After the “slow” snow season we had going in winter 2009/10 it was a blessing to have it dumping when we arrived in Ymir, BC Canada just south of Nelson, BC in March. To even get to the yurt we had to get towed in approx 18 miles by snowcat and sleds. It was puking snow so at times we weighted down the sleds and just had to walk with one on the machine. Once we reached the snowcat some sit down and a ride. Since it was snowing so hard our guide and owner of Ymir Yurts Trevor Holsworth took us in a few extra miles to make sure we got in safe. We dug a pit and during the digging the column broke. Yes, fresh two feet with inches falling every hour it seemed. Once dropped off near the ridge we headed up the safest skin track and no more than 200 yards up the skin we set off a good size avalanche that almost reached the wives below. We keep heading up the route we picked and reached the ridge. Once at the ridge we skied down to the yurt and Trevor returned to the snowcat. The next couple of days we poked around yurt skiing anything we all felt was safe. Here are some of my images from that trip. Enjoy.
Dave blowing up a few turns after coming out of the trees.
The ridge line between the drop point and yurt. We mostly laps off lookers right side of the ridge.
The last week of January I took some of my fellow Whitefish Powder Ninjas down to the Ski MBA Bell Lake Yurt in the Tobacco Roots near Pony, MT. It was harder than you think to get five strong skiers together in less than 10 days to go on a ski photography assignment. We wanted powder or bluebird, ended up getting 25″+ of classic fresh Montana cold smoke powder and cold temps help keep things safeish*.
Andy tows in Trevor, Dave and Erick to the trail head where we start our skin.
Dan was to eager to see how deep and soft the snow was so he decided to go jump off a rock at the trail head with no skis to see how deep it is… DEEP!
After skinning in it was time to dig a pit. Trevor and Dan check how things are layering following the storm
The next morning we got after the terrain above Bell Lake. Dan making his way down the first lap of the day. Snow report… DEEP!
Dan coming off the ridge near Peanut Bowl. Again we found really really deep snow. That’s Dan in the lower right getting a face full.
Trevor finding his way down face shot alley.
I decided to lay down on the cliff above this little chute to get a shot down on Dan as he pops off the rock into the chute. After Dan skied it I took sloppy seconds.
Trevor flying down from his line into the apron beside where Dan and I just skied. It was pick your chute for all.
Erick showing off his many years or mastering the powder ninja art. Where is he? Behind that pole plant!
Conor agrees about how deep the snow is. So deep we had issues breathing at times.
After a early dinner we headed out around 8:00 p.m. to do some night powder shots. With the help from Erick holding the flash and me at the tripod we were able to get some nice night images. Big Dave made the first turns of the night off a wind lip + flash + 6 second shutter speed + snow texture in foreground.
Trevor went second just down from Dave’s spot. I changed up the frame wanting more of a mid shot.
Conor turns after a steep start. I like how the tree feels on the left.
The next morning Dan, Trevor and I headed up first to see if we could get morning light but the clouds didn’t lift over night and it was snowing light with temps around 17 F.
Erick skinning across the lower section of Peanut Bowl with Dave and Dan in the background waiting for their turn to cross this slide path.
The group getting ready on ridge and looking for breaks in the clouds.
Conor airing off a cliff we found poking our way down to Bell Lake.
Craig, Erick, Dan, Dave, Trevor and Conor on Bell Lake during a powder day. A great place to be on a powder day!
After dinner on our last night the sky cleared so we skinned up to Bell Lake to check out our lines on the ridge and stars.
Moonlight over head and time for second dinner.
The next morning we skied out from the yurt towards Pony. This image is looking back towards Bell Lake near the saddle in the right center.
All inversions should end in POWDER DAYS. Looking back at the images from the holiday week its hard to ask for more than inversions followed up by powder days at Whitefish Mountain Resort . Enjoy the images.
Rob loving life in the fresh powder.
Rob popping off the ridge.
Dave presents MONTANA!
Amy and Dave at the Summit House.
Kyle shredding the ant hill at sunrise.
Summit view looking towards Glacier National Park.
Kyle picking his line down North Bowl.
Kyle running the cornice at Elephants Graveyard.
Inversion trees.
Dave testing the snow in the early A.M. soon it will be bright!
Dan getting a taste of the backside early A.M.
Trevor finding his line in the early A.M.
Finally getting bright about the time Trevor found this line in Evans.
The latest storm in Northwest Montana dumped 12+ inches at Whitefish Mountain Resort. Shortly after the storm past the sun came out and gave us a great opportunity for a small photo shoot.
Ski Patrollers Kim and Ryan clear the fresh snow off the deck of the ski patrol shack located at the top of Big Mountain.
Best wishes to Aaron & Caitlin Hall who said "I DO" this Saturday! Here are a few images from my quick edit. I will have all the images posted online soon. Every event guest who is pre-registered on my site will receive a $5.00 credit towards prints and products. Click HERE to pre-register and be notified when the Hall wedding photos go live online. We are also offering 2-for-1 prints.
