The Green River is the most significant tributary of the Colorado River. Journalist Heather Hansman floated the Green in a pack raft to explore water issues in the American West, then wrote a fascinating book about her journey. We also talk to Heather about her reporting on water issues on the Navajo Nation. Heather’s new book, “Powder Days: Ski Bums, Ski Towns, and the Future of Chasing Snow” was released this month.
Episode highlights
| Introduction (0:29) | |
 | Heather Hansman, author and water journalist Heather‘s writing appears in such publications as The Guardian, Sierra and The New York Times, and she is is an environmental columnist for Outside online. Her 2019 book “Downriver: into the Future of Water in the West” explored the western U.S. water system during a trip down the length of the Green River. Her latest book book “Powder Days: Ski Bums, Ski Towns, and the Future of Chasing Snow” was released in November of 2021. Starts at 1:03 |
 | What inspired the trip for “Downriver?” The 2019 book chronicled Hansman’s paddle down the length of the Green River, a tributary of the Colorado. Starts at 1:53 |
| Favorite parts of river trip? (9:15) | |
| What attracted you to water journalism? (13:17) | |
| Are there misconceptions about water you need to deal with? (17:05) | |
 | Water Words: ‘Riparian rights’ (20:33) |
| Reporting on tribal water issues on the Little Colorado (23:03) | |
| What do you think about water resources in a drying Colorado River Basin? (31:22) | |
 | New book: “Powder Days” The book is described as “an exhilarating journey into the hidden history of American skiing, offering a glimpse into an underexplored subculture from the perspective of a true insider.” Starts at 34:10 |
| What’s the snow picture for the Colorado Basin? (36:16) | |
| What’s the role of the recreation industry in addressing environmental challenges? (38:09) | |
| Show more episode detail | |
Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts
You’re welcome to watch the video version of Water Buffs here on our website or subscribe to it on our YouTube and Vimeo Channels. If you prefer your podcasts on audio or on a portable device, subscribe using one of the services below or grab the feed url for your own service.
Ways to get the audio version: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Soundcloud | Stitcher | Podcast RSS Feed
Share your thoughts – and consider joining us
If you’re interested in appearing on the show, please contact Water Desk Director Mitch Tobin at mitchtobin@colorado.edu. If you’d like to share your comments and questions, you can reach us at waterdesk@colorado.edu, or on Twitter and Facebook.
Podcast article css and js
