SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SKI TEAM

There are many, many, many superb non-profit foundations across the country.  Each can only thrive with the help of a core staff and countless hours of volunteer work, and in return they help to enrich their communities with unique services and experiences.  One such program in our local area is the Ogden Valley Winter Sports Foundation (aka Ogden Valley Ski Team).  Program Director Gordon Perry and I sat down to record his interview narrative a while back, and now that the snow has officially stopped falling, it was time for me to put the video together.  Great program, great coaching, great athletes -- we're lucky to live so close to the mountains and to have programs like this one to get young athletes out onto the snow.  Where ever you may live, please get out and support your local non-profits, too!

MOAB MUSINGS

April is a tough month for the outdoor enthusiast with Mother Nature caught in her schizophrenic throws of transitioning from winter to summer.  As the powder dumping snowstorms become sporadic, I satisfy my urge to travel and explore with my annual trip to magical, mythical, majestic Moab.  This year was a low key trip with just me and my trusty cattle dog mutt, Lucy.  While I intended to practice with my 4K video camera, I ended up focusing on taking photos with my Canon 70D.  There are better cameras coming out every month, but there's something about shooting with a piece of equipment I feel comfortable using under all conditions.  You can read about my trip and see more photos in my article posted on the ZEAL Optics website HERE.  

BROS NOT PROS

ZEAL Optics recently released the first in a series of videos I'm creating featuring people who aren't athletes.  The majority of us aren't rich and famous, but that's okay.  The series celebrates the people out there who are living life to its fullest without fanfare, spotlights, blogs, photographers, or POV videos.  they do what they love and love what they do.

I shot this video of Rich Tilton in the fall out on Antelope Island.  I chose Rich because he's a super friendly guy who is humble, kind, and just gets out there every day and does something active.  On the day of our shoot, the skies were clear and the colors of the land were a palette of autumn browns as the season was transitioning to winter.  The aerial segments were shot with a GoPro on a drone and I used my Canon DSLR for all the rest.  We only had an afternoon together, so we were quick to capture as many different shots as possible before I had to head home and barbecue dinner.

HERE'S TO A GREAT WINTER

While this season will go down in history as one of the driest winters on record here in Utah, it still didn't keep me from having a terrific season.  I enjoyed tons of great skiing, I spent many days in the mountains exploring new areas, and overall I'd have to admit it I had a better season than I deserved.  What really made the season so memorable was meeting so many inspiring, kind hearted people who made my days in the mountains even better.  

While I still have a few days of skiing left in me, I'm already getting excited for the this summer's adventures.  In the meantime, here are four photos taken in the last month, proving that even a bad snow season here in Utah is still pretty amazing.

SKILOGIK Ambassador Emma Morgan leading the way off of the Mount Allen Tram.

Here's Dave Rosen enjoying some late season goodness at Powder Mountain.

Caroline Gleich takes in the view after we got the top of Suicide Chute on the last day of March.

I was going to freeski, but I ran into Jim Forster and we just had to take a couple photos.

I never get photos of myself, but I asked Caroline to snap a few photos.  She kindly snapped this one of me with the Pfeifferhorn in the background.

MAGAZINE ARTICLE PUBLISHED

Lightning does seem to strike twice, and I'm excited to say that I've had two articles published in AMERICAN ANGLER magazine in as many months.  This latest issue features a story I wrote about backpacking and fly fishing in the gorgeous Uinta Mountains.  Thanks to Finn Navidomskis for being my hiking partner and inspiration for the story.

As I sit here typing, there's a snowstorm dumping wonderful Utah powder onto our mountains, and I'm excited about the great skiing I have scheduled for later this week, but...there is a little part of me that's excited about early mornings on the trail, late nights camping high in the mountains, and long days exploring endless miles of serpentine rivers in search of trout.  Tight lines!

Free the Powder

"When college ended and the World thought we were supposed to get real jobs like our father had, the Old Man actually took great pride in the fact my brother and I became ski bums. We still are to this day."  

That's a quote from Chase Stewart who, with his wife Shannon, recently started Free The Powder Gloves in Park City.  Their goal is to provide high quality gloves at affordable prices.  In fact, their gloves just went on sale as we approach the end of the ski season (a moment of silence, please).  Dave Rosen and I recently became members of "Team Free the Powder," so if you see us on the mountain, then check out our gloves, and let's ski a few runs.

Dave Rosen charging as usual in his Free The Powder gloves.

Snowbasin TV Ads

Last month I was fortunate enough to work with Fish Marketing out of Portland, Oregon to help them create a series of television and online spots as part of an advertising campaign for Snowbasin Ski Resort.  Doug Fish brought a small production team out to Utah, and I was hired to provide the on snow video content.  Lucky for us, the resort had just received a fresh layer of stereotypical Utah Pow.  With only two days to get the required shots, we were on the mountain early and hit every spot on the mountain.  The Fish Marketing crew were a terrific, professional group, and I'm glad I could help them get the shots they needed for their client.

