Chic Scott

Thursday, November 5
Max Bell Auditorium
$30/day (not including Literary Lunch Break)

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Chic Scott is a household name in international and Canadian mountaineering circles. One of Canada’s most celebrated mountain literature authors and adventurers, he is renowned for his cutting-edge ski exploration in the Canadian Rockies, especially his 1967 high-level traverse from Lake Louise to Jasper. An avid climber in his younger years, his passion led him on great adventures in the Canadian Rockies, the Alps, and further across the globe. In 1967 Scott made the first winter ascent of Mt. Assiniboine here at home and in 1973 he climbed Myagdi Matha — the first Himalayan summit reached by a Canadian.

In recent years Scott has received several awards - honorary memberships in the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (1995), the Calgary Mountain Club (1997), and the Alpine Club of Canada (2000), and the Bill March Summit of Excellence Award (2000).

His exceptional climbing and skiing history has led him to literally write the book on the subject. Scott’s guidebooks Ski Trails in the Canadian Rockies and Summits and Icefields are a fundamental resource in any backcountry skier’s library. He is also the author of several award winning mountaineering history books including Pushing the Limits: The Story of Canadian Mountaineering, which won the Best Book on Mountaineering History at the 2000 Banff Mountain Book Festival.

Scott’s latest book Deep Powder and Steep Rock: The Life of Mountain Guide Hans Gmoser tells the remarkable story of a local hero. Hans Gmoser played a major role in creating Canada’s vibrant mountain community. Although known internationally as the father of heli-skiing, he was also a talented rock climber, tireless expedition leader, a filmmaker and one of the founding members of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides.

Deep Powder and Steep Rock presents an intimate portrait of this charismatic man. Much of the story is told in Gmoser’s own words, gleaned from his diaries, expedition journals, film commentaries, and personal correspondence. It is a unique tale of adventure, hard work, perseverance and ultimate success.

Deep Powder and Steep Rock was nominated for the Boardman Tasker award in the U.K. in September 2009.

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Photo credit: Chic Scott © Ken Chow