When both returned home, the talked about different ideas that they could collaborate on to tell an adventure story. Woodward  doesn’t remember when the idea of running across Iceland came up, but once it did, there was no turning back. There was only one problem. Whittle was not much of a runner. In his life, he had finished a couple 5k and 10k runs, and even a marathon five years earlier, but by no means was he a ultra runner. But once the idea was hatched, they couldn’t get their minds off it. To make it even more interesting, the team applied to make this a Guinness World Record attempt.

Whittle didn’t want to do this just for himself though. The 28-year old and his family suffered a devastating loss when Whittle’s nephew Sonny lost his battle to a rare form of cancer at just one year old. Whittle was determined to accomplish this challenging feat in Sonny’s name and to help raise awareness and donations for CLIC Sargent, a UK-based organization that supports families of children with cancer.

With all of the high level work done, the team started planning the details of the run. They would cover 450 miles of roads (both paved and dirt) as well as hiking trails. The Dyrhólaey lighthouse in the south was the desired starting point and the Hraunhafnartangi lighthouse in the north was where the team wanted to end their adventure.

When they arrived in Iceland, the typical Arctic weather already began to throw a wrench in their plans. Heavy rain had washed out a bridge just 80 miles from the starting point at the Dyrhólaey lighthouse that, if not repaired by the time the team got there, would end their quest for the Guinness World Record. Once the clock starts, there is no stopping it, even if your route is blocked. Making a last minute decision, they decided to flip the route and start at the Hraunhafnartangi lighthouse in the north and work their way south, which should give them enough time to arrive at the bridge after it was reopened. Once in the north, the team started the stopwatch and Tom Whittle began his run across the desolate Icelandic landscape.

The film is a beautiful look into the journey, and Woodward wrote an exceptional blog post about the details of the run over on the Backcountry website, who sponsored their ambassador’s bold attempt to run across Iceland on foot. The film is painful to watch at times, as us viewers can literally see the athlete’s body giving out throughout the course of the run. Even though they had brought multiple pairs of shoes for Whittle, they didn’t anticipate that his feet would grow over a full size throughout the journey due to the extensive swelling that running 40-50 miles a day would cause. But that wasn’t the only challenge the team faced, as the film shows, but they endured. Ten days, 13 hours, and 11 minutes after they started, Whittle channeled enough energy to jog across the final couple hundred feet to the Dyrhólaey lighthouse.

It is hard to put into words how inspiring this feat was, and especially for the reason why Whittle was compelled to achieve it. Eager to know more about the challenging journey, we sat down with Woodward to talk about this amazing accomplishment and his stunning film and photos that brought us along for the ride.

This story is truly remarkable. You have done some pretty cool stuff on your travels. Where does this adventure stack up?

This adventure was one of the most unique that I’ve been on. While many have an objective, few have had the cumulative number of moving pieces that we had to manage each day that this proved to challenge us with. This trip was also amazingly special in the goal, not just crossing Iceland, but honoring the passing of Sonny, Tom’s nephew.

At any point were you fearful that Tom wouldn’t be able to finish the route?

Absolutely. The first days were by far the hardest. The night before we were meant to start, the rain flooded the field we camped in, and continued on into the morning as we headed to our starting point. Whipping winds and cold rain chased us the entire first day, and by day three we were almost a full day behind our schedule. As Tom’s body adjusted slowly, the third day we were concerned that his knees wouldn’t hold out for the remainder. But each day we started he hobbled from his tent, ate breakfast in the truck, and began slowly down the path.

We can see in the film what the hardest parts for Tom was, but, as the filmmaker, what was the most challenging aspect of this record attempt?

We all shared many roles on this attempt. Mandy was in charge of logistics, Jason handled driving and most meal prep, and my main focus was filming and shooting, but that quickly changed to assisting during the transitions where Tom would need to change shoes or socks, as well as restocking food and water in his pack. We quickly realized that his feet would need medical attention each day, and that landed on my shoulders as well. As much as we wanted to document the journey, I was torn between the tasks that would help us towards the finish line and those that would allow us to do more than just write the story when it was finished.

What inspires you most about what Tom, and the team behind him, accomplished?

I think the most inspiring thing for me is how willing the team was to jump into the unknown. Tom wasn’t a long distance runner, we weren’t a trained support team. We all braved a lot during the trip that tested our limits to act at the edge of our comfort zones. It taught me to never assume that just because you may not have all the answers ahead of time, that it doesn’t mean that the risk isn’t worth taking. We learn the most about ourselves when we take a chance to find the limits to what we can accomplish.

The story is remarkable, and we applaud Whittle, Woodward and the addition team members Mandy Marr and Jason Sivyer for fighting off weather, pain, fatigue, and doubt to complete this challenge. And most importantly, to help raise awareness about childhood cancer and help support the families affected.

See the rest of the incredible photo essay below. 

See more from William Woodward on his website, Instagram and Facebook. 

The post Running 450 Miles Across Iceland For A Good Cause appeared first on Resource Travel.

Before we check out my adventure though, make sure to enter the contest. Who could say no to a free trip to Whistler?

So off I was, flying past Mt. Rainier, on my way to the Vancouver airport, where I would take a 2-hour bus ride with Pacific Coach Lines on the Sea to Sky Highway. I had heard from friends that this is a stunning drive, and it did not disappoint. On the way north to Whistler, sit on the left side of the bus for the best views of dramatic fog and distant mountain peaks.

