing Colorado’s Backcountry. Fulcrum Press, 1989.
(Brian's first book and still a classic. Lankford died of a heart attack some years ago, and book went out of print, but it's still available on used market. Brian went on to write Colorado Hut to Hut, and has now started his own publishing company.)
[shop for this book]

Litz, Brian. Colorado Hut to Hut - Vol 1. Westcliffe Publishers, 2000.
(Brian attemps to cover all of Colorado's huts in this series, and pretty much pulls it off. Volume 1 covers the northern huts, including 10th Mountain and Braun, while Volume 2 covers southern Colorado. For focused details about specific hut systems, you'll also want books such as Dawson's Guide to Colorado Backcountry Skiing.)
[shop for this book]

Logan, Nick & Atkins, Dale. The Snowy Torrents, Avalanche Accidents in U.S., 1980-86. Colorado Geological Survey, 1996.
(A repeat of the original classic, see bottom of this list.)
[shop for this book]

Lund, Morten, ed. The Ski Book. Arbor House, 1982.
(This is an excellent book, written by super historian Lund, has tons of accurate history and interesting stories.)
[shop for this book]

Lund, Morten and Bob Laurie. Skier’s Paradise. G.P. Putnam’s, 1967.
(This hard to find collector's book is worthy.)

Lund, Morten. The Skier’s World. Random House, 1973.
(Large format collector's book gives an interesting view of worldwide skiing in, numerous excellent photos, lots of history -- excellent gift for lovers of skiing! Prices are low, buy "collectible" rated books for new quality.)
[shop for this book]

Lunn, Arnold. The Mountains of Youth. Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1925.
(This collector's book is a must-read for anyone who's life is that of the alpinist.)

McLean, Andrew. The Chuting Gallery. Paw Prince Press, 1998.

Miura, Yuichiro and Perlman, Eric. The Man Who Skied Down Everest. Harper and Row, 1978.
(This adventure classic is sometimes a bit exaggerated, but an essential part of extreme skiing history. Fun gift.)
[shop for this book]

Molenaar, Dee. The Challenge of Rainier. Mountaineers Books, 1979.
[shop for this book]

Morris, Halsted. Backcountry Skier's Field Book. Hacksaw Publishing, 1997.
(While mostly a journal for snow observations, includes rescue flow chart, slope angle meter, and other useful content.)

Moynier, John. Backcountry Skiing in the High Sierra. Chockstone Press, 1992.
[shop for this book]

Moynier, John, Avalanche Aware. Falcon Press, 1998.

Munday, Don. The Unknown Mountain. Coyote Books, 1993.
(This classic describes the adventures of THE pioneers of Canadian ski alpinism -- a husband-wife team. Excellent.)
[shop for this book]

Nansen, Fridtjof. Farthest North. Volumes 1 & 2. Harper, 1897.
(Out of print, this edition is recommended for research as it has much more text than abridged edition, and includes all images, available from used book sellers.)

Nansen, Fridtjof. Farthest North. Abridged, Modern Library, 2000.
(Though abridged, still highly recommended. Terrific gift.)

Nelson and Potterfield. Selected Climbs in the Cascades. Mountaineers Books, 2003.
(Excellent overview that's useful for ski mountaineering.)
[shop for this book]

Ohlrich, Warren. The 10th Mountain Hut Book . WHO Press, 2006.
(Amazingly detailed guide for the famous huts of Colorado. Highly recommended. Good gift for a dreamer, and good tool for the skier who's already planning a trip.)
[shop for this book]

Pennington, Janice. Husband, Lover, Spy. St. Martin’s Press, 1994.
(Incredible story, if a bit far fetched, about extreme skier Fritz Stammberger -- unique gift.)
[shop for this book]

Parker, Paul. Free Heel Skiing. The Mountaineers, 1998. (second edition)

Perla, Ronald and M. Martinelli. Avalanche Handbook. U.S. Department of Agriculture #489, 1976.
(Another early book that started the revolution in avalanche safety technique and equipment. Older versions are good collector's items, were used as textbook for the early avalanche safety courses.)
[shop for this book]

