Dawn patrol on Mount Glory
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Last week I was working as a PA on a bigger commercial production while the biggest storm of the season was hitting Jackson. I’m incredibly susceptible to FOMO in the winter and I was struggling being off snow all week.
The last day of the production had a later call time, so Bodhi and I rallied for a dawn patrol lap with low expectations. I figured the pass would already be tracked out, but tracked turns are better than no turns.
As the sun crept over the horizon, Bodhi and I started hiking faster. Looking around, I was wrong- there was plenty of untracked snow. We greeted the sun at the summit, transitioned, and charged back down the mountain, bouncing over rollers and hooting and hollering down the 1,600 foot face. I got home at 9, showered, and arrived to work at 9:30 with a full cup.
2025 was incredibly fruitful for my career and I have nothing but gratitude for all the learning and growth as I learn how to make a living in the creative industry. I took fewer personal photos this year due to my increased commercial workload. I feared the burnout often associated with my profession. But every time I returned to my more personal fly-on-the-wall style of shooting, where I’m only shooting for myself, the joy embraces me like an old friend. These are my favorites from a really awesome year.
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If you let me take your picture this year, thank you 🫶
I’ve built my adult life around skiing and I couldn’t be more grateful for all the opportunities and growth I’ve experienced behind the lens this year. What a privilege this life is! Here are some of my favorites on snow from 2024
1. Parkin Costain, TGR, Beyond the Fantasy
2. Parkin and Maggie, TGR, Beyond the Fantasy
3. Kai Jones, TGR, Beyond the Fantasy
4. Tim Durtschi opening up Corbet’s Couloir for the 2024 season
5. Maggie Voisin, TGR, Beyond the Fantasy
6. My good friend Steve getting the goods
7. Basecamp kickers
8. The Yosemite High Country with Matt and Rob
9. Slugging up the Altusky Couloir
10. Matt cruising down the Altusky Couloir
11. Skinning through Grand Teton National Park under the Northern Lights
12. Just 2 miles from the car, Patagonia
Sleepy nausea, wind holds, sulfuric scents, endless views, and some of the best light I’ve shot with in a long time- we experienced a vast spectrum of emotions ascending Mount Hood.
Every spring, I pack up the car for a week or two and roadtrip out west, picking a few ski objectives in new places. It’s a nice mental reset in the middle of peak ski mountaineering season and often results in a some new skills to add to the toolkit back home.
Last spring, Zach, Brendan, and I drove down to the Eastern Sierra and skied Mount Whitney. We had a heinous approach with heavy packs, only to stop 500 feet short of the summit and ski mostly terrible snow all the way back down.
I was in a creative rut during the trip and was pretty underwhelmed by these images, but it’s fun to look back. I wish I captured it better but it was quite magnificent to start our mission in the desert and reach 14,000 feet, skiing around enormous granite walls and some of the bluest skies I’ve ever seen.
I’m headed out for the annual trip today, going north to the volcanoes of the PNW. The hope is to learn more about glacier travel and have some massive days on some of the largest mountains in the lower 48. It’ll be a nice change of pace- I haven’t had a good grimy week on the road in a long time. Stay tuned!
An assortment from the last few months in the high alpine- (part 2)
I’ve grown to cherish the rhythms of an alpine start- the dark drive to the trailhead, shivering in the freezing temps, the excessive caffeine consumption, and dance of my breath underneath my headlamp.
I regain a second wind as the stars give way to the sun and our objective comes into view. We alternate leading as uphill travel grows cumbersome until we’ve reached the top of our objective.
A fist bump, then some gummy clusters, then some skiing. Usually good skiing, but sometimes it’s bad. We dodge confused hikers as we follow our skin track back to the trailhead, arriving at the car around lunchtime. On the best days, our routine continues- Dairy Queen, a steak dinner, and early bedtime, excited to do it all again tomorrow.
An assortment from the last few months in the high alpine (part 1)
I’ve spent more time up high this season than in years past and I’m stoked by how much quality skiing I’ve enjoyed over the past few months. The valley might be dry but there’s plenty of snow up high!
More of my favorites shots from POWDER Week with @powdermagazine at @grandtargheeresort
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Grinning ear to ear as I reminisce- some of the most fun I’ve had “working.” Stay tuned for some expert ski reviews - these skis were tested in every possible condition. Much love to everyone involved 🫶
Early Ups at Grand Targhee
The patroller off-handedly mentioned that if we hustled we could “get a few laps in” before the lifts opened to the general public. We reached the top of Dreamcatcher at 8:25 and all hell broke loose. I was spraying and praying with no poles and no plan. 14 inches overnight and the entire mountain to ourselves for 30 minutes.
It’s been a rough winter, so I cherished this half hour. Judging by the hooting and hollering, it seems we were unified in gratitude. I’ve never witnessed such a joyful chaos.
Shot for @powdermagazine at @grandtargheeresort for POWDER Week.
Pros for a 4:30AM Delta Chutes mission
- Matt gets to work on time
- Amazing sunrise in the alpine
- Lots of route finding practice
- Over-indulging on caffeine
Cons of a 4:30AM Delta Chutes mission
- None
I got a lot of joy from this whole day, especially these 20 gorgeous minutes at the top and bottom of Delta Chutes. It’s always worth it!!!!
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#grandtetonnationalpark #backcountryskiing #splitboarding #uphillathlete #tetons
