Skiing the northernmost mountains in the world continued: Svalbard, Norway

Reggie Crist skiing Trident North. Location: Svalbard, Norway Photo: Will Wissman

A continued photo essay by Will Wissman.  Click Matador Network for original story

Words: Will Wissman

When arctic explorer Doug Stoup asked me to join his expedition to Svalbard, Norway, to ski on the planet’s northernmost mountain range, I figured it would be more of a novelty. What I didn’t realize was the terrain and snow conditions would be world class.

Our journey began in Longyearbyen (population 2,000), roughly 800km from the North Pole, a whaling community turned coal mining town that currently features one grocery store, a couple of overpriced hotels, and a scattering of bright colored buildings. With less than 60km of roadway, the best (and virtually only) way to get around is by snowmobile. So our team of seven loaded up a small fleet of snowmobiles, along with towing sleds carrying all of the necessary gear and supplies to survive and ski for two weeks. Leaving fuel caches along the way, it took 12 hours to reach our final destination, the Atomfjella Glacier, containing the highest mountains on the island.

The following is a collection of photographs I captured while on the remote glacier for those two weeks. After the adventure was over, I had no hesitation in saying there is absolutely no better place to ski in the world than Svalbard during the month of May.

Longyearbyen, Norway in the early morning sunlight. Photo: Will Wissman

Scoping out the mission. Photo: Will Wissman

Atomfjella Mountain Range in Svalbard, Norway. Photo: Will Wissman

Lexi Dupont setting up the First Ascents basecamp on the Atomfjella Glacier. Photo: Will Wissman

Basecamp in the clouds. Photo: Will Wissman

The Atomfjella Mountains provided extraordinary views and skiing. Photo: Will Wissman

Reggie Crist and Doug Stoup earning their way to the top of Rabbit Ears. Photo: Will Wissman

Reggie Crist skiing blower Svalbard pow at 3am. Photo: Will Wissman

Reggie Crist makes with contrails all the way to basecamp. Photo: Will Wissman

Lexi Dupont getting her fair share of powder turns. Photo: Will Wissman

Reggie Crist, Doug Stoup, and Lexi Dupont seem to be in the right place at the right time. Photo: Will Wissman

A Mother and her cubs in search of a meal. Photo: Will Wissman

The Noorderlicht frozen in time. Photo: Will Wissman

Watching the wildlife made us realize that we were in a land dominated by survival of the fittest. Photo: Will Wissman

A seal takes a break for a little people watching. Photo: Will Wissman

 

 

Artisan Series #2 / Wyatt and Yancy Caldwell

Wyatt and Yancy Caldwell Haines, AK Photo: Will Wissman

Artisan: a person skilled in an applied art; a craftsmen

Each Stellar Artisan is a spoke in the wheel that makes us whole. From Athletes to Graphic Designers, we work in unison to create. Each Artisan selects their music, hand writes their signature, and helps to shape the journey that is…Stellar.

The Artisan Series showcases the unbelievably talented people whose efforts have helped shape what has now become Stellar Adventure Media.

Wyatt and Yancy Caldwell’s epic Road Trip “Leaving Powder for Powder” culminated in Haines, AK.  The brothers hooked up with Stellar and threw down.  In one short stint in AK these brothers put together a lifetime of epic lines.  They are Artisans, masters of their chosen craft.

Wyatt Sponsors: Yes Snowboards, Eddie Bauer, Sun Valley, Smith Optics, MTN Approach

Yancy Sponsors: K2 Snowboards, Eddie Bauer, Sun Valley, Smith Optics, MTN Approach

A Powder Highway Migration

Photo Essay By Will Wissman

Lexi Dupont, Jacqui Edgerly, and Lynsey Dyer enjoying the comforts of the Vagabond Lodge at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, BC

Jeffrey Loewe behind the lens at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, BC

Lexi Dupont getting a face full of the goods at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, BC

Lynsey Dyer enjoys the cold smoke at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, BC

Lynsey Dyer, Jacqui Edgerly, and Lexi Dupont catching a ride at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, BC

Sunset Upper Arrow Lake Nakusp, BC

Reggie Crist at the K2 Rotor Lodge/CMH Heli

Rogers Pass, BC

Skin Track at Golden Alpine Holidays, BC

Sam Cohen glides along at Golden Alpine Holidays, BC

Sam Cohen about to drop a pillow at Golden Alpine Holidays, BC

Jacqui Edgerly turns it on at Golden Alpine Holidays, BC

Hayden Price airs it out at Golden Alpine Holidays, BC

Sam Cohen enters orbit at Golden Alpine Holidays, BC

Revelstoke, BC

Lexi Dupont enjoys the whiteroom at Eagle Pass Heli in Revelstoke, BC

Along the Powder Highway, BC

The Powder Highway Road Trip – Dispatch #7 – Haines, Alaska

Haines, Alaska; Photograph by Will Wissman

Words: Bruce J. Bauer

A cold, dark winter subsides as the days grow longer and the sun’s rays intensify. The inevitable change in seasons triggers an innate response in all living creatures—bears awake from hibernation, birds take flight, and fish swim upstream. Migration is a matter of survival for certain animal species while select humans prefer to make it a way of life.

When the snow melts in the Lower 48, passionate skiers and snowboarders travel northward in search of cold, deep snow. Instinct and passion supersede rational thoughts. I know this because, as a commercial fisherman in Alaska, I have followed my own migration for 32 years. My livelihood depends on spontaneous decisions based on intuition and ever-changing conditions. Chasing large schools of fish into the Bering Sea during a violent Pacific storm challenges conventional wisdom, but I have always believed in chasing my dreams.

Skier Hayden Price in Haines, Alaska; Photograph by Will Wissman

Similarly I recognize and admire the dedication amongst the team of skiers and snowboarders that have been chasing their dreams along the Powder Highway this winter.

For the past two months, I have following this nomadic tribe of mountain people, recognizing familiar faces likes Reggie and Zach Crist along with Wyatt and Yancy Caldwell as well as Lynsey Dyer, Lexi Dupont, Jamey Parks, Leo Ahrens, Colter Hinchcliff. There are even a few new names I have yet to meet including Jacqui Edgerly, Hayden Price, and Sam Cohen. It seems that their travel plans and destinations are always changing, but as the season progresses I know they will eventually migrate northward to Haines, the frontier of Alaska heli-skiing where the road ends and the ocean and the mountains collide.

Sam Cohen in Haines, Alaska; Photograph by Will Wissman

Some team members arrive by airplane while others travel by ferry, car, and even a motorcycle.  One by one, each person finds his or her  way up the Funny Farm driveway, reunited at our beautiful three-story lodge that everyone affectionately calls home.

Erradic pieces from a complicated and diverse puzzle, we are all part of the same clan, a family that looks after one another. This was made clear to me four years ago when I was diagnosed with cancer and Reggie Crist organized a benefit to raise money for my treatments. Eddie Bauer matched the proceeds raised on that night.

Our tribe is many, including Nick and Kami Trimble, owners of the Fort Seward Lodge, along with the entire SEABA guide staff lead by Scott Sundberg. Collectively we work together to preserve and strengthen the annual migration knowing full well that as one season ends another begins.

Yancy Caldwell in Haines, Alaska; Photograph by Will Wissman

Powder Highway Road Trip – Stop #5 – Skier Lynsey Dyer on Kicking Horse Resort, BC

Kicking Horse Resort; Photograph by Will Wissman

Words: Lynsey Dyer

Most powder junkies know there are a few regions around the globe that seem to get more than their fair share of cold smoke. For North American shredders, one of those legendary deep-snow destinations is the Powder Highway, a 680-mile stretch of road that winds through the southeast corner of British Columbia, Canada. Kicking Horse Resort near the town of Golden is one of my favorite stops along the Pow Highway.

Kicking Horse Local Stats
• Vertical: 4th highest vertical in North America, 4,133 feet (6 feet less than Jackson Hole)
• Once named Whitetooth Ski Area, the resort was bought out, expanded, and reopened as Kicking Horse in December of 2000.
• Annual snowfall ranges from 254 cm (100 inches) at the bottom of the mountain to 700 cm (275 inches) at the summit.
• Terrain: Kicking Horse has 75 inbound chutes and limitless bowls ranging from advanced to expert skiing.
• Backcountry Access: With a 15-30 minute hike one can access amazing backcountry options. South of the resort, you’ll find Super Bowl by hiking up Terminator Ridge. Or head North of the resort to Rudi’s Bowl and many more.
• Best Place to Stay: The Vagabond Lodge is a luxury boutique hotel just steps away from the gondola with a great community atmosphere.
• Bo, the Grizzly Bear: Can sometimes be seen in his 22 acre pen from the gondola in winter and most certainly in summer months.
• Summertime means Kicking Horse is open for downhill mountain biking, offering Canada’s longest downhill decent off the Golden Eagle Express Gondola.
• While You’re There: Try an ice wine martini. It’s a special treat.
• Kicking Horse Coffee: Canada’s number one organic, fair-trade coffee is roasted here and makes a great gift to bring home.