Peters, Ed, ed. Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills. Mountaineers Books, 1991
[shop for this book]

Pote, Winston. Mount Washington in Winter. Down East Books, 1985.
(If you love Mount Washington backcountry skiing, you must have this classic book. Tons of skiing.)
[shop for this book]

Putnam, William Lowell. Joe Dodge. Phoenix Publishing, 1986.
[shop for this book]
[read review of this book]

Richards, Rick. Ski Pioneers: The Making of Taos Ski Valley. Dry Gulch Publishing, 1992.
[shop for this book]

Richins, Paul Jr. 50 Classic Backcountry Ski and Snowboard Summits in California. Mountaineers Books, 1999.

Rebuffat, Gaston. Starlight and Storm. Modern Library Exploration Series, 1999.
(Reprint of a mountaineering classic. First published in 1954, this sublime book changed mountain writing from a me versus them genre to one of communion and spirituality. Sometimes a bit over the top, but the alternative is worse. Makes a great gift, should be in every alpinist's collection.)
[shop for this book]

Rebuffat, Gaston. Between Heaven and Earth. Kaye & Ward, 1969.
(Simply a beautiful, inspiring book about mountaineering in the Alps. Hard to find collector's book, following link may not work for direct buy. ISBN 0718205138.)
[shop for this book]

Ringholz, Raye C. On Belay, the Life and Times of Legendary Mountaineer Paul Petzoldt. Mountaineers, 2000.
[shop for this book]

Roper, Steve & Steck, Allen. Fifty Classic Climbs. Sierra Club Books, 1996.
(This concept of book served as the model for many published after. Some of the climbs are mountaineering and can be ski alpinism related.)
[shop for this book]

Rose, Gene. Magic Yosemite Winters: A Century of Winter Sports. Coldstream Press, 1998.
(Good information about how skiers in the Yosemite made backcountry ski history.)

Schniebs, Otto Eugen. American Skiing. E. P. Dutton, 1939.
(Hard to find collector's book, includes an incredible chapter about backcountry ski mountaineering in Colorado in the 1930s.)

Scofield, Bruce. High Peaks of the Northeast. New England Cartographics, 1993.
(Useful overview of the Northeast alpine, round out your library.)
[shop for this book]

Secor, R.J.. The High Sierra: Peaks, Passes and Trails. Mountaineers Books, 1992.
[shop for this book]

Secor, R.J.. Mexico's Volcanos: A Climbing Guide. Mountaineers Books, 2001.
(Use this book for skiing adventures down south.)
[shop for this book]

Scott, Chic. Summits & Icefields. 1st edition, Rocky Mountain Books, 1996
(First edition is now a collector book, see below for new edition that's been split into two volumes.)
[read review of this book]
[shop for this book]

Scott, Chic. Summits & Icefields: Columbia Mountains. Rocky Mountain Books, 2003.
(Companion volume to Summits and Icefields: Canadian Rockies, this guide to alpine ski touring in the Columbia Mountains of Western Canada, the Purcells and Selkirks ranges.)
[shop for this book]

Scott, Chic. Summits & Icefields: Canadian Rockies. Rocky Mountain Books, 2003.
(Companion volume to Summits and Icefields: Columbia Mountains. A must-have for any library of wild snow backcountry skiing.)
[shop for this book]

Selters, Andy and Michael Zanger. The Mount Shasta Book. Wilderness Press, 1995.
[shop for this book]

Sheldrake, Wayne. Instant Karma: The Heart and Soul of a Ski Bum . Ghostroad Press, 2007.
[shop for this book]

Shelton, Peter. Climb to Conquer : 10th Mountain Division Ski Troops. Scribner, 2003.
[shop for this book]

Sinclair, Pete. We Aspired: The Last Innocent Americans. Utah State University Press, 1993.
(Valuable account of Wyoming Teton climbing culture in the 1960s.)
[shop for this book]

Smith, Carolyn, ed. Alaska Almanac. Alaska Northwest Books, 1994.