The off snow video was shot with a Blackmagic Cinema Camera with Rokinon Primes/Canon Lenses while the on snow video was shot on my Canon 70D with two zoom lenses.  I love the 70D for its autofocus capability while trying to get great video of moving subjects.

The screenshots of the more dynamic skiing have the standard 180 deg shutter motion blur, so I chose these photos as a representation of the great conditions we had over the two days.

The wonderful world of Multi-Media

While my primary focus has been creating videos that tell a story, the world of storytelling has really evolved and grown more complex over the past few years with clients now needing media in many various forms and flavors.  Over the past year, I've been expanding into written content (American Angler article, ZEAL blog stories, Orvis articles, Storehouse & Steller stories, etc.).  Facebook, blogs, Storehouse app, and the Steller app to name a few outlets provide excellent platforms for clients to reach out and tell their stories to a wide audience.  In addition to more written and photographic content, I've also been supplying video in different formats to again reach different audiences.  The video below is a standard 1080p video to be embedded anywhere on the web, but I also created a fifteen second Instagram version for SKILOGIK to use on their Instagram feed (@SKILOGIK).

It's an exciting time.  Democratization of storytelling is hitting its stride bringing an unparalleled ability to get out there and tell a story in an almost unlimited way.  This freedom does come with its own set of difficulties; number one being the problem of standing out amongst the din of so much constant media.  I believe a strong focus on the message, the branding, and specialization to hone the message to a select audience is the only way to successfully catch the attention of audience members.

Time will tell which outlets stand the test of time, but in the meantime it's a very fun time in history.  Within moments of an event, that photo/story/video can be shared through a multitude of outlets.  With a bit more time to refine the media - to edit, enhance, contemplate a bit more outside of the excitement of the moment - the story can be made even better.  This is the exciting part to me.  There are so many stories out there to be told.  So many interesting people.  With technology being affordable and outlets being accessible this truly is the Golden Age of Creativity.

American Angler Article

The current issue of AMERICAN ANGLER magazine contains an article I wrote about last summer's eleven day float down the famed Kanektok River in remote southwest Alaska.  It's a humorous story about my attempts to catch a mighty King salmon while under the tutelage of flyfishing veteran and good friend, Mike Navidomskis.  Do I catch a King salmon worthy of a photo?  You'll have to stop by a local bookseller, grab a copy of the magazine, and find out for yourself.

Powder Mountain Snowsports School

Kent Lundell, the director of the Powder Mountain Snowsports School, wanted a short video about the snowsports school, so I grabbed my Canon DSLR and in a quick morning shot what I needed for the video.  The atmosphere at Powder Mountain is so great; laid back, friendly, supportive.  This feeling permeates the staff and is felt by visitors and students of the snowsports school.  While we're still in need of another round of snow storms here in Utah, there's still a lot of fun to be had in the mountains right now.

Powder Mountain Backcountry

Recently, with the help of the great folks at Powder Mountain Ski Area, I was able to head into their surrounding backcountry to scout out the location of an upcoming photo and video shoot for SKILOGIK, ZEAL Optics, and ABS backpacks.  Ex-racer, Christina Guay, accompanied me on the outing to help as my talent/model/skier for the day.  She did a great job, as well as Garrett and Brian, who made sure we were safe in the backcountry.  Thanks to everyone who made this possible. #zealoptics #skilogik #powdermountain

WasatchReport.com

Last winter, my wife and I alternated spending days at home taking care of, and home schooling, one of our daughters who was going through a prolonged illness.  During some of the many hours I spent sitting in front of my laptop as I looked out at the snow, I put together an aggregation webpage focused on skiing, the backcountry, and misc good stuff from along the Wasatch.  I was going to so many websites on a regular basis, I wanted to compile them all on one page for easy access.  One thing led to another and soon I had WasatchReport.com.

The intent was create a central site I could bookmark and then find information in a quick, clear format.  It's a dynamic site with links, articles, and videos I found interesting, informative, or entertaining.  There's nothing extra here -- just links and some videos I thought were worth adding to the page.  Last season I tried to add a new article every day, but I'm not stuck at home this season, so therefore I don't see this happening...but who knows. 

I invite you to check out the site, click and explore, and discover new people and places.  Let me know if you have something I should add or suggestions to make it better.  My email is chris.twosherpas@gmail.com

Thanks, Chris

WASATCHREPORT.COM

"PRO-Files": Ski Patroller GR Fletcher

ABS Avalanche Airbags and ZEAL Optics sponsored a video I created about avalanche control professionals at Snowbasin.  Veteran patroller GR Fletcher leads a crew of ski patrollers doing avalanche control work after a fresh dumping of Utah powder.  I'm glad to finally be able to release this video for general viewing.  We shot it late last season on crisp, bluebird morning.  Through the graciousness of the ski patrol, I was allowed to shadow them as they made the mountain safe for everyone to enjoy.

