Lou Dawson is one of the most accomplished ski mountaineers in the US, but he’s so much more than that. While Lou is known for being the first to climb and ski Colorado’s 54 fourteen-thousand-foot peaks, his career included a rock-climbing era, an ice-climbing era, and his mountaineering and ski mountaineering ear. He’s a living legend and is considered to be one of the godfathers of backcountry skiing in the US. On the podcast, we talk about growing up in Texas, moving to Aspen, the counterculture movement, the draft, the mountains, his must-read book, Avalanche Dreams, and much more. Another legendary mountaineer, Andrew McLean, asks the Inappropriate Questions.

Once labeled a ski model, Caroline Gleich’s path to becoming a respected ski mountaineer has been quite the climb.  From the billboards of Utah to the monsters of the Himalaya, there is no fear in this 5’1” ball of energy.  The podcast gives a little of Caroline’s backstory and then a lot about Everest.  It was a heavy year on the mountain and Caroline shares what she experienced.  It’s a real look into a world that most of us only read about and it’s a great listen.