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Deep Powder and Steep Rock: The Life of Mountain Guide Hans Gmoser
Hans Gmoser played a major role in creating Canada’s vibrant mountain community. Although known internationally as the father of heli-skiing, he was much more than that: a talented rock climber, tireless expedition leader, a mountain guide, film maker and organizer.
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.
Special Hardcover Edition with enclosed DVD of three Hans Gmoser film.
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.
Special Hardcover Edition with enclosed DVD of three Hans Gmoser film.
346 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 5, 2025
Gmoser came to Canada in 1951, at the age of 19. In spite of a hard early life in Austria, he had done much cycling, climbing and skiing. He and others pioneered climbs on Yamnuska and other peaks of the Rockies. Major expeditions included the east ridge of Logan, the Wickersham Wall of Mount McKinley, and an incomplete ski traverse from Banff to Jasper.
Ski tours of the Little Yoho started in 1952 with friends. He started guiding ski tours for clients in 1955 at the Wheeler Hut. In the same year, he assisted Walter Perren teach a ski mountaineering course to the national park wardens.
In 1963, he was one of nine who met to form the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG).
Gmoser started heli-skiing in the Bugaboos in 1965. The operation grew ove the years into Canadian Mountain Holidays.
Gmoser was always appreciate of the beauty of the mountains. He recognized the dissonance of heli-skiing:
"If I had known when it all started, what it would turn into, and had the perspective I have today, I probably would not have done it. I feel a little bit like the Sorcerer's Apprentice or maybe like Doctor Faust. On the one hand it gave an incredible amount of pleasure to a lot of people, but on the other hand you feed an ego that I find a little distasteful. A lot of people are out there and they forget what I think is really the essence: that with a lot of ease you can get in some very beautiful country. But the beautiful country is lost on them. It's purely pitch and consistency of snow, how fast and how much you can ski, and there is no end, no stage where somebody will say, "I am content, I've had a wonderful time." They're always demanding more, and that I am disappointed about."
Ski tours of the Little Yoho started in 1952 with friends. He started guiding ski tours for clients in 1955 at the Wheeler Hut. In the same year, he assisted Walter Perren teach a ski mountaineering course to the national park wardens.
In 1963, he was one of nine who met to form the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG).
Gmoser started heli-skiing in the Bugaboos in 1965. The operation grew ove the years into Canadian Mountain Holidays.
Gmoser was always appreciate of the beauty of the mountains. He recognized the dissonance of heli-skiing:
"If I had known when it all started, what it would turn into, and had the perspective I have today, I probably would not have done it. I feel a little bit like the Sorcerer's Apprentice or maybe like Doctor Faust. On the one hand it gave an incredible amount of pleasure to a lot of people, but on the other hand you feed an ego that I find a little distasteful. A lot of people are out there and they forget what I think is really the essence: that with a lot of ease you can get in some very beautiful country. But the beautiful country is lost on them. It's purely pitch and consistency of snow, how fast and how much you can ski, and there is no end, no stage where somebody will say, "I am content, I've had a wonderful time." They're always demanding more, and that I am disappointed about."
November 22, 2017
I enjoyed the book. Having lived in Revelstoke and knowing the impact heli-skiing has on the economy there - plus having many friends who work for CMH - it was interesting to see how the business got its start. Hans Gmoser was truly an outdoorsman and it was fascinating to read about his climbs, hikes and ski journeys before the advent of high-tech gear and gadgets. As well, I loved hearing about Skoki and Yoho when they were remote places and hard to get to. The book includes insights from Hans’ journals as well as some input from friends and colleagues. However, for me, I would have liked to have learned more about the man and not just his exploits.
July 7, 2016
I've never been a supporter of heli-skiing and so by extension, I'd been skeptical of what little I knew of Hans Gmoser. I decided to read the book in order to understand his impact and to read between the lines a bit to better come to my own conclusions about him.
I was worried that the book would be unapologetic boosterism, but thankfully it wasn't and in fact there's quite often passages included that show a view contrary to Gmoser's, or even a direct contradiction of his own side of a story. Quite a few people remember key events in very different light and I found that interesting. Mostly though, it was really worth the read to see how this person who was a rising star in the mountain community ended up in the position he was in, running a company that catered to the rich.
I won't spoil the story, though it both vindicated my feelings, but also led me to high a little bit more respect for the guy too.
The book is well written, although it seemed like more of the book was devoted to his early exploits rather than to the question of grappling with what exactly the legacy of CMH is and Gmoser's responsibility in that.
So I can recommend this book to people interested in the history of mountains (Gmoser essentially started the ACMG), and for people who want a closer look at Gmoser.
I was worried that the book would be unapologetic boosterism, but thankfully it wasn't and in fact there's quite often passages included that show a view contrary to Gmoser's, or even a direct contradiction of his own side of a story. Quite a few people remember key events in very different light and I found that interesting. Mostly though, it was really worth the read to see how this person who was a rising star in the mountain community ended up in the position he was in, running a company that catered to the rich.
I won't spoil the story, though it both vindicated my feelings, but also led me to high a little bit more respect for the guy too.
The book is well written, although it seemed like more of the book was devoted to his early exploits rather than to the question of grappling with what exactly the legacy of CMH is and Gmoser's responsibility in that.
So I can recommend this book to people interested in the history of mountains (Gmoser essentially started the ACMG), and for people who want a closer look at Gmoser.
August 5, 2016
Read this book because of a trip to the Bugaboos and enjoyed learning about the man who pioneered heli-skiing and hiking in Canada. He had a very interesting life but I found the book too heavily weighted to describing all his mountain climbs in detail.
January 29, 2017
This book demonstrated that you can create a business with very little business sense. All you need is: discipline, grit and domain expertise.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews