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Filming in Wyoming Part 1:
Dropping into a steep one in the Jackson Hole side-country. Photo: Todd Jones
I have been traveling to Wyoming, and the Jackson hole ski resort a lot over the past decade to ski and film with TGR. This winter was different because I moved to Jackson! This was a big life change for me but it was pretty easy because Jackson has always felt like home. Filming in Jackson over the years I have learned a lot about the snowmobile zones as well as the side country at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Filming at the resort is fun especially when it is stormy and your trying to get pow shots. Pow shots are short and sweet and when avalanche danger is high its easy to make for a safe film day.
A little taste of a powder day in Jackson Hole.
We shoot a lot with the Red camera and getting the camera crew in position for pow shots can take time. I personally love the experience, the creativity that goes along with getting shots and well… it is true what they say if you want to get amazing ski shots you need Patience! This winter I shot with Todd Ligare, Hadley Hammer, Kai Jones and Colter Hinchcliffe in Wyoming. Once we had our pow shots in the bag and things were rolling at the resort (we still went back to the resort for some spring break film days, but more on that later) the sled battalion assembled for an attack on the sled trails in West Wyoming.
A couple of scenes from snowmobiling around Wyoming on the Polaris sleds, sunrise sessions and crash landings!
Lucky for us we were able to link up with the Lodge Father, our good friend Mark Howard who has many years experience a with backcountry sledding in Wyoming. I worked with the Lodge Father back during the filming of Almost Ablaze and every year since then we have kept in touch and skied together. Colter Hinchcliffe and Todd Ligare joined us for a majority of the sled days and we were able to push a little farther into some new territory.
Pow shots by Greg Von Doersten
Finding the tunnel Couloir was a highlight, it was on the backside of some of the lines we were planning on skiing and since the weather was subpar we were forced to search for something to ski at lower elevation. I have learned over the years that the more days you spend filming the better the film segment is going to turn out, there are going to be productive days and not so productive days…. and really really really productive days.
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Waking up early in the Teton's takes a lot of Coffee.
I am excited to see he Wyoming segment of the film. Not to give to much away but I know it is going to be a big section of the movie and include all types of skiing. Pow days with Todd and Hadley, cliff sessions with Kai and Colter, looking back on the winter of 2018/2019 we did a lot of filming and since we were dedicated to hanging around Wyoming we were able to strike when the conditions were 10/10.
Taking flight in Wyoming! Photos: Eric Parker
When I say all types of skiing I really mean it, well except for urban, haha but I got to ski it all, even spines! Spines in Wyoming are out there you just have to search and search to find them and thankfully our crew was determined and willing to go hard to get work done for Winterland! The season felt super long since we spent so many days waking up early to chase the goods. Kai Jones got his spring break again this year and took advantage of the days off school to get out on his first sled skiing trips. He also got a double spring break (LUCKY KID) and got to heli-ski with me in Alaska but thats a whole different story that I will discuss in part 2!
The elusive Wyoming Spine Wall!
The view of these mountains never gets old! Photo: Nic Alegre