Once I arrived in Whistler, I checked into my incredible room at Evolutions in Creekside, just a short walk to the gondola that takes you up the Whistler side of the Whistler Blackcomb ski resort. As the temperatures hovered around freezing all week, my in-room fireplace and giant bathtub would be a lifesaver after a long and tiring day on the slopes.

And those slopes, that’s what I was most excited about. I had heard that Whistler Blackcomb is one of the best places to ski and snowboard in North America, and I couldn’t wait to strap on my snowboard from Showcase Snowboards and check it out. And luckily, I had one of the best mountain guides possible in Jesse Millen. Millen is a pro snowboarder who has lived in Whistler for 10 years and knows how to take advantage of this outdoor playground. And so my four-day adventure in Whistler had begun. And I learned five things about this glorious destination.

The Mountain is Epic, Even if The Snow Isn’t

This winter has been rough for us powder hounds. After a pretty intense snow season last winter, this year was mainly a bust overall, at least in the places I usually frequent. Whistler was not immune to this either. Millen had told me that the season started off with a bang and he was hopeful for another winter of endless storm systems dropping fresh powder consistently. But it was not to be. The storms slowed, the air warmed, and the snow on the mountain had become icy at times, as it was two of the three days I went during this trip. But, even a Whistler with less than ideal snow conditions is an incredible experience. The mountains, Whistler and Blackcomb, are huge, with 220 trails covering an astounding 8,100 acres. You can easily spend an entire day skiing and never once repeat a run.

The best parts of the mountains though are the peaks, especially Peak Lookout on the Whistler side. The 360-degree view is stunning, and the distant peak ‘Black Tusk’ makes for a great backdrop of photos of you and your friends. Although be warned: it is very windy and cold up here, so try not to have your gloves off for too long while taking photographs.

Sandwiched in between the two days with less than perfect conditions, we had awoken to 8 inches of beautiful powder and bluebird skies, which gave Millen and I an incredible morning session. I can say with 100% certainty that there are few places in North America as enjoyable as Whistler on a powder day.

You Ski All Day To Prepare For The Après

Not speaking French, I was lost when I kept hearing Millen and others say ‘après.’ Not wanting to sound uninformed, I simply nodded my head in agreement. Well, I soon came to find out that après means ‘after’ in French, and this is what Whistler locals call the late afternoon parties in Whistler Village that start to heat up as the mountain starts to cool with the setting sun. This video on the Go Whistler Facebook page sums it up perfectly.

Whether it’s après at Garibaldi Lift Co (GLC) – Whistler, fireside patio fun at Dubh Linn Gate Irish Pub or bundling up for the Vodka Ice Room at Bearfoot Bistro; Whistler’s nightlife is legendary!

There Are Giant Zip Lines Running Across Mountains…And They Are A Great Place to Get Engaged

Generally, I am pretty unimpressed with ziplines. Sure they are fun, but they usually aren’t very long, or high off the ground. But, once I saw the massive superfly ziplines that stretched across Cougar Mountain, I was intrigued and wanted to see if they were as incredible as they looked. I met the team at TAG Whistler  and off I went, high up the mountain. When I saw the first zipline, my heart started racing with excitement and nervousness. It was indeed huge. I couldn’t even see the landing platform. It was a kilometer long, 500 feet high and reached speeds of 100km hour.

I was strapped and ready, but nothing could prepare me for the exhilaration that overtook me as I raced across the canyon, frantically trying to take photos, which was not easy at such a high rate of speed. Once I hit the landing platform, I let out a loud “WOOOOHOOOO!” that echoed through the wilderness.

Three more ziplines and a phenomenal show of Alpine Glow as the sun set led to one of my most memorable experiences in Whistler. But it wasn’t nearly as memorable for me as it was for Jack and Stephanie, a couple in the group who got engaged on the final platform. Oh, did I mention it was Valentine’s Day? Nice work Jack, nice work.

Photo By Charles Audley

The Yukon Breakfast On Top of Sproatt Mountain is Legendary

Over some après beers, I told Millen and my friend and awesome Whistler-based photographer Blake Jorgensen that I was scheduled to go snowmobiling the next morning with Canadian Wilderness Adventures. They both immediately said “I hope you go up to Sproatt Mountain! It’s incredible up there.”

Well, sure enough, that is exactly what I did. I met my guide in the early morning, and off we went. We started by driving our sleds for about an hour up perfectly groomed trails that led to some narrow uphills that added a little challenge (and a lot of fun), before reaching Sproatt Mountain. And were those guys right. The views from the cabin overlooking a frozen Sproatt Lake were gorgeous under a rare clear sky.

As we waited for breakfast to be cooked in the cabin, we took our sleds down to the lake and had a great time speeding around in a big circle, hitting little jumps formed by the recent snow. After about 10 minutes, we had worked up a hearty appetite and headed inside for coffee and breakfast. And what a breakfast it was! A steaming delicious scramble and pancakes with Canadian Maple syrup made our bellies full and our hearts happy before we headed down the mountain.

The Yukon Breakfast tour is a must if you like to have a delicious meal with your morning adventure.

