These past 2 weeks have found me in Bozeman and last week guiding a trip on Mt Rainier for RMI. This time of year is pretty fun, rapid changing weather and the beauty that winter has left us. Sometimes I find folks associate the end of ski lifts running as the end of winter I find it, rather, the beginning of winter. Snow typically begins to stabilize (unless your in certain zones in AK trying to take your ski exam, I hope things are settling out my friends), weather a little more enjoyable, more predictable, generally yielding rip conditions for a good time.
Last week was no exception, a beautiful week on the R Horn. Some snow and some sun, a pretty perfect mixture. The mountain always look so fresh and so clean this time of the year.
One thing I love about being a photographer is the opportunity it gives me to remember certain moments in time that are captured by 1/30th of a second or even 1/1200th of a second. I look over images from 2yrs, maybe 10yrs ago, my mind recalls what that moment in time was like just a little more vividly. Images stimulate my memories of time. When my memory begins to fade, images act as a large doorway back to those thoughts and emotions. Reminding me to breath passion, seek progression and invest in people.
Here are a couple of images over the past couple of weeks.
Snow depths have been bleek in the general SW region of Montana this season. Not that the skiing has been horrendous this season, but those tickling pow days have been minimal. The result is a pretty thin snow pack for this time of year. Added to that is a (place any negative adjective here) snow pack. This past Saturday, Noah, Tim, Ty and myself went out to Mt Wood. We left Bozeman sometime around 9pm, driving to the Mystic Lake Trailhead. Noah and myself are not particularly known for on time departures. We crashed at the trailhead that night. During the night increasing winds greeted us.
Noah, Ty, and Tim
The next morning we left for Mt Wood a 13 mile approach. Besides going to ski Mt Wood, we wanted to make this a recon mission to check out the snow pack and look at another project we would like to do sometime in the next month. The Beartooths are loaded with some classic lines. Hans Saari, Kristoffer Erickson, and many others have etched their creativity, on skis, across many peaks in this area. Its remote.
Noah and Ty
Ty
Noah
Limited snow left us with little ski turns. But a good day in the mountains was had. Mt Wood is the 2nd highest mountain in Montana. I had no idea until the day of.
Here is a little journal entry from the past couple of weeks. Just some quick snipits of spending time with some really good friends. The past couple of weeks have been spent in Utah, Colorado, and back to Montana. One thing I always learn when I am away from Montana is how much I love this place.
Beats: Emancipator check him out, great beats by this DJ
A shipment of 3p sweatshirts shipped out yesterday. I am jazzed that another 40+ people are in the 3p hoodies. Stay tuned for the next order maybe this spring. Women specific apparel is under way for the next order, hopefully in the spring time. The snow has been great around SW Montana the past couple of weeks. Spending time at Big Sky, Bridger Bowl and touring days has been productive. Leaving next week to meet up with Dawn Glance and Kitty Calhoun for a 5 day trip of ice climbing in the splendid Cody, Wyoming. Stay tuned for the next journal entry.
Here are a couple of images from yesterday while shooting with Zach and August. The Bridgers have been in a really good cycle these past couple of weeks. May February continue with positive experiences of pow.
Zach
Zach
August
August
Zach
This is a picture of Saddle peak south of the Brider Bowl ski area. Last week an unintentional cornice drop triggered this avalanche.
Zach and I had planned on meeting up in the Jim Bridger Lodge at around 9am. I cruised through the locker room, amongst the families gearing up for a day of skiing. Bridger Bowl is a family ski area. Not a resort, but a ski area. Zach tracked me down as I passed a second lap through the locker room. Clutching a bowl and scooping spoon fulls of cereal into his mouth. We say hi and Zach goes to grab his jacket and pack. Zach just had his birthday the day prior, turning 19. The Bridgers had been in a good cycle. Just over 62 cm in the past 24 hrs. A dense snow falling, with moderate winds. The Bridgers often get some real nice cold smoke. By far the lightest snow which I have ever skied. I know, I know…what about Utah or wherever else… Its in the Bridgers. Zach has been skiing at Bridger forever, having grown up in Bozeman. Spending the weekends chasing his older brother and his Dad around the hill. Zach is a product of Bridger. Low key and melow.
Zach has a passion for skiing, you can tell just by watching him ski. He is passionate about spending time in his boots and continually progressing his talent. As a photographer its really fun to work with Zach. He learns quickly, how and where to execute his lines for the camera. Sometimes a challenge, for me anyway, is how to communicate with the athlete on the line that I see through the lens. Zach understands how to paint his line on the canvas.
Here are a couple of current paintings from Zach.
The Hans Saari Memorial Fund’s “Up There” film festival had a very successful fundraiser last week. Raising over 15,000 dollars. A very successful event, which will help to support the future of avalanche education and ski mountaineering projects around the globe. What an amazing program, really one of a kind, that strives to support the passions of skiers and the progression of the ski mountaineering adventures. Thanks a bunch HSMF for all of your efforts.
i was able to be in prime location for a great storm system here in SLC. Where over 7 ft of snow fell during a 7 day period. A great cycle it was. Heading to Silverton today, where I’ll be skiing a little, as well as doing a slide show for the Silverton Avalanche School.
The slide show / movie is from a trip to the Republic of Georgia. Admission is free, 2 dollar donation gets you a chance to win giveaways from BCA, Black Diamond, and a pair of Scotty Bob Skis. This Sat night, at the Silverton Town Hall, @ 7:30pm. I hear the skiing is all right there too.
