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DREW PETERSEN BRINGS CONVERSATION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH FRONT AND CENTER IN MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES
UPS + DOWNS Words by Erin Phillips | Photos courtesy of Drew Petersen
CAROLINE LINDQUIST
W
hen traveling into the backcountry with
“Talking about it is what’s going to bring
the mission of skiing steep terrain, it’s
out what’s inside,” he says in the opening of
imperative to dig a snow pit. One deep, unstable
his film Ups + Downs. Before he could share his
layer could trigger an avalanche and cost a life.
story publicly, Petersen had to dig through the
This is common knowledge among backcountry
layers that kept him feeling completely alone
winter travelers. But, what’s not often talked
for 27 years of his life.
about is the striking metaphor between
When Petersen first opened up publicly in
avalanches and our mental health. Layers of
June 2021 through Outside’s article, “We Need
instability, buried deep, affect the surface and
to Talk About Mental Health in the Mountains,”
can cost a life.
he was at home in Silverthorne. He turned off
While conversations around mental health
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his phone, put on his shoes and went running.
translate to our society as a whole, Drew
Running, especially ultra-distances, is a
Petersen, a professional skier and year-round
way for Petersen to experience the lesson of
mountain athlete from Silverthorne, uses skiing
impermanence and “an opportunity to live the
as an entry point to bring this topic front and
highest volume level of the full spectrum of
center in our communities.
life’s experience,” he shares.
