Written in the Snows - by Lowell Skoog (Paperback)

About the Book

Legendary northwest skiing historian Lowell Skoog takes a deep dive into the past century of Northwest ski culture through stories and photographs

Book Synopsis

2022 National Outdoor Book Award Winner in History
2022 International Ski History Association Skade Award Winner

• Century of Northwest wilderness skiing stories by noted expert
• 150 black-and-white and color photographs
• Celebrates the friluftsliv, or open-air living spirit, of backcountry skiing

In Written in the Snows, renowned local skiing historian Lowell Skoog presents a definitive and visually rich history of the past century of Northwest ski culture, from stirring and colorful stories of wilderness exploration to the evolution of gear and technique. He traces the development of skiing in Washington from the late 1800s to the present, covering the beginnings of ski resorts and competitions, the importance of wild places in the Olympic and Cascade mountains (including Oregon's Mount Hood), and the friluftsliv, or open-air living spirit, of backcountry skiing.

Skoog addresses how skiing has been shaped by larger social trends, including immigration, the Great Depression, war, economic growth, conservation, and the media. In turn, Northwest skiers have affected their region in ways that transcend the sport, producing local legends like Milnor Roberts, Olga Bolstad, Hans Otto Giese, Bill Maxwell, and more. While weaving his own impressions and experiences into the larger history, Skoog shows that skiing is far more than mere sport or recreation.

Review Quotes

Over 20 years in the making comes one outstanding work on ski history. Lowell Skoog covers the northwest scene like none other: Alpine, Nordic, backcountry and even fastest ascents and descents. But the book is not just a recounting of history; Skoog immerses himself into that history by organizing long forgotten ski races and retracing historic mountain traverses. Highly readable and filled with fascinating stories of the past, this is a fine addition to the literature of skiing.-- "National Outdoor Book Award Judges"

...expect riveting anecdotes, cool historical images, and the best winter cabin coffee book table money can buy.--Zoe Sayler "Seattle Met"

A project that took more than 20 years, "Written in the Snows" is an in-depth history of the past century of Northwest skiing, from inspiring stories of wilderness exploration to the evolution of gear and technique.--Mark Morical "The Bend Bulletin"

Delving into the stories of this region's early alpine adventurers who pioneered wintertime exploration on two planks (and later snowboards) lies at the heart of Skoog's encyclopedic local history, the result of decades of research.--Gregory Scruggs "The Seattle Times"