The July issue of Bike magazine has just dropped and it looks like they’ve given us the cover in addition to the feature story Andrew Findlay (writer) and I gathered during our wild trip to Guatemala in January (see blog post, “Guatemala: a-diversion-from-winter”). The cover is a different breed of toning I applied to the image that I normally do, but it seemed to work with the environment, and seemingly the photo editor at Bike magazine.
I’ve just returned from a week living on the Freshfield Icefield, located between Golden, BC, and Jasper, Alberta. It sits on the continental divide, and has a huge amount of beautiful terrain above 10,000ft. I was tagging along with the hugely talented/creative Rocky Mountain Sherpas film crew as they worked on their 2 year project, “All I Can”, with athletes Callum Petit, James Heim, Chris Rubens, and Eric Hjorliefson. I was working on some editorial and commerical still photography as well as shooting video for my final Arcteryx/Goretex web episode this season. While we had to wait 5 days for the weather in order to fly up onto the icefield by helicopter safely, once we were in there we enjoyed cold temperatures (full on winter!), and plenty of sun. We spent 6 days touring and climbing lines, skiing, and shooting with great stability and blower pow. It was a thrill to hang out with such a talented group of people, and live for a week in that spectacular environment.
The view from our camp, at 10,000ft.
6am after a nice 10cm reset of snow.
Chris Rubens and James Heim dwarfed by “Cocktail” peak.
May? Cold temps.
Eric Hjorliefson ascending.
Minutes after getting off the Glacier: l to r, Eric Crossland, Chris Rubens, Eric Hjorliefson, Malcolm Sangster, Dave Mossop, Callum Petit, James Heim, Moi
There are some days that make me think I just might have the best job in the world. Yesterday was one of those days. For the last stop on our Skier assignment (see last post, below), Dan and I went up to Campbell River on Vancouver Island, then took a water taxi back across towards the mainland through Desolation Sound, up into spectacular Toba Inlet. In Brem Bay we met Kevin Fogolin, an avalanche consultant who contracts out to forestry and hydro firms operating in the area. It is steep, complex, wild, and stunning terrain. After meeting Kevin, we hopped in the heli with 5 x 25kg bags of prepped anfo explosives and did some heli bombing! It was one of the most exhilarating things I’ve done in a while and I felt really lucky to get to not only fly into such a spectacular zone, but also to gain a unique view into a Kevin’s world (thanks Kevin!). We closed the day with a sunset flight across Desolation Sound to Campbell River. I’ve sailed up in there a few times, but to gain an elevated view with such nice light was something special. What a day…
I was really in and amongst it here in the machine, cuddling 125kg’s of explosives.
Kevin’s office. No big deal. Peak # who knows.
Last week I was shooting for an SBC Skier magazine article following a few different veteran avalanche professionals in British Columbia through their day-to-day duties. Accompanied by writer Dan K., I spent some time skiing and looking at snow with Eric Dafoe who works for Parks Canada controlling the Rogers Pass section of the Trans Canada highway between Revelstoke and Golden. We spent some time ski touring and digging pits, as well as getting up close and personal with their Canadian Army partnership firing the Howitzer 105 at some avi paths above the road. The percussion blast is so strong it made my camera smack me in the forehead when I was shooting. No biggy.
Avalanche Road, On Assignment from Jordan Manley Photography on Vimeo.
Next, we spent some time closer to home on the Duffey Lake Road with Scott Aitken and Doug Tuck ski touring and digging pits once again. These guys have been working the road for 25yrs now. I had a lot of fun with them, and I learned a lot. Thanks!
Finally I’ve got it online, here is my slideshow from last April’s Pro Photographer Showdown in Whistler.
2009 Pro Photographer Showdown Slideshow from Jordan Manley Photography on Vimeo.
I am back from 2 months of India and European adventure, but on the road once again. This time I find myself in Nevada (alongside writer Hans Ludwig, skiers Cody Townsend, Rachael Burks, and Jamey Parks), on assignment for Powder magazine, documenting the range of skiing and ski culture in the most mountainous state (yes, its true). We’ve found some amazing couloirs right above the hell hole that is Las Vegas, alongside 3000 year old Bristlecone Pine trees. For the past two days have been out in the middle of nowhere skiing and hanging out at a hot springs ranch amongst great company. Tomorrow promises a couloir of a lifetime and I’m very excited!
I climbed this dead tree to shoot Cody Townsend cruising below. Then I did a backflip off the branch! Photo, Rachael Burks.
Rachael Burks awaits skiing this narrow 35-45er, 40mins from Las Vegas.
Here is a new(ish) cover, this time from Germany’s Bike Magazine. I shot this last August while riding in the Chilcotins – one of the hearts of “epic” riding in BC. Mount Dickson stands in the backcountry, with my brother Chad, and friend Pat Mulroney descending a rocky ridge. It won’t be too long now until we’re riding bikes again, although ski season is far from over!
The people at Aka Skidor in Sweden have been very nice to Chad Sayers and I this season – giving us now a 3rd cover since the fall. This one was taken in Monterosa, Italy last season when we had stellar conditions. Also in this issue, a feature I shot in La Grave last season.
I’m still in La Grave at the moment and wishing we had the same deep pow we did at this time last year, but there is a system on the way and we are keen to start shooting again. The skiing has been great with lots of chalky couloirs, but it doesn’t show up the same way on film as powder does.
I’m now in La Grave and just got off the hill after my first day back here skiing. It is my 3rd year in a row (and in total) having the good fortune to be able to ski and experience this magical place. The grandur of rock and ice here blow the mind, and the way a skier can move through such a huge volume of spectacular terrain in a day is like nothing else I’ve experienced. You have to be on your toes, and you have to know where you’re going, as there is no ski patrol, nothing is marked, and the terrain is extremely complex. You’re on your own to wander the mountains, giving you a much more real experience as a skier, and consequently you feel that much more alive. I’m here shooting photos, as well as shooting a web episode for Arcteryx/Goretex. These episodes I’m doing will consist of video, stills, and timelapses that I’m gathering with a Nikon D3s, which is proving to be a great all-in-one tool.
Here is the new issue of Mountain Life magazine from the Coast. The (main) photograph is of Chad Sayers from our short time spent up in Smithers, BC last March.