Lynsey Dyer at Kicking Horse Resort; Photograph by Will Wissman

After an 18-hour driving adventure from Jackson Hole, we finally pulled up to the Vagabond Lodge at Kicking Horse Resort. It had been dumping for weeks and the lure of a sunny day, spectacular accommodations, and good friends had us white-knuckling through blizzard conditions. I was welcomed with fresh cookies, cold Kokanee, and friends Lexi duPont and Jacqui Edgerly. With four days of shredding to look forward to, the trip promised to be one to remember.

Kicking Horse Resort; Photograph by Will Wissman

I first discovered this place six years ago and have been in love ever since. A rockin’ gondola shuttles skiers up 4,000 vertical feet to one of the most breathtaking mountain vistas I’ve ever seen. The terrain offers a bit of everything from steep chutes to wide open bowls and unrivaled tree-skiing. Kicking Horse truly is a skier’s paradise, and when it snows like it did when we were there, let’s just say it’s “ALLLL time!”

What I love most about the Powder Highway is the potential to find that authentic Canadian culture. If you’re the kind of skier looking for a cookie-cut village with big brand name shops, best stay in the sates or head to Whistler. Most towns on the Powder Highway are still primarily old mining and logging towns with a few quaint restaurants and hippie coffee shops. As long as you’re in it for real deal skiing and down to earth resorts, the Powder Highway is a sure bet to keeping your legs tired and your soul burning.

Lexi Dupont at Kicking Horse Resort; Photograph by Will Wissman

One thing you won’t find at any other resort is the once-rescued cub and now adult resident grizzly bear, Bo, who can sometimes be spotted in his 2-acre pen from the gondola. Once you get off the gondola you can dine at the mountain top restaurant with incredible views and fine cuisine. As for accommodations, we fell in love immediately with the ski-in, ski-out Vagabond Lodge. The lovely couple who owns and operates the beautiful bed-and-breakfast felt like family. With 4 pm fresh cookies after a big day of skiing and pillow-top beds to rest our tired bodies, we didn’t want to leave.

Lynsey Dyer at Kicking Horse Resort; Photograph by Will Wissman

Stellar Media Presents MIGRATIONS series

Stellar Adventure Media

info@stellaradventuremedia.com

Will Wissman 801.259.1673

Reggie Crist 208.720.5171

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Stellar Adventure Media Launches Migrations Series

SLC, UT (Jan. 27, 2014) – Traveling long distances is a matter of survival for some animal species, but for the adventurous human spirit it’s a way of life.  All creatures are connected by a natural impulse to explore, in search of perfection.

Stellar Adventure Media (Stellar Media) recently released the trailer for the MIGRATIONS series, which features a group of adventure travelers in pursuit of ideal conditions for outdoor sports. MIGRATIONS will take viewers around the world to places far and near from the spectacular mountain landscape of the Himalayas, to the snow-lathered peaks of Alaska, documenting the risks and rewards of life on the move.

“Stellar is a multi media platform that combines artistic photography, well written stories and sophisticated motion picture”, states Will Wissman, Co-founder of Stellar Media. “It’s an incredible logistical challenge and it takes a strong team to capture those rare and brilliant moments.”

Stellar Media is the creation of professional photographer, cinematographer, and producer Will Wissman and professional guides, producers and writers, Zach and Reggie Crist,  “The inevitable change in seasons presents new opportunities for discovery and if we listen closely to the voice of Mother Nature, we’ll find ourselves in the right place at the right time.”

Migrations Trailer Here: http://www.stellaradventuremedia.com/MIGRATIONS/Trailer/1/

www.stellaradventuremedia.com

Powder Highway Road Trip – Stop #4 – Eagle Pass Heli, BC

Words: Will Wissman

The Powder Highway provides over 50 different mountain operators (including eight alpine resorts, nine heli-ski tenures, 16 snowcat zones, and 21 back country outfitters) making it difficult to choose from the menu. As a professional photographer, I try and let the conditions dictate, but I’ve always been curious to discover why so many film crews visit Eagle Pass Heliskiing (EPH); so we decided to find out for ourselves…

Eagle Pass Heli lead guide Scott Newsome charging powder; Photograph by Will Wissman

Eagle Pass Vitals
• Eagle Pass Heliskiing (EPH) is located 20 minutes south of Revelstoke
• EPH utilizes A-Star B2 helicopters only
• EPH offers both single-day and multi-day experiences
• EPH accesses more than 270,000 acres of skiable terrain in the Monashee Mountains
• EPH recorded only three no-fly days last season

Clients hike through deep powder to reach the helicopter; Photograph by Will Wissman

Located 20 minutes from Revelstoke Mountain Resort (RMR), we met up with Scott Newsome, lead guide and co-owner of the operation. Few know this area better than Newsome, as his parents used to own and operate the local cat-skiing operation where the resort now exists. Transitioning from pro rider to mountain guide, Newsome is recognized as the first snowboarder to earn his ACMG (Association of Canadian Mountain Guides) accreditation. While his resume is notable, I must admit that I was more impressed with his ability to utilize a split-board, a type of snowboard that spits into two planks (or skis). Split-boarding enhance a snowboarder’s ability to travel in the backcountry, and Newsome sets a high standard transitioning six times in three runs.

