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“Everything I know, I learned from skiing powder.”— Dolores LaChapelle, the godmother of powder skiing
An out-of-print classic returns… Deep Powder Snow, originally published in 1993, is an autobiographical account of how Dolores LaChapelle’s experiences powder skiing gave her a path to cultural resistance. More than a memoir of one woman’s love for the sport, this philosophical exploration of skiing and the relationship between humanity and nature became a cult classic for mountain recreationists around the world who connected deeply with her worldview.
LaChapelle’s words still give voice to why skiing and other outdoor recreation feel like so much more than a pastime to so many. In this reprint of the classic text, ski journalist and historian Clare George offers a new generation of readers the opportunity to engage with LaChappelle, adding a foreword with critical contextualization of the book’s significance and impact.
Deep Powder Snow is more relevant than ever. In the age of rapid climate change and the ever-more-jarring effects of the Anthropocene, this memoir advocates for a different way of thinking about our place in the world and of skiing as not merely a hobby but the foundation of a good life.
“Pick it up. Take it to the mountains with you. Then give yourself over to the mountains and your passage over them. LaChapelle’s book and the San Juans are both gifts to be appreciated and savored.”
—Colorado Central Magazine
Dolores LaChapelle was a skier and environmentalist known as the godmother of powder skiing. She wrote seven books on topics including deep ecology, skiing, earth ritual, and Tai Chi. Her papers are primarily housed at the San Juan County Historical Society in Silverton, Colorado, where she lived the final chapter of her life. In 2004, LaChapelle received the Ski History Maker award from the University of Utah, honoring her impact on the history of skiing.
Ananda Foley, the steward of the LaChapelle family legacy and literary works, was the life partner of David “Randy” LaChapelle, Dolores’s only son, who was a wise teacher, author, healer, and musician. She lives in Durango, Colorado, and works as a craniosacral therapist.
Clare George is a Montana-based skier, historian, and writer. She was a correspondent for Powder magazine and editor for Kootenay Mountain Culture in the 2010s. Her work focuses on the confluence of spirituality, nature, and recreation.