Joe St.Onge, Patrick Graham and interns: Niels Meyer and Alisa Mcgowan have just returned from 7 days in the Pioneer Mountains on a winter mountaineering training with a production crew from the BBC. An action packed week focused on learning skills related to avalanche safety, forecasting and rescue as well as backcountry skiing and mountaineering skills. the Pioneer Yurt served as base camp and the team also put in a high camp at 10,500 for a alpine ascent of Hyndman Peak. Conditions included a generally low snowpack and wind affected snow with hazards related to widespread wind slabs. The less then optimal ski conditions were balanced by the phenomenal setting and wonderful crew from the BBC. We look forward to seeing the ambitious and sure to be amazing footage to be produced by this intrepid film crew over the next couple of years!
Climbing above the Pioneer Yurt to the Peanut
Getting ready for a movie night at the Pioneer Yurt
Entering into the Throne Room of the Mountain Gods
Duncan’s Basin
Alpine glow on Cobb
the Team
Stoked after carving turns on the wind buff
finding soft-ish snow in the Hyndman basin
What a place to learn to ski!
and phenomenal light
Spindrift and sunset= mountain magic
ahh, freedom of the hills!
Climbing toward high camp
squeezing the last light out of each day with a ski
The snow kitchen at high camp
High camp beneath among the giants
High camp 2
climbing on Hyndman Peak
The Team high in the mountains!
