stefan
01-25-2007, 08:20 PM
figured i'd give this a post here too, though the news has been going around a number of ski-related sites for a number of days now:
Dolores LaChapelle died last monday jan 22.
Dolores LaChapelle and her husband Ed LaChapelle are major figures in alta's skiing history. dolores was skiing powder before most people had a clue what skiing was. much of early modern powder skiing was pioneered at alta and dolores was part of that legacy. when i first read her book deep powder snow about 10 years ago, i was mesmerized by her ability to express with words the character of her experience, and i can only begin to fathom the depth and significance of her experiences during the nascence of powder skiing.
while their history is too great to sum t here, it's worth mentioning that while while modern powder skiing was being pioneered at alta, at the same time, american avalanche and snow science was being pioneered at alta as well. ed lachapelle was a physicist who had studied avalanches in switzerland ... combined with Monty Atwater, alta's second snow ranger who had a background in artillery ... the avalanche control research these guys did in the early 50s became the basis for control work around the world. and ed lachapelle has contributed volumes to avalanche and snow science.
many folks have great things to say about dolores which can be found all over the web if you're interested ... i thought i would post links to two articles here.
she has my utmost respect. :gents:
Dolores - Lou Dawson (http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=589)
Dolores :: Half a century on skis- the durango telegraph 2002 (http://www.durangotelegraph.com/02-11-14/second1.htm)
http://www.wildsnow.com/images/backcountry-skiing-blog/dolores.jpg
Dolores LaChapelle skiing at Alta in the early 1960s. Her trademark braid is visible on her right shoulder.
Photo, Ed LaChapelle and WildSnow historical archive.
image linked from lou dawson's page
Dolores LaChapelle died last monday jan 22.
Dolores LaChapelle and her husband Ed LaChapelle are major figures in alta's skiing history. dolores was skiing powder before most people had a clue what skiing was. much of early modern powder skiing was pioneered at alta and dolores was part of that legacy. when i first read her book deep powder snow about 10 years ago, i was mesmerized by her ability to express with words the character of her experience, and i can only begin to fathom the depth and significance of her experiences during the nascence of powder skiing.
while their history is too great to sum t here, it's worth mentioning that while while modern powder skiing was being pioneered at alta, at the same time, american avalanche and snow science was being pioneered at alta as well. ed lachapelle was a physicist who had studied avalanches in switzerland ... combined with Monty Atwater, alta's second snow ranger who had a background in artillery ... the avalanche control research these guys did in the early 50s became the basis for control work around the world. and ed lachapelle has contributed volumes to avalanche and snow science.
many folks have great things to say about dolores which can be found all over the web if you're interested ... i thought i would post links to two articles here.
she has my utmost respect. :gents:
Dolores - Lou Dawson (http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=589)
Dolores :: Half a century on skis- the durango telegraph 2002 (http://www.durangotelegraph.com/02-11-14/second1.htm)
http://www.wildsnow.com/images/backcountry-skiing-blog/dolores.jpg
Dolores LaChapelle skiing at Alta in the early 1960s. Her trademark braid is visible on her right shoulder.
Photo, Ed LaChapelle and WildSnow historical archive.
image linked from lou dawson's page