The Community is the Real Whistler

It’s hard to imagine a strong sense of community in a town such as Whistler, where most of the residents of the day will not be there tomorrow. But even in such a town filled with tourists and weekend warriors, I found that the locals are a passionate bunch who band together to enjoy everything that the region has to offer. It seemed everywhere I went with Millen and Jorgensen, they would always stop to talk to other locals they knew, laugh about some crazy adventure they all did together, and talk about when to do it again. The core of the community is the locals, and they all came to Whistler, British Columbia for a reason. They loved mountain sports, living an adventurous life, and being surrounded by some of the most stunning nature in North America. Many told me they came to work a winter season and just never left. Once you experience Whistler, it’s easy to see why.

Photo By Blake Jorgensen

Photo By Blake Jorgensen

The post 5 Things I Learned Over 4 Days In Whistler, Canada appeared first on Resource Travel.

SmugMug Films “The Cold Open”

SmugMug has been known to make a pretty epic film or two in the days since they launched their film division, SmugMug Films. I was lucky enough to travel to Norway to work with their cinematographer Anton Lorimer to make the company’s award winning film on Chris Burkard. And Lorimer loved the way his cold weather adventure films came out, so he was always anxious to get back into a frozen backdrop. He followed Tim Kemple to Iceland to give us a jaw-dropping look at ice climbing on massive glaciers. So it was only natural that Jorgenson’s work as a mountain sports photographer in one of North America’s best snow sport destinations would be Lorimer’s next film. The filmmaker traveled to work with Jorgenson as he captured snowmobiling and skiing during some of Whistler’s notorious snow storms. The film is a beautiful and insightful look into what inspires the Canadian to venture into the remote backcountry when conditions are less than ideal.

Freezing the action with Blake Jorgenson

To accompany the launch of the film, the editorial team at SmugMug published a great interview with Jorgenson about his top ten tips on how to improve your mountain sports photography. In them, he talks about how his first job in Whistler was crictical in helping him establish relationships with local athletes. As a teenager,  Jorgenson worked in the Blackcomb ski shop. He says that the lack of cell phones in those days really made the shop become the hub of the local action, which allowed him to embed himself in the community that has come to be so important to his work.

There’s a strong sense of community in Whistler. You have this combined interest in what you’re shooting, and that leads to developing relationships with the people you photograph. That ski shop and the community that shared my passion for winter sports really helped my career take off. This connection was an important foundation for what I do.

Spending Time in the Outdoors Gives the Most Inspiration

Jorgenson gives great advice as to how he maintains his creative flow and finds new ideas.

I couldn’t do what I do if I didn’t love being out there all the time. It’s challenging, cold, wet, and strenuous — and I still love it. If I’m looking for ideas about skiing, I don’t sit in front of my computer and look at ski photos; I’ll go out skiing by myself. By spending lots of time out there, opportunities arise.

Composition is Key

Us photographers know it like the back of our hands. Composition is key to any dramatic and visually appealing photograph. But, we can never hear it from other successful photographers enough, as in the heat of the moment, it’s easy to often forget to focus on this critical aspect. Jorgenson told SmugMug:

How you set up your shot is incredibly important, and the slightest little movement of your composition, even by mere inches, can change how the viewer perceives what’s happening in that photograph. Ideally, your composition complements how that person is moving. Complementing the speed, the energy, the height, the style that the subject is expressing. Decide what shot you’re trying to create and then figure out how to compose and capture it.

While trying to work out your composition, don’t forget that this is action sports. Jorgenson says you should’t forget to get right in the middle of it all. And don’t get discouraged when you don’t get what you are looking for right away.

For action, get right in there. Get closer, get more dynamic. The energy is really displayed by being in your face. Just because you didn’t get it on the first try doesn’t mean you’re going to get it on the hundredth try, but the hundred and first might be the one.

Finding The Light

For me personally, I love photographing in the dead of winter. I love the drama of the snow, and the bright white fluffy powder makes landscape photos beautiful. But it can also be challenging to find good light during these months. But Jorgensen tells SmugMug what his favorite time is:

The best time of year to shoot is always in December, during the winter solstice, because the days are really short and you have this gorgeous sunset light all day long. There’s something magical about that winter solstice time where light skims the horizon and you have this cold, sparkly snow and air.

You Are Not the Star

Jorgenson gives what is prehaps my favorite advice to date from his excellent sit down interview with SmugMug. You are not the star. Your subject is.

In this day of social media and self-promotion, a lot of photographers are trying to be the star. Their subjects and who they’re shooting for can get lost in translation. I think that’s a mistake. So I stick to the advice of concentrating on what you’re shooting and what the purpose is. By doing a good job with that, you’ll get recognition.

Once again SmugMug hits a home run. The film by Anton Lorimer is beautifully shot, inspiring and makes us feel like we are right in the adventure with Blake, which is prehaps my favorite quality of Lorimer’s films. But on top of that, writer Kerry Ellis was able to find some diamonds in her talk with Jorgenson. We only touched the surface here, so head on over to the SmugMug Blog and read the entire interview and get inspired to get outside this winter and capture some adrenaline-charged snow sports!

Follow Blake Jorgenson’s adventures on his website, Facebook and Instagram.

pemberton meadows sunset british columbia

The post Inside the Dramatic Winter Sports Photography of Blake Jorgenson appeared first on Resource Travel.

When Thueson arrived on a clear and beautiful January day, he was amazed at the banked slopes that jutted out from the desert floor. But then, he saw something moving fast up the steep 100 foot climb. It was a dirt bike rider, seeminly testing fate byflying up the slopes until banking at the last possible minute to coast back down to the desert floor. Thueson had seen photos of riders at this location before, but when he drove through, he wasn’t sure if he would be lucky enough to capture them himself. But sure enough, riders Jesse Gross and Mike Pettingill were out this day, and they put on a great show for Thueson, and thanks to his photos and video, us as well.