Tejada-Flores, Lito. Backcountry Skiing. Sierra Club Books, 1981.
(The first North American modern how-to book for backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. A terrific collector's item, still contains lots of useful information.)
[shop for this book]

Tilburg,Christopher Van. Backcountry Ski! Oregon: Classic Descents for Skiers & Snowboarders. Sasquatch Books, 2001.
[shop for this book]

Tilton, Buck. Wilderness First Responder. Falcon Books, 2004.
[shop for this book]

Tremper, Bruce. Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain. Mountaineer's Books, 2001.
(This avalanche safety how-to is perhaps the best available for backcountry skiers and snowboarders. It looks at the issue from a practical view, assuming you WILL go out in avalanche terrain and ski, snowshoe, snowmobile, etc.)
[shop for this book]

Turiano, Thomas. Teton Skiing: A History and Guide. Homestead Publishing, 1995.
[read review of this book]

Tweed, William. Shorty Lovelace, Kings Canyon Fur Trapper. Sequoia Natural History Association, 1980.
(Interesting info about one of the first Sierra skiers. Out of print, hard to find.)

Vielbig, Klindt. Cross-Country Ski Routes of Oregon’s Cascades. Mountaineers Books, 1985.
[shop for this book]

Vives, Jean. Backcountry Skier.
(A useful compendium of mountain sense for backcountry winter folk -- especially those just starting their careers as backcountry skiers.)

Vives, Jean. Ski Randonnee .
(A bit more advanced than Vives' other book listed above, with equipment chapter focused on randonnee AT gear not telemark.)
[read review of this book]
[shop for this book]

Volken, Martin. Backcountry Skiing. Mountaineers Books 2007.
(The how-to book of the millennium -- highly recommended.)
[read review of this book]
[shop for this book]

Volken, Martin. Backcountry Skiing Snowqualmie Pass. Falcon, 2001.
(The key to incredible backcountry skiing just an hour east of Seattle, Washington. Volken is incredibly experienced.)
[shop for this book]

Waag, David L. Oregon Descents: Backcountry Skiing Southern Cascades., author published.

Waterman, Guy and Laura. Forest and Crag. Appalachian Mountain Club, 1989.
(Aside from the disturbing fact that co-author Guy Waterman committed suicide by wandering out on a mountainside and freezing himself to death, this book is an incredible compendium of Northeastern backcountry history, with tons of ski info. A must-have.)
[Shop for this book]

Waterman, Jonathan. High Alaska: A Historical Guide to Denali, Foraker and Hunter. American Alpine Club Press, 1996.
(Excellent.)
[Shop for this book]

Waterman, Jonathan. In the Shadow of Denali. Doubleday, 1993.
[Shop for this book]
[Read a review of this book]

Waterman, Jonathan. Surviving Denali: A Study of Accidents on Mount McKinley 1903-1990. American Alpine Club Press, 1996.
[Shop for this book]

Watters, Ron. Ski Camping. Solstice Press/Chronicle Books, 1979.
[Shop for this book]

Watters, Ron. Winter Tales and Trails.. Great Rift Press, 1998.

Weamer, Howard. The Perfect Art: The Ostrander Hut & Ski Touring in Yosemite. Author published, 1995.
(A classic of backcountry spirit.)
[Shop for this book]

Witherell, Warren; Evrard, David. The Athletic Skier. Johnson Books; 1993.
(A bit dated, but tons of useful informaiton about boot fitting and alignment, etc.)
[Shop for this book]

Williams, Knox and Betsy Armstrong. The Avalanche Book. Fulcrum Press, 1986.
(Excellent overview, should be in every backcountry skier's collection.)
[Shop for this book]

Williams, Knox and Armstrong, Betsy. The Snowy Torrents: Avalanche Accidents , United States, 1972-1979. Teton Bookshop Publishing, 1984.
(This classic of accident reporting changed the way we look at avalanches, includes many of the famous early accidents that changed the way we look at avalanche danger..)
[Shop for this book]

If you're doing research and need a massive and complete list of ski/snowboard related books and publications, check out the skiing bibliography created by librarian Henry Yaple at Whitman College in Washington, call for details or to order (509) 525-8303.