Scott Newsome at Eagle Pass Heli; Photograph by Will Wissman

It’s clear that Scott is not afraid to work hard to show us the amazing terrain in his backyard as we chase steep pillow lines all day long. With over a quarter of a million acres of permitted terrain, it’s evident that we have only begun to scratch the surface but for now at least I have a better understanding of why so many film crews choose EPH. I look forward to returning next year and staying in the luxurious Echo Bay Lodge and exploring unchartered terrain.

Along the Powder Highway; Photograph by Will Wissman

Powder Highway Road Trip – Stop #3 – Revelstoke, BC

Words: Lexi Dupont

For the past four ski seasons, I have kicked-started my winter at Revelstoke Mountain Resort (RMR). A classic, old railroad town with around 7,000 residents dispersed around the southwest side of the legendary Rogers Pass, Revelstoke is one of the most beautiful mountain towns in North America. It’s roughly a five- to six-hour drive from all three major population centers (Calgary, Vancouver, and Spokane), making it accessible, but still remote enough to preserve the small-town charm.  The newly constructed ski resort (2007) represents the heart and soul of the Powder Highway and offers the longest vertical descent in North America. With an average annual snowfall measuring around ten meters, skiers and snowboarders flock from every direction to experience Revy’s epic champaign powder.

Sam Cohen in Revelstoke, British Columbia; Photograph Will Wissman

Revelstoke Local Vitals:
• Longest vertical descent, 5,620 feet,  of any resort in North America
• Top Elevation: 7,300 feet
• Lift service: 1 Gondola; 2 high speed quads; 2 magic carpets
• Best Hotel: Sutton Place Resort
• Heli operation: Selkirk/Tangiers

Revelstoke, British Columbia; Photograph by Will Wissman

My favorite part of RMR is the lift service featuring a gondola with over 5,600 vertical feet, as well as detachable quads named the Stoke and the Ripper.  Top-to-bottom nonstop runs will challenge even the strongest and best skiers in the world producing copious amounts of lactic acid (aka severe “leg burn”).

Since 2010,  Revy has been the host of the Canadian Freeskiing Championships, bringing together the best freeskiers from around the world. I have had the opportunity to participate in this competition for the past three seasons, and most athletes will argue that it is the best stop on the entire  tour.

The town of Revelstoke is young and welcoming, and the mountain will challenge you like no other. After a solid day of face shots and steep landings, accessed by the one and only “Stoke” chair, you can look forward to delicious Asian fusion appetizers and gourmet burgers coupled with an epic cocktail at the Rockford Wok Bar and Grill. Don’t be shocked if the pro skier shredding the epic lines on the flatscreen TVs is sitting right next to you at the bar reminiscing about the killer day they had riding lifts or cats or helicopters. RMR is the only resort worldwide that offers a centralized hub including gondola, cat-skiing, and heli-skiing.

Lexi Dupont in Revelstoke, British Columbia; Photograph by Will Wissman

This year, we are staying at the Sutton Place Hotel, which offers amazing views of the surrounding mountains as we look down over the main plaza. The beds are super comfortable with cozy down pillows and relaxing hot tub just steps away.

For a true locals experience take the bus into town and check out the Modern Cafe for a cup of coffee and homemade baked goods. This place will be sure to make you feel at home and their breakfast panini are the best way to start your day.  Another local favorite spot is the Village Idiot with the best pizza in town and a great place to catch up on the latest ski and snowboard films. Revelstoke, Revy, or Rev,  no matter what you call this place, the one thing you can count on is the Stoke!

Migrations Trailer

Stellar Media’s MIGRATIONS series is an ongoing documentation of the relentless pursuit for perfect conditions.

Traveling long distances is a matter of survival for some animal species, however for the adventurous human it is a way of life. All creatures are connected by a natural impulse to search, discover, and live. For in the end, we must all follow our instincts.

The inevitable change in season presents new opportunity for discovery and if we listen closely to Mother Nature, then we may just find ourselves in the right place at the right time.