Follow Mike Thueson’s adventures on his Instgram, @knowledgeableidiot

The post See An Adrenaline-Charged Dirt Bike Adventure in Factory Butte, Utah appeared first on Resource Travel.

Winter is settling in across the land and as many of us bring our snowboards and skis out of the attic for another season of powder shredding, we can watch the new film ‘Tsirku’ and realize that we are nothing but amateurs in this world.

‘Tsirku’ is a three-part big-mountain adventure ski series from Sherpas Cinema
and The North Face. Three North Face Athletes set out to locate and ski and snowboard down the fabled Corrugated spine lines of the Tsirku Glacier.

The Tsirku Glacier is situated in the remote Saint Elias mountains where Alaska, British Columbia, and the Yukon converge. Being that this is one of the most remote, challenging, and dangerous locations to ride in the world, only a small handful of athletes had done it before. But snowboarder Ralph Backstrom and skiers Hadley
Hammer and Sam Anthamatten were excited, and slightly nervous, for the challenges that lay ahead.

Reaching the spines was no easy task, however. On April 1, 2016, the team left Haines Pass in the Yukon and started the sixty-kilometer trek on snowmobiles across the massive glacier. While this may sound easy, it is not. The route is littered with crevasses, seracs, severe wind and avalanche zones. It took nearly two weeks to move all of the gear and get set up at the Corrugated basecamp due to inclement weather. But once we first lay eyes on the prize, we understand why the team went through the challenges.

The spine lines that the athletes plan to conquer are intimidating to say the least. The spines appear to be almost at a perfect 90-degree angle downward, with a massive amount of snow packed on top. Even if the athlete’s team was able to somehow navigate downward, the scene looks like an avalanche waiting to happen, yet the team moves forward.

We found ourselves transfixed on this brilliant piece of filmmaking for all of its 20-minute run time. The visuals are spectacular, and the action and adventure that is conveyed had us feeling as if we were right there on the ledge with them, feeling the snow give way below our skis. Chances are, none of us will ever conquer the Corrugated spine lines of the Tsirku Glacier. But with masterful filmmakers like Sherpas Cinema and skilled and brave athletes like Backstrom, Hammer and Anthamatten, we can live the heart racing experience in 4k from our warm and safe couches.

Follow Sherpa Cinemas on their website, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photos and quotes kindly provided to Resource Travel by Sherpas Cinema.

The post Skiing the Remote and Dangerous Spines of the Tsirku Glacier appeared first on Resource Travel.

This interview originally appeared in the Fall issue of Resource Magazine. Purchase a copy or a subscription today.

By Michael Bonocore
Photos By Chris Burkard

Read Burkard’s exclusive article for Resource Travel, “Adventure is My Inspiration”

As our DHC-8 twin-engine noisily descends from a short flight across the Vestfjorden, the scene outside the window begins to resemble what I had always envisioned to be ‘the Arctic.’ Snow covered farms and cottages become larger as we break through the thick clouds. Our small plane begins to toss like a rag doll, leading even experienced fliers like us to grip our armrests as our stomachs churn. After what felt like an hour, the prop plane touches down and almost instantly the door is open and we are on the tiny airport’s tarmac. This harrowing endeavor marked the moment I first realized I had just entered the infamous Arctic with famed adventure photographer Chris Burkard. At the time, I did not know what these frigid locations meant to Burkard or how the cold, arctic environments had shaped his career and his personality. And most of all, little did I know what he had in store for us all just three short years later.

Arctic Swell

While Chris Burkard’s work today can be best described as ‘adventure’, there was a period in the California native’s younger years when his primary focus was mainly on surfing and the loose, frantic culture that surrounds the sport. His love of the outdoors and willingness to do anything to get a great photo began to resonate with the people who flocked to his Instagram for their daily fix of wanderlust. Today, that Instagram is approaching three million followers who hang on to his every word, as Burkard is a master at finding the right inspirational caption for his photos. Some of the most popular images on his Instagram come from the Arctic, the same place I found myself with Burkard back in 2014. I was there to help film a short documentary for SmugMug called ‘Arctic Swell,’ which followed Burkard as he documented three pro surfers battling the extremes at the 68th parallel. This is where I saw Burkard at his finest: “Having cold fingers, brittle skin and chapped lips. Really putting yourself out there in the elements. That’s when it feels like you are paying the price, but the greatest rewards come from it.” And he was right. Burkard’s shots from this expedition, as well as his other cold-weather surf adventures, are legendary, and I got to experience his passion firsthand. We were indeed frozen and our skin brittle, but it was one of the most exciting and educational weeks of my life.

Under An Arctic Sky

When we heard Burkard was in Iceland making a film with the production studio Sweatpants Media, we knew he must have something incredible up his sleeve. Sure enough, he did. ‘Under an Arctic Sky’ follows Burkard and surfers Justin Quintal, Timmy Reyes and Sam Hammer along with local surfers and guides Heidar Logi, Elli Thor Magnusson and Ingo Olsen as they travel through Iceland in search of rideable waves in the remote Westfjords. Their plan is to meet up with a sailboat captain who seems to be the only one willing to take the risk that the expedition involves. Almost immediately after landing in this nation of 334,000, the team finds themselves battling what would become the country’s worst winter storm in over 20 years. The filmmakers perfectly capture the terrifying scenes unfolding in front of them, making the audience’s heart race as the surfer’s SUVs battle through a blizzard, trying to get to their destination before they’re stranded, a situation with potentially deadly consequences.

