In partnership with WRI: Lowell Skoog, author of Written in the Snows, presents an evening of Northwest ski culture from past to present in the Red Barn at WRI. Skoog shares a definitive and visually rich history of the past century of Northwest ski culture, from stirring and colorful stories of wilderness exploration to the evolution of gear and technique. He traces the development of skiing in Washington from the late 1800s to the present, covering the beginning of ski resorts and competitions, the importance of wild places in the Cascades and Olympic mountains (with a side trip to Oregon’s Mt. Hood), and the friluftsliv, or open-air living spirit, of backcountry skiing. Skoog addresses how skiing has been shaped by larger social trends, including immigration, the Great Depression, war, economic growth, conservation, and the media. In turn, Northwest skiers have affected their regions in ways that transcend the sport, producing local legends like Milnor Roberts, Olga Bolstad, Hans Otto Giese, Bill Maxwell, and more. While weaving his own impressions and experiences into the larger history, Skoog shows that skiing is far more than mere sport or recreation. As a skier, climber, writer, and photographer, Lowell Skoog has been a keen observer of Northwest mountaineering since the 1970s. He is the creator of the Alpenglow Gallery and founder of the Northwest Mountaineering Journal, websites that celebrate local mountain culture, and he was a key member of the team that launched the Washington State Ski and Snowboard Museum. Skoog is the chairman of the Mountaineers History and Library committee. He lives in Seattle. Doors open at 6:30pm for community social with local beer and wine available for purchase. The presentation begins at 7:00pm. Free event with a donation basket at door. Grab an autographed copy of Written in the Snows, sold through A Book for all Seasons at the event! Since WRI events are now indoors, WRI requests that only people who are vaccinated for COVID-19 attend, and that all attendees wear a mask. Windows will be open during the event (along with an air purifier operating), so please bring a layer to keep you warm.