The Way Out — Author Devon O’Neil on Mountain Community & Loyalty to the Truth

Devon O’Neil is a journalist and author of The Way Out. A gripping, consuming read, The Way Out chronicles a 2017 backcountry ski trip in the Colorado Rockies that ended in both tragedy and miracle—and changed a community forever. Set in small towns and towering mountain ranges, it is at once an ode to high-country life and a dissection of what that life costs.After reading the book, I was left with a profound feeling that it’s a story any member of our outdoor-loving communities should read. Devon’s writing is so much more than a page-turning story. He explores and examines the saga of the accident, but also life in the mountains at-large, with nuance and emphasis on the emotional and communal realities.Devon himself lives in Breckenridge, Colorado and is a longtime reporter of life in the mountains, our adventurous pursuits, and the psychological realities faced by folks in these communities. He also moonlights as a mountain hutmaster, and in many ways, he became the perfect person to dive into the untold story from this harrowing accident in a true, relatable manner. In the interview, we get into the human side of his writing, the book, and what the process was like to immerse himself in a difficult story.—This episode is brought to you by Salomon. To check out the QST line of skis, and all Salomon ski gear, click here.—Listen / watch / subscribe:YouTubeSpotifyApple Podcasts—Buy and read The Way Out wherever you get books: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-way-out-devon-oneil—Follow me/the show on Instagram: @drewpeterskiSign up for my Substack/the podcast newsletter: https://substack.com/@drewpetersen—Score discounts and connect with all of the podcasts sponsors any time at https://drew-petersen.com/podcast