It’s impossible to describe more of the film without giving too much away, but it’s safe to say that Burkard and his team made it through unscathed. Not, however, before finding what they were looking for, along with an unexpected surprise that truly made this trip a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for both Burkard and his crew of surfers.

A Conversation With Chris Burkard

After watching the film, the team here at Resource Magazine was ecstatic. Inspired and eager to hear more about its production, we reached out to Burkard, who graciously agreed to sit for an interview. We asked the husband and father of two about his zany projects, his buddy trips, and how he gets back into a work/life balance after returning home from one of his expeditions.

No matter what the project, it seems like the thing you get most excited about is team camaraderie; it’s like your favorite movie genre is buddy-comedy or buddy-adventure. What inspires you to keep making these crazy ideas come to life along with your pals?

The reality is, I find that the closer you are to failure and the closer you are to not getting what you came for, there’s more risk involved. And I think that when you have a group of people that are all engaged in that same activity, it just becomes so much more raw, and your relationships become so much more real. You’re experiencing something where you have to rely on each other and I feel like I’ve fostered the best relationships on experiences like that, so I guess that’s the reason I’ve always aimed to have people along for the ride. It’s not always about me, it’s really never about me, it’s more about the relationships with the people you’re with.

“Regardless of how much you plan, Mother Nature is always in charge”: wise words from your boat captain. Is not being able to surf that break in the Westfjords something that will stick with you forever? A “what if” moment? Do you think there was a time in your life, maybe in your younger years, where you would have fought the advice of the seasoned captain in order to get the shot you had envisioned, no matter the cost?

I definitely think about it quite a bit. There were a lot of sleepless nights and I was pretty bummed and stressed out about it. I didn’t want to come back empty-handed to my editors. But what I realized (and it took me a while, I’m not gonna lie), was that in the end,  the reality is that we made the film and the whole point of the film was about uncertainty. So I think if I’m really gonna follow my own advice and believe in this uncertainty then I needed to realize that. “Hey, we embraced uncertainty and this amazing thing happened”. I think what ended up happening with the film, where we ended up finding northern lights and being able to surf beneath them, that’s greater than any weird wave in some random bay in the world, and that’s what’s so beautiful. The best trips, they answer questions that in the beginning you didn’t think to ask and that’s a really special scenario to be in, where you go for one thing and you’re given something completely different. Definitely, at one point in my life when I was younger, I probably was a little more bull-headed and maybe I wouldn’t have heard that advice as loudly.

There are some points in the film where the discussion of actually cutting your losses was brought up. Knowing you, I never thought I would hear you even entertain such a thought. How close were you really to giving up on this idea because of the hardships you endured?

You know we probably over dramatized that. We always really did want to stay but at the same time, we had to ask the guys because what ended up happening is we were about a 6-hour drive from Reykjavik and in the winter time that’s more like a 12-hour drive. We all had flights we had to catch and so we all had to extend those flights, so it was kind of this group decision. If somebody had to go back to the airport, or if somebody wanted to leave, we would have all had to leave because we’d have to get them to the airport. So it was kind of this thing where it was like either we all stay or we all go and as much as for myself I would have stayed 100%, I knew that I needed to make this a group decision. I feel like that’s one thing about being a trip leader or a group expedition leader, you learn to include other people’s opinions. It can’t always be about you, which is really critical.

You’ve done a lot of pretty cool adventures, including filming ‘Arctic Swell’, that awesome 10 day trip with me. Out of every crazy adventure you have done, where does “Under an Arctic Sky” rank?

 

Oh yeah, that Norway trip was easily one of the best ones I have ever done! Well, I would say that it’s an interesting question because ‘Under an Arctic Sky’ probably had the most peril, the most risk, as well as the most success in the end. I guess the reality is I would put it near the top, because I’ve never been in an experience where the risk has been so high and the chance of failure so high that you just feel like your hearts on your sleeve and your entire body and mind and all your creativity is really out there, exposed. That’s kind of critical. That’s a really important aspect, just to be willing to give everything to a project and I feel like that’s why this adventure was most meaningful to me.

Do you think you will ever get tired of the frigid Arctic?

 

To be honest, the Arctic is such a critical place for me. I’ve learned to love it, I’ve learned how to speak its language, and I’ve learned how to be a steward for this place and try to speak about it and that’s been a really important thing. It’s given me much more than I’ve given it and I really want to spend the rest of my life trying to figure out how to pay it back.

What were you using to light up the wave under the Northern Lights?

That’s a question that a lot of people ask. We ended up using a flashlight! It was a 50,000 candlepower flashlight on the beach, and the funny thing is we didn’t even bring it there to light up the wave. We actually brought it there to shoot some of those scenes at night of the guys driving. We knew there were 18 hours of darkness in Iceland at this time, and we wanted something to light up some of those scenes. And then, as everything started to come together and we were there surfing under the northern lights, we realized the guys couldn’t even see the waves breaking in front of them, so we used the light to basically illuminate the waves as they started coming in. Lo and behold, we realized this was actually a really, really incredible source of light in the footage and it’s creating contrast and allowing the viewer to see what’s going on, so it ended up being this blessing in disguise.

