Avalanche Dreams: A Memoir of Skiing, Climbing, and Life

WINNER: 2025 International Ski History Association (ISHA) Baldur Award

"Soulful coming-of-age memoir..."-- Seth Masia, president, ISHA

"Avalanche Dreams is a must-read for any backcountry skier. Whether you're looking for guidance while entering the sport, considering a career in guiding, planning your first expedition or trying to balance family with adventure, you'll learn something from Louis Dawson's life." -- Betsy Manero, Backcountry magazine

"Gripping wallop of adventures, family, and gravity." -- Alex Lee, The-High-Route dot com

"A book you need to read." -- Cam Burns, Powder dot com

Would we need goggles, to prevent our eyeballs from freezing? When sixteen-year-old Lou Dawson asks that question, he knows the mountaineering life he'd dreamt of as a child was now real -- maybe too real.

Amidst the towering peaks, Lou discovers an enduring love for alpine sports: scaling cliffs, topping summits, skiing powder snow. However, as the avalanches fall and lifestyle choices veer, his pursuit of adrenaline becomes a poignant struggle for meaning in a culture where nothing succeeds like excess.

Join Lou as he navigates a precarious path toward fulfillment, showcasing his transformation from a reckless, thrill-seeking youth to a devoted father and husband, determined to build a stable foundation for his family.