Powder Days

Ski Bums, Ski Towns and the Future of Chasing Snow

By: Heather Hansman

Narrated by: Jennifer Jill Araya

Length: 7 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

*An Outside Magazine Book Club Pick*

"A sparkling account."—Wall Street Journal

An electrifying adventure into the rich history of skiing and the modern heart of ski-bum culture, from one of America's most preeminent ski journalists

The story of skiing is, in many ways, the story of America itself. Blossoming from the Tenth Mountain Division in World War II, the sport took hold across the country, driven by adventurers seeking the rush of freedom that only cold mountain air could provide. As skiing gained in popularity, mom-and-pop backcountry hills gave way to groomed trails and eventually the megaresorts of today. Along the way, the pioneers and diehards—the ski bums—remained the beating heart of the scene.

Veteran ski journalist and former ski bum Heather Hansman takes listeners on an exhilarating journey into the hidden history of American skiing, offering a glimpse into an underexplored subculture from the perspective of a true insider. Hopping from Vermont to Colorado, Montana to West Virginia, Hansman profiles the people who have built their lives around a cold-weather obsession. Along the way she reckons with skiing's problematic elements and investigates how the sport is evolving in the face of the existential threat of climate change.

©2021 Heather Hansman (P)2021 Harlequin Audio

Ski or politics?

The book was good from the beginning but soon derailed half way in & became a book about politics.

Imminently bingeable

As a fellow ski bum chased down valley by soaring rent and desire to find meaningful work this felt pretty real. Great read and nice addition to ski culture genre.

Excellent way to get stoked on skiing.

Overall very good. Investigative theme about ski bums.
I’d love to find a ski book that’s just stoke, and none of the woke. This doesn’t quite do it. But the social issues are well presented for what it’s worth.

Skiing Woke!!

Umm… good story until it turns to social justice. The author lost me in Section 4 after what was an interesting read about ski towns, ski bums and spending her quality years after college doing something she loves. Couldn’t it just be about that? Why does social justice find itself in literally everything - it’s painful and I can’t believe people aren’t sick of it. What a waste of a story.

good memoir

I liked this because I love skiing. Not sure if it is the most representative memoir, but she does try hard to touch on weather Darth Vail, and other big issues.

well narrated

Enjoyed the topic from being in that time of my life......understand where the author is coming from

Well detailed story of the great American Ski Bum

Captures the history through current day ski bum lifestyle while weaving in the impacts of global warming, corporatization and physical/mental health on what is seemingly a dying piece of Americana.

Skiing is awesome

Nice work! Great listen for a guy that’s lived this life, and managing to hold on with a career and kids.

Skiing content is good, otherwise whining

The ski content is good, but too much of the book is whining about the economics of skiing. We get it, it's an expensive hobby, we know that. Privilege is the most used word.

Interesting concept turned sob story

The first few sections are engaging and well written. I cannot stress this enough.. the rest of the book is a sob story about how the author had to grow up instead of acting like a child the rest of her life. Boohoo