No doubt this project was intense. After such a mental and physical challenge, how do you re-balance yourself once you get home?

I put the camera down. I find it’s critical for me to be with my family in the places that I love. That helps me to become inspired again. It’s really hard on these trips to be continuously inspired because you’re running on empty. You’re giving so much of yourself that you have to kind of fill up this reservoir of inspiration,  and usually, for me, that happens when I’m at home. I’m surrounded by people I care about and I’m filling up that reservoir and that’s a really critical thing I’ve had to learn over the years. It took me a long time to learn that you can’t always ‘go, go, go’ or the quality is going to suffer and you’re going to suffer if you don’t find the time to rebalance yourself. For me, that usually involves being in the ocean, doing yoga and climbing. But most of all, being with my family.

Follow Burkard’s adventures on his website, Facebook, and Instagram.

Read Burkard’s exclusive article for Resource Travel, “Adventure is My Inspiration”

The post Under an Arctic Sky: An Interview With Chris Burkard appeared first on Resource Travel.

But, Chris Burkard wasn’t always ‘Chris Burkard.’ In Burkard’s early career, he photographed surf competitions. But as he describes in the new film  ‘#LifeChangingPlaces’ by Vincent Urban Film, the work soon became boring and uninspiring.

Wifi Everywhere, high rise hotels and crowded beaches. I knew there was something missing.

Burkard started looking into more remote places to find his inspiration and take himself out of his comfort zone. He soon found the place that would change his life. Norway’s Lofoten Islands. The ‘Islands of the Gods’.

Burkard documented surf in the last place you would expect surf to thrive…the Arctic Circle. At Unstad Arctic Surf,Burkard found what he was missing.

Three and a half years ago, I was lucky enough to visit the Lofoten Islands myself. And what was even better than seeing this incredible slice of frozen paradise? I actually got to visit with Chris Burkard. At the time, I was working in marketing at SmugMug, and I had helped Burkard set up his SmugMug site. We had just started the now popular SmugMug Films, and I was chosen to travel with filmmaker Anton Lorimer to be second camera and document the making of the film in a photo essay.

For 8 days, we followed Burkard as he photographed pro surfers Brett Barley and Patrick Millin in blizzards, freezing water, and powerful winds. We road tripped through the region, standing in awe as we looked over small Nordic fishing villages at the foot of jagged snow covered mountains. And after 7 nights of thick cloud cover, we finally witnessed an incredible northern lights show that lasted hours.

The resulting film was something that we were incredibly proud of.

That trip changed my life. Not only had I seen one of the most stunning places on the planet, but I also learned how to be humble bad ass, as Burkard is indeed one of the best photographers in the world, but you would never know it when you meet him. Quiet and softspoken, Burkard will rarely talk about himself, but rather show genuine interest in what passions you possess. It even took a bit of prodding to get Burkard to talk about himself in his popular guest post for Resource Travel, ‘Adventure is my Inspiration.’

The short film is a beautiful look into how Burkard fell in love with being uncomfortable and how putting himself in challenging situations created the images he is so famously known for today. It all started back on the frozen soil of the Lofoten Islands. And I was lucky enough to experience it also, and incredibly lucky to see first hand how it changed Chris Burkard’s life.

Below is a selection of photos from our trip to Lofoten with Chris Burkard. You can see more on my website. 

Standing on shore, Chris captures a cold arctic morning surf session as Anton films from afar.

On our first night in camp, the blizzard hit fast and furious. Always looking for a dramatic photograph, Chris walks in search of another night shot in the blistering snow.

The post Traveling With Chris Burkard to the Place That Changed His Life appeared first on Resource Travel.

So when filmmaker Jackson Kingsley approached Barrow about snowboarding in the reclusive country of North Korea, it is no wonder the snow sportsman felt the excitement to be a part of something unique and hopefully, educational.

The film follows the team as they are guided through the North Korean capitol of Pyongyang before heading off to the virtually empty slopes of Masikryong ski resort. It is a fascinating look inside the country, although, it’s pretty well understood that any footage and audio captured inside the country is vetted thoroughly by North Korean government authorities. The country is also known for taking journalists and film crews on very well organized trips, where even the roles of people living their everyday lives are set up for the cameras.

Barrow is heard exclaiming how he cannot believe how empty the more difficult slopes are, but us viewers are left to wonder whether there would even be anyone on that mountain if the film crew wasn’t there.

The post A Rare Look Inside North Korea’s Luxury Ski Resort appeared first on Resource Travel.

The first photo I took of Rick, after our 3-hour coffee chat in November 2015.

Rick stands at the ‘Center of the Universe’ in Wallace, Idaho

Don’t forget to watch the video above!

Anyway, after a brief couple days exploring the abandon silver mines and hearing about the head shaking history of Wallace (it was once the brothel capital of the U.S.), I went to grab a coffee on my way out of town, only to strike up a conversation with a larger than life character who stood out anywhere he went with his bright red sweatshirt that reads ‘Spokane Boxing.’

Well, actually he was the first one to start the conversation. His exact first words “I can tell you aren’t from around here.”

Yes Rick, I surely was not. Three hours later, Rick and I were still sitting in that coffee shop, chatting about everything and anything. But what I was most interested in was his life. Boxing. Boxing is Rick’s life. Plain and simple. Rick is an ex pro fighter. Over a 10 year career, the light heavyweight went 12-5-1.You never saw him on HBO Pay Per View, but Rick got paid to do what he loved. Hit people. And boy, did he do it well for that decade. He finished 7 of his 12 wins by knockout.

