A quick google search for pro talent in the Park City, Utah area turned up Scotty Vemerris, a pro-skier and team manager for Icelantic Boards. We were quickly on board talking concepts and ideas for the commercial spread. This eventually led us teaming up with Eric Vaughn, another backcountry specialist and a crazy snowmobile (aka sled) pusher, who would guide us to our main locations for aerial sequences.
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Before the sun broke over newly dusted peaks, the showdown between man and mountain began. Avalanche reports crackled over the automated phone line, advising us against venturing out into 2 feet of fresh powder. Blasts were being conducted along the mountain thoroughfares as preventative measures against slides. An avalanche beacon was handed out to me along with a probe and shovel pack. And as Scotty began to explain how to swim out of an avalanche and use the beacon/probe to search for others, our next two days were becoming less about a photosession and more about surviving the mountain.
For two days, we trekked and scoured the mountain’s reaches for pristine untouched snow which would lend us to grabbing the perfect frames. The mountain attempted to besiege us with waist high snow as we scaled its back. The echo of our sled and voices through its valleys and folds were a reminder that we were alone and at its mercy. But as we slowly conquered its peaks and lay claim to the land at hand, the joints of the mountain, its canyons and rifts, became ours as we shredded pure unadulterated snow. Man had defeated the mountain… for now.
A special thanks to Scotty and Eric who made this project of mine possible.
by Paul
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