The video was primarily shot with a Canon 70D since the camera's auto-focus capabilities are incredibly helpful during single-person documentary style shoots such as this one.  I also shot some footage with my GoPro3+ and stabilized it as best as I could in post.

NUTCRACKER BALLET

Last night I recorded a performance of The Nutcracker ballet performed by Ogden's Imagine Ballet Theater.  Since the recording was simply a wide, static shot of the stage, I had time to wander around with my Canon 70D and fast prime lenses to capture the activity in and around the stage.  While I've now seen this ballet more times than I ever thought possible in a lifetime, I'm still amazed by the dedication, passion, and excitement of the young people who work so hard to make this performance a success year after year.

Below is the link to the photo essay I created on Storehouse, since the photos look wonderful on a large monitor.  You can see a very similar photo essay I made using Steller here.  The Steller version is optimized for viewing on a cell phone screen.

A Little Photo of Mine Was Published

Okay, so my photo is a small square amongst twelve others on one page (upper right...almost too dark to see), but it's still an honor that the creators of ALPINE MODERN liked my photo enough to include it in the inaugural issue of their quarterly magazine.  It's also an honor, and rather humorous, my photo is included on the same page as a photo by the amazingly talented Chris Burkard.  I hope he's not too offended to have to share page space with an amateur like me; I'm sure it's a one time anomaly.

Wonderful Winter Season Partners

As the temperatures continue to stay cold and the forecasts keep predicting more waves of snow, I can say I'm getting excited about this ski season.  This year I have the support of four wonderful partners, and I'm itching to get out on the snow and start creating inspiring media for all of them.  I hope to see you out in the mountains this winter!

EXPLORE MORE: SEATTLE

(I originally wrote this article for the ZEAL Optics website where it accompanied a photo essay from my recent trip to Seattle.)

What does ‘explore more’ mean to me?  Well, I know it’s not limited to grabbing a passport, hopping on a transoceanic flight, and paddling in a dugout canoe to some far flung corner of the globe.  ‘Explore More’ is a mindset.  It’s about seeking out unique moments and new experiences where ever you can find them.  

Whether it’s eating at a new mom and pop taqueria in town, skiing a new area, or floating down a remote river with friends -- these are the experiences I look for and what I consider to be ‘exploring.’

Recently, I traveled back to Seattle; the city of my youth.  My best friend from high school picked me up at the airport, and we spent the day roaming around various neighborhoods taking photos and 'exploring.'

A camera is a great excuse to slow down, to look at the details, and it’s your ticket to ‘explore more.’  To stroll the sidewalks, check out the alleyways, study architectural details, to walk into stores, restaurants, tattoo parlors, coffee shops and begin conversations with people from every walk of life.  At the end of the day I had a fresh view of the city I thought I already knew so well.

You don’t have to travel far to do this.  Just visit a place you’ve never been to before.  Invite a friend.  Get out of your car.  Walk around.  Strike up a conversation with a stranger.  Order a meal you can’t pronounce.

Want to ‘explore more?’  Then stop reading this article and head outside.  You don’t have to have a ticket to a foreign land to be an explorer, just a mindset to get out and experience something new.  The world is waiting.

A Farewell to Fall

Outside it's snowing and cold...and I'm loving it.  I'm in the middle of a bunch of different video projects and looking forward the publishing of my first articles in a national publication next month, but I took a moment to create this little collection of photos from this past autumn.  Fall is one of my favorite times of year and this year it didn't disappoint -- we had a gorgeous season of color and Indian Summer temps right until the bitter end. 

You can see my other Steller and Storehouse visual stories on those pages of my website.

Kokanee Salmon

I love living in a state with distinct seasons, and I look forward to every autumn as it brings a massive wave of change in weather and colors.  Here in northern Utah the maples are first to change with their brilliant oranges and reds, then the aspen with their shimmering waves of glowing yellow, and finally the majestic, sprawling oaks which turn a somber maroon as a final farewell to our Indian Summer.  

During this time some of the rivers above our lakes and reservoirs explode with crimson as thousands of land-locked Sockeye salmon, known as Kokanee, make their lives' final journey upriver to spawn.  Within half an hour of my home is a trailhead that leads to one such small river.  In September I hiked to the river to take photos and video of the small salmon.  While I posted the multi-media story on Steller and Storehouse, I forgot to post the video here.  As the Wasatch Range becomes dusted with our first real winter storm, I thought it would be a good time to post the video before the excitement and activities of the winter season lead to me forgetting about it until next spring.  Here it is...better late than never.  

Caroline Gleich

Last weekend Caroline Gleich and I spent the day shooting footage for a video we hope to complete later this winter.  We spent part of the day in SLC and the late afternoon up at Snowbird where I took the following photos.  Besides crashing my Phantom 2 drone, it was a fun day and we got a lot of great footage.  It was beautiful at the top of Snowbird, but let's all keep praying for snow.

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