Like Robert, and Doug before him, I too grew up in Massachusetts before eventually settling out West to ski the steep, powdery lines of the Colorado Rockies. Today, as a professional skier living in Aspen, Colorado, I often get to ski in excess of 150 days per year on some of the most exciting terrain in the country. This book, however, opened my eyes to a part of the ski community that I had only recently become aware existed. From the time I opened the cover of this book, I was immediately taken on a mesmerizing ski journey that made me want to race to the airport and jump on the next plane to both Chamonix and Le Grave. From his early days exploring the icy steeps of Tuckerman's Ravine, to his backcountry exploits as a member of the Jackson Hole Air Force, and eventually to his final descent into the Couloir de Polichinelle, Doug's story was brought to life in a way that both skiers and non-skiers alike can appreciate. At times, I felt as though I was standing at the top of the Chugach right alongside both of them, stomach churning, eyes wide as saucers, about to drop into Stairway to Heaven for the very first time. For those of us who ski for a living, Doug Coombs is the skier that we all aspire to be. While most of us will never experience the thrill of a first descent or the rush of adrenaline that comes from narrowly skiing out of the path of an oncoming avalanche, we all have heroes to whom we look up to for inspiration as we go about daily lives. Not only has Robert brought his hero to life on the pages of this book, but he has also allowed us to ski right alongside him as he relived each exciting moment in Doug Coombs short, but greatly fulfilled life.
Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]