Haglofs Catalog

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I just got a copy of the new Haglofs winter catalog with a collage of my photos from Kashmir this February. There are a few shots of Ptor's in the mix also. Many of the shots were taken on our base camp trip into Aru, a remote village in Kashmir. Our crew consisted of Haglofs creative director, Roddy Darcy, Haglofs athlete and globe trotter Ptor Spricenieks, their wives Katelijne and Karin, Steve and myself. Very stoked on the outcome.

Haglofs is a Swedish outdoor company making extremely nice outerwear, sleeping bags, packs and a myriad of other products. Check out their webite at www.haglofs.com

Whistler's Ragin' Cajuns- The MDK Posse

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I wrote this piece 2 years ago and pitched it to some ski magazines. All the editors knew Matty, Dom and Slicer, but no-one could find a place to publish it. Maybe becasue these types of characters exist in every ski town and it would open the door for every ski bum story, but none I am sure, are quite like these three.

Since then, they no longer live under the same roof, Slicer has had knee surgery, Dom a reconstructed wrist from mountain biking and Matty doesn't compete anymore. One thing is still the same though, they ski as much as they can together.

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There is no shortage of uber-talented shredders in Whistler, but few possess the infamy of the MDK Posse. It stems not just from their skiing, but also the uniquely distinct orb that they form as a trio. They are a soap opera, a ski-de-force, and a brotherhood of grommets with spaghetti sauce running down their chins. They are Matty Richard, Dominic Melanson and Kris Cormier.

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Published in the Swedish Ski Magazine Aka Skidor

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I learnt today that a photo Jordan Manley shot of me skiing up the Duffey two winters ago was published in a Swedish ski magazine Aka Skidor. The full page shot on the right side is yours truely.

This was an amazing day of skiing where we simply went exploring above and around the Anniversary Glacier. We spent a night at Keiths Hut and ski toured both days finding some incredible snow and magic light. This was on of my favorite ski trips that season.

Rilor Mountain Bike Trail POV

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I rode this trail with Chriostoph, Markus and Eric a few weeks ago on our way to Nelson. A new trail built by Riley McIntosh, it is smooth, flowing and oh so fun. The Germans were stoked, having found the type of trail that they had only ever dreamt of riding. Pure, unadulterated BC.

To watch a little more artistic video of this trail, check out Riley's Rilor Wilderness site here.

Eastern Rises- Fly Fishing Film

I have never fly fished, but over the last year or so have become more and more interested in having a dabble. I think it is that I am becoming old enough to have patience. Maybe what has prevented me casting a line up til now is that I feel fly fishing would be absolutely amazing, but that I am not quite ready for it, that I need to mellow out a little more. I don't want to fish too prematurely and blow any delight I might be able to find in it once I am truly ready to fish.

Pretty heavy stuff for some one who has never fished, huh? Yeah I know. But a friend pointed me towards this film, and well, if this doesn't make one want to fish, then... don't.

 

Eastern Rises | teaser from felt soul media on Vimeo.

Beckey Chouinard- Bugaboos 2009 Gallery

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The Bugaboos are one of my favorite places on earth. Towering granite spires with rugged glaciers lapping at their feet, they make for an awe inspiring landscape. With an extremely lucky break in the weather that allowed us three days of perfect conditions to knock off my biggest objective for the summer- the classic Beckey-Chouinard on the South Howser Tower.

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Nation Lakes Canoe Trip

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Quintessentially Canadian, genuinely peaceful and well a good way to get tennis elbow—canoeing. I had never done a canoe trip and with other plans thwarted by wet weather, Hillary and I decided to do a paddling trip. The famous Bowron Lakes circuit isn't an option for the spontaneous type, but we stumbled across the Nation Lakes north west of Fort St James. A 120km enchainment of four lakes and wild Northern BC landscapes seemed to bid well for an adventure.

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Sidewalk In The Sky- Asulkan Traverse, Rogers Pass

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Rogers Pass is one of my favourite places in the world to ski during the winter, but until last week, I had never made it "up the Pass" in the Summer. With sun forecast for three days straight and it being oppressively hot in Revelstoke, Hillary and I decided to venture up and tackle the Asulkan Traverse.

 

 

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Yamnuska Climbing- Rocky Mountains

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Eric and I have been in Canmore for the last week, busy climbing and eating too much each night. Here are a few snaps from the hulking piece of limestone outside town famously know as Yamnuska. Yam comes with a reputation for adventure and epics so we approached through the vibrant, gren meadow below with due trepidation. The first day we set our sights on "Forbidden Corner" (10 pitches, 5.9) and came away unscathed. The next day we rallied for "Kahl Wall" (9 pitches, 5.10) and topped out just as the first claps of thunder unleashed rain in the valley below.

All in all a good adventure.

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Kashmir Solution

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Kashmir continues to intrigue me. After traveling there this past February, the region, the people, the history, politics and religion have proved to be a complex entity difficult to understand. Speaking to individuals one can fathom each side's cause, emotions and reasons for actions in the past but the difficulty comes in understanding what a solution looks like. I found a well balanced documentary, "Crossing the Lines- The Battle for Kashmir's Freedom" by Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy, an eminent Pakistani Nuclear Physicist and a graduate from MIT. The final part best explains the loggerheads that Kashmir, India and Pakistan are at. In many ways the Kashmir issue seems to be a single piece of rope tied in so many knots that it may prove impossible to untie. The excerpt below articulates what the solutions proposed in the past would mean for the people of Kashmir—Muslims, Hindus, Sihks, buddhists—as well as the implicated power politics for India and Pakistan.



If you are interested to watch the whole film, I have included it inside.

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My First Cover

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So I got my first cover. While I was home in Australia my mum hosted a cutting horse charity cutting to raise money for the McGrath Foundation. The McGrath Foundation raises money and awareness for training and placing breasrt cancer nurses. The event was called the Pink Cutting and was an all women's competition. 36 women competed and everyone got involved in the spirit of the event.By the end of the weekend they had raised over $10,000 dollars through sponsors, donations and a cocktail party and charity auction.

I donated my services to shoot photos of the event and landed this cover shot of Performance Horse Magazine. Not a bad reward. It isn't a skiing or climbing magazine, but it's a cover none the less.

If you are wondering what the sport of cutting is all about, check out the video here

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The Harsh Reality of Reality

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I am sharing a car doing 130km/hr in a 90 zone with a mumbling, bumbling Arcadian from New Brunswick at the wheel, an ex-convict and a 21-year-old First Nations kid who looks up to the aforementioned dubious characters. The two crazies in the front have smoked half a pack of cigarettes each since Victoria 50kms ago and we are bound for a demolition site to strip asbestos tile floors. This is a long way from the days when I was getting paid to travel and ski. Tagging along with this raucous is what it seems I must do though if I am to earn a cent this week.
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