Last season Chad Sayers, writer Dan K. and I took a trip up to Smithers and Terrace, BC. I really enjoyed getting on the ground, seeking out the interesting characters, getting their stories while collecting images of what it is like to ski in the North. The story just hit the shelves in the November issue of Powder, so check it out!
G3 has recently undergone a complete website re-vamp, and we worked together on finding a series of images that met their needs, mostly black and white images. Here is one of them:
Shames Mountain is a small operation just outside of Terrace, BC. There is only one chairlift, and one t-bar, but the snowpack and easy access to amazing backcountry are qualities they can boast about. I have twice visited and skied at Shames, the most recent on assignment with Powder Magazine. Financially, it has been very difficult to keep a resort going in the small town, especially in the North where economic hard times have been going on a lot longer than the current recession. However, it was clear to see that the town truly benefited from having the small operation there – and can be seen as a public good, similar to a publicly funded rec-centre. Of course, there is no current public funding for Shames (or any other operation that I know of).
Check out this article about one proposal from an international group trying to turn it into a co-operative, it certainly is an interesting idea for a ski area model.
This is always an exciting time of year, when ski magazines start rolling off the press once again after a 6 month break. You get to see what editors selected and where they showcase your images in the mags. Here is a cover from Sweden, Aka Skidor, somewhere behind all that layout is a photo of Chad Sayers from our amazing time spent in Monte Rosa, Italy last February.
I have just returned from one of the most physically demanding weeks of my life. The idea: to climb and ski notable volcanoes among the Cascade Volcanic Arc, a chain that runs from Squamish to northern California. The team: myself, Chad Sayers, Andre Charland, Tobin Seagel, Jamie Bond, my brother Chad, Kellie Okonek (all the way from Alaska) and Ian “Cheddar” Watson.
We set off blitzing down the I5 overnight to Mount Shasta at the top end of California. On basically no sleep, we climbed 7000ft to reach the top at 14,100ft. The heat was considerable, 35c at the bottom. The descent was perfect corn, however, so all good.
With blue sky in the forecast we rallied back North to our next destination, Mount Hood, sleeping in the parking lot for 5 or 6 hrs before we hopped on the lift which took us half way up; much appreciated, as we only had to climb the remaining 3000ft to reach it’s 11,200ft summit
Back in the car once again we drove for several hours North to Mount Adams, which stands at 12,800ft. 6 hours of sleep was what we got in the parking lot before hoisting our heavy packs and setting out for yet another back-to-back day. This one hurt. 7000ft of slogging left me bagged on the summit, but fortunately the ski was enjoyable on the way down.
We decided to take a rest day after Adams. In Washougal, Washington, Kellie’s family took us (8 stinky skiers) in, fed us, and gave us a roof over our heads to get some decent sleep for once. That evening we made our way to Mount Rainier, the crown jewel in the chain of peaks. Unfortunately it was too late in the year to ski The Fuhrer’s Finger, a aesthetic couloir that runs on the South side. So, we went for the standard slog up the Emmons Glacier on the east side of the mountain. We went for a 8000ft push to the summit from a low camp at Glacier Basin. By the time we reached the summit it was the biggest day (let alone at altitude) most of us had been through. The 3 other peaks had seemed to help aclimitize us so the altitude wasn’t much of an issue. What was and issue was the line we chose to ski. Rather than going down what we had climbed up, the group made a decision to ski another line where we thought we could exit safely through some serac and crevasses at the bottom. Begin the nightmare. After descending down the line, we realized we couldn’t get through safely. We had no choice but to climb back up 2500ft to where we knew we could take the other route down. Slowely, the 8,000ft day became a 10,000ft+ day. The sun was going down by the time we began to descend once again and the snow began to freeze, making for 5,000ft of mostly side slipping – not exactly inspiring skiing.
We reached our sleeping bags way below and slept until the next morning before walking out to reach the cars.
Tobin put it best, “Thats one to remember and not to repeat.” I think we all look back on the trip with fond memories, but we also remember the sleeplessness, foot pain, and fatigue. What do we do these things? I’m still not sure…
I have been wanting to climb and ski Shuksan’s North-ish aspect all year. We decided to try for the North West Couloir, a line that seemingly doesn’t get skied often. Not even half way up the face, we realized that it was too icy to go ahead safely, and pulled the plug. The melt freeze cycle at this time of year makes everything a game of timing in order to be safe. Ultimately I think we made the right call, but defeat hangs over my head, and Shuksan calls my name, to which I respond, “we’ll be back!” Until then.
John Irvine, Tobin Seagel, and my brother Chad make their way towards the North West Couloir over frozen wet-slide avi paths.
The morning after the Pro Photographer Showdown, the influential and remarkable big mountain skier Ingrid Backstrom called me to go to Alaska for a last minute effort to try and get some material for her ski film segment this year, and for some additional photos. I jumped at the opportunity and before I knew it I was on a plane to Whitehorse where we rented an RV and drove to Haines, Alaska. Kye Peterson, Rory Bushfield, and Eric Crossland were part of the team as well, and I was greatful to be a part of it.
::click to enlarge photos
This was my first experience in Alaska. After graduating highschool I spent a couple summers working in the Yukon doing mineral exploration and fell in love with the North, but had never made it over into Alaska. Snow conditions were variable and finding good snow was aspect dependant, but we did find (in small doses) what we were looking for. Steep line skiing in Alaska has been photographed a million times, but to me everything was new and exciting. Shooting out of the helicopter for the first time – with the doors off, strapped in circling overhead the skier charging down the line left me giddy and wanting more.
The trip was ultimately cut short due to rising temps but it was long enough to leave knowing I had experienced a truly amazing place where I plan to return to hopefully sooner than later.
Thursday night was a bit of a dream come true for me. Five or so years ago, as an audience member at the yearly Pro Photographer Showdown, I realized one day I wanted to be part of the show, and try to win. The work of people like Sterling Lorence, Paul Morrison, and Blake Jorgenson inspired me to refine my craft and develop a creative vision.
Finally this year I decided to enter, and ended up being a finalist with a truly stacked competitive field. Ian Ruhter, Daniel Blom, Christian Pondella, and Scott Pommier all had amazing shows that inspired everyone in the room.
I was a nervous wreck, as I usually am at these events, despite it having been the 5th slideshow I’ve done in the past year. I sat on the floor in the back as my show played. To my surprise, the audience gave me a standing ovation (it may have been partial) after the show had faded to black – it was simply overwhelming. I suppose the judges agreed, and I was presented with the prize for the winning show ($10,000, no small sum!).
As I said up on stage, I owe a huge thanks to all my friends who are the subjects of my photographs and put up patiently with me.
Photo above: Just after they handed a cheque to me and my great friends Jamie and Andre blitzed the stage armed with champagne. Mike Crane photos.
Ski Press Live Pro Photographer Showdown from Jordan Manley on Vimeo.
Thanks to eganentertainment.com for the video
Here is some press found around on the interweb:
http://espn.go.com/action/snowboarding/blog?post=4098046
This weekend under tranquil skies and rising temperatures, we journied up the Duffey Lake road and ski toured/climbed the highest peak in the area, Mt. Matier, standing at just over 9,000ft. My partner’s and I skied it’s legendary NW face, fast, and then down the Anniversary Glacier back to the road. All in, a 5000 vertical ft descent, punctuated by cold beers waiting for us in the snow bank when we reached the road.
For their pre-festival issue, Whistler’s weekly Pique put a photo that my brother Les and friend Jonny Law took together during last year’s Deep Winter Photo Challenge on the cover. This image has been used in a few editorial spots over the past year.