When I first visited the mountains as an adult for ski trips many ears ago, I had no idea just how diverse and crazy mountains really are. When I was skiing, the most important part of the mountains was the apres ski at the lodge at the bottom of them! Many rum and eggnogs later I might have gaze out at the view, but the sights were not the main reason to be there in those days.Today, I have a much more intimate relationship with the mountains and look at then in an entirely different way. Now as a photographer not a skiier, I see there is so much character and “personality” up there in the sky.
This is a shot from my recent heli-hiking trip – I am not even sure if this pass is accessible other than by helicopter. But the spires of the Bugaboos were presenting their “Harry Potter” side on this day, and as the clouds moved and the light changed, the scene went from moody, to scary to delightful all in a matter of minutes. As the group hiked up to the peak, following waterfalls and carpets of wildflowers, I see that the old skiing days were a fine introduction to mountain scenery, like Chapter 1.
There is most definitely a huge volume that could be said and photographed, and as of today I am on Chapter 3.
The ski trip were great as I remember them, wish I could remember more now (!), and these high altitude adventures go hand in hand as life altering experiences. Getting up close and personal in the mountains is a thrill that hasn’t changed. Don’t you agree 🙂 ?