Lou Dawson inducted into Colorado's Ski Hall of Fame

Former pioneer Aspen rock climber and legendary backcountry skier Lou Dawson of Carbondale, Colorado, will be inducted into the Colorado Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame. Dawson, a leading pioneer in the art of backcountry skiing, is the first ski mountaineer to earn this honor. He is the only person to ski all 54 of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks, a feat he completed in 1991. In addition to his new routes on Independence Pass and elsewhere, Dawson pioneered countless first descents and helped refine ski mountaineering gear. He has been a prolific writer, contributing to numerous issues of Couloir and Climbing magazines, and sharing his passion and expertise with others. Dawson’s books include Colorado High Routes, Colorado 10th Mountain Trails, Dawson’s Guide to Colorado Backcountry Skiing, Dawson’s Guide to Colorado’s Fourteeners, and Wild Snow, the last title being the definitive history of backcountry skiing, published by the American Alpine Club. The 29th Colorado Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame Induction Gala will take place on Saturday, October 22, at the Westin Tabor Center in Denver. Inducted at the same time will be Crested Butte Resort’s founder Dick Elfin; George Gillet, who Ski Magazine calls one of the 100 Most Influential Skiers of all time; one of Vail’s founding fathers, Dick Hauserman; and Ed Lucks, who helped pioneer teaching the disabled to ski. For more information contact the Vail Ski Museum at 970.476.1876; info@skimuseum.net.