This year Alaska was been a different experience.  Cold storms early in the year kept snow from sticking to the faces as it typically does.  Combined with high winds that scoured the ranges, left Alaska in a state that has never been seen since helicopter skiing has started there.  Thus many have canceled their trips including film crews.

Filming with TGR in Alaska is a dream come true for any skier in the pro game.  It shows on a year like this one.  As a group we had a spot we planned on going to.  After our guide and Ian MacIntosh flew that zone in a fixed wing flight, it was decided to go else were.  3 more fixed wing flights brought us into Juneau with more options and less traffic to deal with, as well as un skied lines for the taking.  The logistics didn’t end there.  Thoughts of renting a boat and staying at other lodges were thrown around.  All the bases were covered to end up where we did.  Amazing amount of effort and knowledge.

In the end my trip was the shortest I have had in years to pursue another trip in Europe.  Although I missed it due to weather not conditions, I saw that what we have created up there is taken to heart by many.  I knew well before going I may get nothing.  People saying that there was no snow there were very wrong.  Maybe not the deep powder the ski porn addicts dream of , but it’s Alaska!  There are glaciers that stretch hundreds of miles with snow covered peaks.  Many times there is to much weather, you have to be there to wait it out for weeks on end.  Being there in March still rings true as hit or miss, but more of a miss.  April has brought it back into form.  With all the snow in the lower 48 people have forgotten what Alaska is all about this year.  Low tide or not its still the same to me, a gamble!

Had heard of Bralorne over the years and skied some of the surrounding mountains on various trips in the BC hayday.  Nice to hit up something new in such an abundant snow zone.  Bralorne is a small mining town north of the infamous Whistler.  An escape for Whistleriets and other backcountry enthusiasts from sledders to back country skiers.

Lots of snowmobiling happened due to storm weather.  Trying to keep up with Dan Treadway, my ski partner on “The Ordinary Skier’ BC segment was a feat in it’s self.  Very deep and low viz conditions.  Allowing for things possible only in the snowiest zones.  Lots of fires were made to take a dry off break before heading back and most of the time thinking you may run out of gas for being greedy.  Ski days were filled with doubt of even getting out there due to low clouds and stormy conditions.  Some clear, some window shopping.

With a population of 60 probably during the summer.  This town has history dating back to the 1858 for gold.  Besides the mining there is a time traveler photo, where one dude sticks out in a crowd form the forty’s.  Pretty much if you don’t have a snowmobile, forget about it.  Gas is like gold in these parts, fixing sleds is on your own as well.  Repair is far off.  Flat tires are expected on the drive to and from the next civilization.  Sounds like a frogger match at times with rocks rolling down to the already  exposed roadways, that go from dirt to asphalt frequently.

The skiing was some of the deepest snow I have skied in years while filming.  Cool zone, hanging out with cool people.  Snowmobiling came a long way with more technical riding.  The trails through the woods were quite demanding.  Not as much heli as we would have liked, it’s never easy with weather in those parts.  Thanks to everyone involved and who we met along the way.  Check out the other pics.

In the weeks leading up to our trip for “The Ordinary Skier” we got JP Auclair (my ski partner for the trip) dialed in on a gear list, just to name a few items: ice axes, crampons, narrower waisted skis, harness, and essential climbing gear. In a nutshell Chamonix is lift accessed mountaineering. Trams take you up to the top, then you ski to a skin point and climb after that with crampons and ice axes. This was JP’s first time there as well as first time doing such mountaineering. The conditions were prime for “Extreme” skiing regardless of how bad everyone told us it was going to be. Sorry but everyday isn’t a powder day! That’s fine, its what we wanted for what we went there to do.

We started off with a bang for our crew. Not many people out skiing the lines this year, more people into climbing and ice climbing due to the firm conditions. We were more than glad to have it this way, less to deal with. Some of us had been there for a number of weeks last year and it showed by our movement through the mountains and JP had no problem fitting in. Everyday is a learning experience and a plan is never set in stone till you get out to the objective. As days went along small problems turned into time consuming events that cost you getting to the top sometimes. That’s just a matter of safety, turning back is a let down, but more than often the right decision. The mountains make the decisions for you, you just need to be able to read them.

More than anything this trip was a preparation for the Chamonix spring trip. Get our heads back into the game and more experience. Spring is when it turns on and the ice covered faces get a nice coating of snow on them. The town felt like spring as there was not many folks around skiing the mountains. Looking forward to getting back and tuning back into Chamonix life. The energy of the people and mountains draws you in, in a way no where else can. Till next time! Check out the photos!

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Retallack has been an early season trip I have done for many years.  When you get there you see why, Cold Deep Powder.  The drive in from the airport was snowy, thus the icing on the cake for the first day of Cat Skiing.  The seclusion and the type of people that make the journey to Retallack is what it’s all about.  From client to staff you see why we are there!  Ad Idem.

A film trip for a movie about me “Seth Morrison, The Ordinary Skier” sponsored by Oakley.  Accompanying me was Sean Pettit.  He won last years Cold Rush so he is familiar to whats in store at Retallack.  The holiday bash is always one for the books.  Early Rise to Beat Sunrise, Storm Skiing, Dark Trees, Blue Bird were the day to day visuals.  Pillows, Cliff Hucking/Hate Hucks, Hallways, Corridors, pillow poppers, Steep faces and Alpine Bowls filled the days.

Friends help make the trip.  Riding with our crew is great.  We also get to meet new people and run into old friends along the way.  The Retallack crew changes as time goes on, but many have stayed since my first trip.  The people of Retallack really make the experience, besides the deep untracked powder snow of why you went there.  All of us there are now that much closer, thanks for sharing why we all do it!  Check out the photos!

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Special Thanks to K2, Fulltilt, Hestra, Retallack, and TGR for putting this on!

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You Must goto the TGR to enter. Click on the picture above to goto the TGR Shredwithseth page!

The K2 Shred with Seth Morrison Contest
In 200 words or less tell us why you should win a trip to Retallick Cat Skiing this winter to ski with Seth Morrison. One lucky winner will win a 3 day cat skiing trip to the famous Retallick lodge for 3 days of cat skiing. The prize package includes 3 full days of cat skiing, one which will be with Seth, lodging and food. The winner will also win a pair of K2 ObSethed Skis, Hestra Gloves, and Full Tilt boots.

The runner up will win a gear package including a pair of K2 ObSethed Skis, Hestra Gloves, and Full Tilt boots.

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