After Rick’s career ended, he couldn’t get boxing out of his veins. In 2001, he started a rough looking gym in the heart of Spokane, Washington, thinking he would be training the next world champ. He quickly realized that the kids that came by the gym wanting to train were not going to be the next Mohammed Ali, but he also realized that his training, and the sport of boxing, could have rippling effects on their lives.

Many of the kids who came to train with Rick were tough. Growing up on the streets, a broken home life, drugs and alcohol creeping into their existence. The coach found that the harder he pushed them, the more they came by, and the more focused  they seemed. Boxing became an outlet for many of Rick’s students to get out their aggression and channel all of their problems into those red padded gloves, releasing the stress with every hit of the heavy bag.

Rick kept fighting himself. But this time, it wasn’t in the ring, it was for the kids.

As I sat and listened to Rick tell his story, I couldn’t believe what I had stumbled onto randomly in this small coffee shop in the panhandle of Idaho. Knowing that he hailed from Spokane, I asked Rick why he was in Wallace, a town mostly forgotten since the Silver mines shut down.

“The kids in this valley need me. They need boxing. They deserve a chance to have another option in life.”

With the valley’s unpredictable economy, Rick set up shop in Wallace, using the abandon high school gym to train young fighters from the valley. Soon, he had a team, and he organized the first ‘Wallace Fight Night’ in 2014.  And to his surprise, almost the entire town showed up. 7 fight nights later, the entire town is still showing up.

This was the people of Wallace’s Super Bowl. Their sons, daughters, brothers and sisters all laced up the gloves and went to battle against competing teams from the Pacific Northwest. Even in a place where almost everyone knows each other’s names, this event brought the town together as one like nothing had ever done before.

In November of last year, I was lucky enough to attend the Wallace Fight Night. Even though it was competing with a high school basketball tournament just a couple hundred yards away in the new high school gym, the town still came out in force, and a couple hundred people easily packed the bleachers and beer garden. Hearing the chants of “Cory, Cory, Cory” for one of the hometown fighters as he traded blows and blood with a rival was exhilarating and brought tears to my eyes, as I saw the pride and determination flow. The fighters that night left everything they had in that ring. And as soon as that final bell rang, the fighters embraced, proud of their accomplishment. Proud of the blood, sweat, and tears that they have poured into the sport in order to make themselves a better young adult. Proud to be a boxer. And most importantly, proud to represent Wallace, Idaho.

Why am I telling you all of this? Because tomorrow, May 6th, 2017 is the Spring Wallace Fight Night. And I cannot wait to witness this again. And if you are near Wallace, Idaho you need to make the trip to experience this unique event, a throwback in time to when Wallace used to pack the gym to watch boxing hall of fame inductee and hometown boy, Guido Bardelli, otherwise known as Young Firpo.

More information can be found on the Wallace Fight Night Facebook Page.

The post Inside Idaho’s Gritty ‘Wallace Fight Night’ appeared first on Resource Travel.

Lofoten, Norway by @michaelbonocore

https://www.instagram.com/p/BShZ9t5lTq8/

Point Reyes National Seashore by @kathryn_dyer

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‘A life is made up of a great number of small incidents and a small number of great ones.’ —Roald Dahl #PointReyes #California @sonyalpha #a7rii | 70-200 | f4 | 1/60sec | ISO 125 #alphacollective

A post shared by KATHRYN [California] (@kathryn_dyer) on Apr 4, 2017 at 12:12pm PDT

Highlands, Iceland by @elizabethgadd

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Once upon a time (back in October), we got trapped in the highlands of Iceland for a few days after crossing a raging river for a quick "day-trip" that was too treacherous to cross back over. We took up the kind hospitality of @volcanohuts, hiding indoors from the cold rainstorms and consuming endless cups of coffee and cake to keep ourselves sane. On the second day we braved the weather for a climb up the mountain and ended up getting treated to one of the best views I've ever seen, hundreds of streams and rivers all intertwining and flowing together through the valley. The wind blew rain and snow and hail all around us, often concealing our view but then opening up to reveal more layers of mountains in the distance. Feeling the icy elements on my skin and seeing an awe-inspiring view always makes me feel so alive in the most thrilling way. Sometimes the best part of trips going wrong is the new opportunities they may bring you… I'd happily get stranded in these highlands any day. :) (Thanks to Stefnir of @midgardadventure for coming to our rescue in the end!)

A post shared by Lizzy Gadd (@elizabethgadd) on Apr 4, 2017 at 7:57pm PDT

Kootenay National Park, BC, Canada by @calsnape

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Over the past few years I've searched out incredible landscapes all over the world but I keep finding myself drawn back to one a little closer to home

A post shared by Callum Snape (@calsnape) on Mar 1, 2017 at 8:58pm PST

Marrakesh, Morocco by @audiosoup

https://www.instagram.com/p/BR-4oh7jUDk/

Namibia by @donalboyd

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Roaming the rolling sand dunes along the desert coast of Namibia. @anewmanstrack looking for a lost lens cap. Check out some shots from the Namibia workshop crew via #NamibiaNewLife … so many good ones!

