Ben and Stacie

As a ski patroller in Alaska you learn quickly that the weather controls everything - including your wedding day. Ben and Stacie, two long time Alyeska patrollers, were hardly even phased when at noon on Aug. 3 - a few hours before their wedding ceremony -the Tram was forced to close down due to severe winds. Ben, Alyeska’s Ski Patrol Director, immediately started doing what he does best, improvising a new plan. Soon he had friends, family and colleagues transitioning the entire event to the base of the mountain. When I spoke with Ben at 1pm - I couldn’t help but laugh. If this had happened to just about anyone else it could have been a disaster, but for Ben it was just another day at work.

I just love the picture in front of the aid room - I think its my favorite. I’m probably bias as I remember when they both started dating years ago. When you work closely with a crew of people you can't help but become close friends and notice when their individual happiness just shines. I knew back then that they had found something truly special. Both Ben and Stacie have been such amazing friends over the years that I was really stoked to be able to photograph their wedding day. Despite the weather and logistics its pretty cool when two really great people discover each other and are willing to share that experience with their friends. Thanks Ben and Stacie.

View From the Office

View of an early morning(9:45am) sunrise over Turnagain Arm and Penguin Ridge from the Top of Chair Six, Alyeska Resort, Girdwood, AK

Top of Alyeska looking through the barrel of a howitzer from the day lodge

State wide Gun refresher, October, Alyeska Resort

Artillery Tech, "Gordy"

View of the Top of Chair Six, Alyeska Resort

Taken from the weather station on Max's southwest ridge

Tim and new patroller, Yuki

Toboggan refresher on the top of Prospector.

I can't believe my last post was on September 3rd. I guess that's what happens when life gets too busy. The good news is I haven't put the camera down and have lots of new work that I'll try to keep posting over the next few weeks. I suppose I owe a brief update on all things new in my world. After two great years at Alaska Pacific University working for Rec Programs I decided to jump out of the pool and return to Alyeska Resort to work for Ski Patrol once again. The decision wasn't easy, but the opportunity to work outdoors again with a wonderful crew was too good to pass up.

We started our annual patrol training in early November and soon had the mountain set up and opened just in time for Thanksgiving. The combination of a few early snowstorms and a huge push by our snowmaking crew allowed us to open both the upper and lower mountain at the same time. A few weeks later the North Face was open. Although we are currently suffering a dry spell, the last three weeks of cold clear skies have provided for some amazing landscapes and fun backcountry turns.

Ski Patrol Pictures for the Sitzmark

"Gordy" and "Zug" at Gun 2, Alyeska Ski Resort

This was taken in April 2008, of Gordon Scott and Peter Zug at the old Gun 2 mount. They are both vetrens of Alyeska, working on Ski Patrol for over 30 years. Summer of 2009 Alyeska rebuild this gun mount and covered it with a small building. I feel lucky to have captured this picture when I did.

ISO 160, 1/200 at f4.5.

"Gordy" sighting Gun 2

Gordon Scott, artillary expert, sighting Gun 2. Its really common for most of the gun missions to happen in the dark or in storm conditions. All shot points are determined by pre-existing numbers calculated from previous missions. The coolest part of this picture getting blown up so large, is that you can read the Tube number and 105 Howitizer and its completely sharp. I didn't even realize it was there and luckily had my camera focused on it.

ISO 160, 1/200 at f5

"Pad" hunkered down at an LZ ontop of the headwall

Scott Pattison, longtime Ski Patroller and Girdwood local, hunkered down after getting dropped off ontop of the headwall.

I just finished matting and framing three large prints, 18" x 24" that will soon be hanging in the Sitzmark Bar at the base of Alyeska. John Byrne, owner of Alyeska, contacted me last week and picked out his favorite three Ski Patrol pictures. He had seen one of these at a show I had last winter at the Java House, all taken in 2008, my last year of full-time season of ski patrol. I'm excited to see them hanging the next time I stop by for a drink.