Falling for Snow: A Naturalist's Journey Into the World of Winter

by Jamie Bastedo, Arthur Black (Foreword)

ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year finalist - Nature Books, 2003 Alberta Book Cover Design of the Year Nominee In this spirited mix of humor, science and adventure, naturalist Jamie Bastedo takes you on an uncommon romp through snow. Share in the quest of early snow scientists to unravel snow's many Meet a madcap balloonist who risked it all to inspect snowstorms five miles up. Join snow ecologists as they gauge the importance of snow in shaping the lives of plants and animals. Pull your hair out with urban leaders, road crews, and train engineers as they do battle with paralyzing piles of snow. Discover the imprint of snow on native languages and some of our best art and literature. Explore the outer limits of snow-based recreation. And follow in Bastedo's foot, ski and snowshoe tracks as he guides you across creaking glaciers, through hushed evergreen forests and over frozen arctic seas in a playful exploration of the many facets and meanings of snow. As inspirational as it is informative, this light-hearted book will appeal to anyone with even the slightest curiosity about that white stuff you will never again call "plain old snow."

Genres: Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published October 8, 2003

About the author

As a professional ecologist, outdoor educator, nature tour guide, radio broadcaster, video script writer, actor and children’s entertainer, Jamie Bastedo has been involved in many projects that bridge the realms of science, art and culture. His ability to weave these realms together in creative, street-friendly formats was recognized recently when he received the national Michael Smith Award for Science Promotion (one of only five given each year) and the Queen Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee Medal.

As for Jamie's knowledge of bears, he has published numerous popular articles, book chapters and one major novel about bears and has first-hand experience working with bear biologists in various arctic habitats. The inspiration for this project arose while doing research and creative writing for a Canadian Museum of Nature exhibit on Arctic climate change aimed at adolescent and teenage audiences.

Reviews

[Anthony Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as the snow is melting away here in indiana I finish Falling for Snow. It's really a sort of love story between Jamie and winter. Not in a weird way, but in a I-know-how-to-express-my-love-for-winter way. He hits science, history, literature, living in snow, snow sports. It makes me miss snowboarding terribly. He had a style of writing that took me a chapter to digest, but by the end I was hoping the pages wouldn't stop.

[Meridith Teehan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a tough read. I enjoyed some parts but most of it fell flat for me. Maybe it was just my personal aversion to snow and winter frost, but much of the book didn't capture my attention. Some things were interesting such as the first chapter exploring the glaciers and the in depth description of how a snowflake if formed. The places captured my attention the most I suppose, as if I were exploring them vicariously without the freezing temperatures and grey sunless days. I mostly sledged through as if I were trekking though a mountain pass during a blizzard. Maybe a better read if you are a snow-bunny or ice adventurer, but not my cup of tea.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the type of book I can put down and pick up again easily - there are a lot of interesting facts and stories but there isn't a lot of connection between the chapters (other than the main focus being snow). I enjoyed most of it, although I did find the scientific information more interesting than the literary references.