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Rime ice on pine tree, San Bernardino National Forest, California

Dawn light on Mount Whitney from the Alabama Hills, Sequoia National Park, California

Crescent moon and dawn light over the Big Sur coast, California

Fall color and fresh snow at Lake Sabrina, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California

Sunset at Soberanes Point, Garrapata State Park, Big Sur, California

Barrel cactus in bloom, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California

 Backcountry skier in the Ansel Adams Wilderness, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California

Peninsular Bighorn Sheep, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California

The Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

Rime ice on pine cones and branches, San Bernardino National Forest, California

Skier under Banner and Ritter Peaks, Ansel Adams Wilderness, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California

Backcountry skiing in the Sierra Nevada is a perfect winter counterpart to the Desert Solitaire of Edward Abbey’s Utah. This popular and often crowded summer destination takes on another form during the shortest days of the year where deep in the wilderness that rare form of quiet is still plentiful. 

Whether you want to ski your own private bowls or just enjoy the tranquility and unique photographic opportunities, it’s all there for the taking. Proper equipment and skills are obvious requirements and outdoor retailers like REI not only sell all the appropriate gear, but also offer classes in technique and safety.

There’s been an online discussion lately about art and copying, the process of creating images that are not the photographer’s personal vision so much as an attempt to duplicate the work of others. In extreme cases some would argue this isn’t art at all, but rather a mechanized form of duplication. The unfortunate result is that many photographers are no longer willing to share information about specific locations, and those photographers involved are missing the opportunity to show the world their own unique vision.

This trend is ironic given that we’re a country born of rugged individualism, and photography above all is a form of personal expression. But it’s no surprise when we are surrounded by such a lack of creativity in society today - movie remakes of 70′s television shows; advertisements using surprisingly similar images; even politicians repeating the same words as if they are uniquely their own. Perhaps this lack of originality is due to tight deadlines and too little time in our fast-paced world, or simply a fear of the unknown.

Before I head off on a shoot (especially if it’s a location I’ve never been to before) I thoroughly research the area geographically and geologically and I’ll also review images of the area as a reference point to get a sense of place. But then after immersing myself in the details at home, I use the travel time to clear my head and fine tune my receptors to soak in whatever the location may offer.

Instead of previsualizing, I prefer to see a place through a child’s eye as if I’m the first ever to experience it. I’ll often avoid the obvious viewpoint whenever possible in favor of an angle that combines the key elements of the scene in a fresh, new way. When that’s a challenge, I’ll try a different lens or shutter speed or perhaps just wait for the light or weather to change.

So dare to be different and embrass the unknown. Find your own unique vision and enjoy the rewards of the path less travelled.

There’s been a lot of discussion lately in adventure circles about the use of GPS (Global Positioning System) and PLB units (Personal Locator Beacons) for wilderness navigation and safety. While I have a portable GPS system that can be used in my car or handheld, I find its true value lies in showing me the drive time to the next shoot location and when the sun will rise or set rather than every bend in the trail.

On backcountry ski trips I’ll mark important waypoints like camp and water locations or a critical landmark in a tricky mountain descent, but then I’ll turn it off until that information is needed. Adventure by design requires an element of uncertainty and I feel that there is already enough technology in the wilderness between digital cameras, batteries, solar chargers and radios that I prefer to leave as much as possible out of the equation.

Having said that, it’s still nice to have a small piece of insurance tucked away in the pack in case things don’t go as planned. A PLB is one option, which is basically an “all or nothing” device that sends a distress signal with your coordinates via satellite to the local emergency or rescue service. Unfortunately, these units don’t allow any type of communication as to the nature of the situation and are too often deployed accidentally putting an unnecessary strain on emergency services.

Satellite phones are another option that allow for direct communication almost anywhere in the world however they are too expensive and heavy for the average user and are typically used only by large expeditions. Fortunately the SPOT personal messaging system has bridged the gap with a small, cost effective unit that allows static messages to be sent to any e-mail or phone via text using GPS and ComStar technology. It’s three transmitting options include a personal message with a link to your exact location in Google Earth, a personal (friends and family) help message which can be used to notify of a non-emergency delay in the trip, or a full emergency call similar to a PLB.

This image is from the summit of Bear Creek Spire at nearly 14,000 feet in the Sierra Nevada Mountains where my SPOT is sending a message home. It had been a beautiful climb with good friends Vic and Amy, but several delays had caused us to reach the summit late in the day followed by a technical descent in the dark. Although this was not an emergency situation, my wife Maureen was glad to see when we had reached the top and even more relieved when she received another message showing that we were safely back in camp.

I have mixed feelings as I write this post. The image is a favorite location in the Sierras and a fond memory of a special trip with my kids to the wilderness. But it also holds a deeper meaning for me, a realization that future generations may not see the value in protecting such areas especially if they have little opportunity to experience them and ultimately appreciate and preserve them. Many children today are losing the basic understanding that nature exists even in their own backyards and neighborhoods, which further disconnects them from their knowledge and appreciation of the natural world. It’s important to realize that enjoying a city park can be just as valuable as visiting a wilderness area in terms of instilling a life-long connection with nature.

Richard Louv, in his book Last Child in the Woods, explores research linking the absence of nature in children’s lives to rising rates of obesity, attention disorders, and depression.  His findings point to an overload of electronic media combined with an understandable concern for safety from parents unwilling to just let their kids roam free. Fortunately Ken Burns recent series America’s Best Idea spurred new interest in our national parks, bringing families together in the outdoors and reversing a trend in recent years refered to as “nature deficit disorder”.

I am a member of several conservation organizations whose common goal is to preserve the natural world and to remind us of the less obvious ways that nature enhances our lives. It can improve our physical health and mental outlook, and most importantly it nurtures our souls.  ”In wildness is the preservation of the world” -  today Thoreau’s words are as meaningful as ever and if embraced by the next generation will ring true long into the future.

I often praise the benefits of digital photography when compared to the old days of film, but one area where the digital world falls short is the constant need for power. People often ask how I manage this obstacle when traveling in the wilderness. The answer is the sun!

In addition to taking along a good supply of fully charged lithium-ion batteries I have a solar panel that rolls up into a small tube and cranks out a powerful 14 watts. That’s enough juice to power a laptop or sat phone and will even charge batteries on overcast days. So between that and several large capacity CF cards the sky really is the limit to shooting in the backcountry.