In January 2019, skier and author Heather Hansman—a former Powder magazine editor and A-Basin ski patroller—got in her Subaru and hit the road. She posted on social media: “Driving to the mountains (all of ’em), so let me know if you wanna ski, or talk about skiing, or let me sleep on your couch/floor.” She wasn’t just going on a fun road trip to visit friends in different mountain towns. She was writing a book about ski culture. The result? Powder Days, a new book out this month that would make for a thoughtful holiday gift for the skiers on your list. We called up Hansman, who currently lives in Seattle, to chat about the psychology of skiers, the art of nostalgia, and how things like a housing crisis and climate change are going to impact skiers of the future.
Will Ski Bums Exist in the Future?