It’s almost June and the Sierra Nevada is expecting another winter storm this week – amazing! Here’s a recent image of early morning light on Carson Peak above June Lake. This quiet eastern California hamlet could easily pass for the French Alps with views like this.

This image was made on a recent backcountry ski trip through the Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park.  A storm had just passed in the night and although we were anxious to reach our destination, I knew the fresh snow in the trees wouldn’t last. As I wandered through the grove scene after scene unfolded before my lens, but after only an hour or so the delicate flocking was already beginning to melt.

It’s always a humbling experience to walk among these stately giants – to ponder the fact that they’ve been here long before us and will be here long after we’re gone. But the winter season adds a heightened sense of clarity to the scene and these magnificent trees seem to peer out from their cloaks of white as if to say, “I am wise”.

Backcountry skiing opens up a whole new world of travel, sport and photographic possibilities. Locations in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, which are often crowded and require permits long in advance during the rest of the year, are quiet and pristine during the winter months. Temperatures can drop to -20 degrees Fahrenheit so proper equipment is a must, but the reward is experiencing your own private ski bowls and perfect mountain landscapes.

This image was made at Treasure Lakes under Mount Abbott in the Rock Creek basin, one of the highest concentrations of 14,000 foot peaks in the Sierra. A 24mm lens filled the frame with the majestic peaks giving the skier a sense of place, while the Li-Ion batteries and compact flash cards performed flawlessly in the cold temperatures - a far cry from the old days of brittle film and fading button cells.

This image was taken on a backcountry ski trip over Tioga Pass in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. For adventure photography one of my favorite lenses is the Nikkor 16mm. Its small size and easy handling make it a perfect choice for fast action and its wide field of view really lets the viewer connect with the scene. An added plus is the beautiful sun star that is achieved when the lens is stopped down to its smallest aperture.