I returned last night from 3 weeks working in France. Thanks to everyone I met along the way you made it a very special time. La Grave is a special place that I will return to. Thanks to the La Grave community for taking us in. It had been 10 years since my first trip to Chamonix. I was blown away again.
I will spend the next 7 days in the Torngat Mountain Range along the Labrador Coast in NE Canada exploring this unique landscape.
Being in the mountains is what makes me breath. Friendships, that are formed by time spent in the mountains, share a special bond between each other. I feel very fortunate to have such an amazing amount of friendships formed in the mountains. Emotions do run raw in the mountains, just like the weather is raw in the mountains. We mourn because of the mountains and we happy because of the mountains. There has been both of that season. I have been reminded lately of how spectacular experiencing the mountains can be. I celebrated a wedding this weekend that was formed by the mountains. A wonderful time seeing friends gathered in one place for a celebration.
I cherish moments spent with friends in the mountains. I appreciate how the mountains provide a platform for new friendships to spawn. We continue to spur each other on, living vibrantly what we are passionate about. Our progression evolves and morphs.
A couple of friends were up in this little gem.
Jazzed to see this image of Drew Stoecklein, selected for Black Diamonds website. A ton of work, by Drew, Forrest Coots and Chuck Mumford, went into our trip to Southern Chile this past fall. We shuttled VERY heavy loads and experienced some classic Patagonian winds on our trip to the Cerro Castillo zone. We had a blast spending time together down there.
Here is a feature story on Drew Stoecklein from last months Outside Magazine Brazil. Drew is a professional skier and photographer, this time he is in front of my lens.
Excited to have an image published in Skiing Magazine this month of Bart Mitchell. Its the first time I’ve had an image published with Skiing Magazine and I am really excited for the opportunity. It has been a pleasure to work with Alex Witkowicz.
Josh Apple, Kyler Pallister and I went out looking for a mellow day in Hyalite. We had no plan. After putting on our bags in the parking, we decided to check out Home Field Advantage. Last season this climb had liberal ice. A bolted line originally, eyed, by Pete Tapley and Joe Josephson. Pete and JoJo, along with Brian Schmitz and John Frieh climbed this line on January 9th 2009.
Josh Apple beginning to see a little further out on a fine news years eve day. – Expanding Horizons. 40M 5.11+ WI 7R (M8)
FA Alex Lowe, Kris Erickson, Jim Earl, January 9, 1998
I was standing in the Houston airport last Friday, waiting to board a flight. Heading home to Bozeman and ran into my friend Kris Erickson, also heading home. A quick layover in Denver and a plane change I found myself running into another friend Chad Peele. Chad was also heading to Bozeman to attend the 15th Annual Ice Climbing Festival. It was a great start to the weekend. Hyalite was filled with great friends and great times last weekend. The magic of Hyalite on full display. Here are a couple of images.
Here is a quarter page image (LR) in the December Back Country Magazine.
NG Adventure chose this image of Forrest Coots as their photo of the week. Great working with the folks over at NG and to see all of the hard work down in Patagonia getting some publicity. Special thanks to Forrest for all the hard work on this one.