A post shared by Donal James Boyd (@donalboyd) on Mar 10, 2017 at 10:08am PST

Vancouver B.C., Canada by @jarradseng

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSGohprDw_R/

Sun Country, Australia by @laurenepbath

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRoqd16j5C3/

Tower Bridge, London by @thebowlerman

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Image One Hundred Nineteen: 
#thebowlerman taking a stroll around #London next to the the famous "Girl With A Dolphin Fountain" designed by David Wynne in 1973. I would also like to say a big thank to @London for featuring me today. 
You can also follow me on…
Twitter: thebowlerman_uk
FaceBook: thebowlerman
Steller: thebowlerman 
Most of these images are also available to buy. Feel free to take a look on my website…
www.thebowlerman.com

A post shared by An English Gentleman in London (@thebowlerman) on Feb 16, 2016 at 9:25am PST

Rainbow Bay, Australia by @jewelszee

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︎ you once told me you wanted to find yourself in the world… and I told you to first apply within ~ to discover the world within you ︎

A post shared by J E W E L S Australia (@jewelszee) on Mar 2, 2017 at 12:54am PST

Corridor of Prayer, Tokyo, Japan by @thefella

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Corridor of Prayer | Tokyo, Japan This is a particularly amazing part of this temple in Tokyo. It’s known as the Corridor of Prayer and contains almost 10,000 crystal jars with miniature statues inside. In the main part of the temple, there is an amazing fire ritual a few times a day. Well worth experiencing! #thefellaxtokyo #tokyo #beautifuldestinations #mytinyatlas #guardiantravelsnaps #travelstoke #passionpassport

A post shared by Conor MacNeill (@thefella) on Jan 20, 2017 at 12:22pm PST

Hoek Van Holland Strand, Netherlands by @claireonline

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Memories in the distance. #letsilencespeak

A post shared by Claire Droppert (@claireonline) on Apr 4, 2017 at 3:41pm PDT

Moraine Lake, Alberta, Canada by @erikmcr

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Happy New Year friends, thank you for all of the love and support in 2016, I'm deeply humbled and incredibly thankful! Can't wait to see what 2017 will bring!

A post shared by Erik McRitchie (@erikmcr) on Dec 31, 2016 at 10:39am PST

Berchtesgaden National Park, Germany by @theglobejumpers

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSUgaImFGWZ/

Alberta, Canada by @pebbleshoo

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The way the heart swells in places like this, it feels as if you could lift up your chest and float right above the summits of these mountains.⠀ .⠀ #WildernessCulture #TravelAlberta #explorealberta

A post shared by L Ξ I G H (@pebbleshoo) on Mar 9, 2017 at 6:07pm PST

Johnston Canyon, Alberta, Canada by @larissadening

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRKRuZFBLex/

Vancouver B.C., Canada by @heyguystudios

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The bridge to Terabithia. —————————————— #thegreatoutdoors #ig_nature #exklusive_shot #epic_captures #ig_color #aov #exploretocreate #wildernessculture #outdoorsusa #ourlonelyplanet #artofvisuals #testedtough #ruskpromo #earth_ravens #abc7eyewitness #bns_earth #earthfocus #jaw_dropping_shots #travelstoke #resourcetravel #landscape_captures

A post shared by Devon Spencer (@heyguystudios) on Mar 9, 2017 at 9:44am PST

Selkirk Mountains by @brycebrownimages

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The up track. Uphill for 2 hours to be rewarded with a 15 min downhill run. The work: fun ratio seems a bit messed up, but the untouched powder is always worth it! Selkirk Mountains, BC.

A post shared by •Climb•Ski•Repeat• (@brycebrownimages) on Mar 21, 2017 at 11:47am PDT

Varanasi, India by @ashrafularefin

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Misty Varanasi

A post shared by ashraful arefin (@ashrafularefin) on Mar 6, 2017 at 6:11am PST

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia by @krystle.blackburn

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random roadside stops often lead to the most beautiful secluded places #balidaily #thebalibible #explorebali

A post shared by Krystle Blackburn (@krystle.blackburn) on Sep 10, 2016 at 9:01pm PDT

White Mountains, New Hampshire by @krisroller

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Winter is for Kierkegaard

A post shared by Kris Roller (@krisroller) on Apr 4, 2017 at 9:54am PDT

Bucharest, Romania by @gmr83

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSNfmQMA_eB/

The post Celebrate National Walking Day at These Picture Perfect Locations appeared first on Resource Travel.

“Going to Maine for this swell, have room in the truck,” Bryan Zinski texted to our group chat of six frothing, working-class surfers. With the dim prospect of rain and chest high waves in New Jersey and New York that week, it wasn’t a tough sell. I immediately said I was in after seeing the forecast for Maine was my favorite combination of factors: waves + snow. Two days later, Jon Smyth finished up a half day of work (still getting docked a full vacation day to make the trip) and the three of us jumped in Zinski’s Toyota Tacoma and headed north.

Not knowing exactly what was in store is half of the fun of road tripping. Myself, armed with the visual fuel of what the Northeast would look like draped in snow, and Jon and Bryan armed with surfboards, we all knew this was going to be a fun trip, no matter what the conditions ended up like. For the surfers, cold water isn’t that intollerable unless the air temperature plummets into the 20s. That is really when the experience starts to become challenging…and painful. In conditions like we were expecting, two wetsuits are essential so that after your first session you can get into a dry suit for your second.

The wind was blowing, the air was cold and any exposed skin stung before getting numb. We arrived north of nowhere with just enough sunlight for a surf. The late afternoon session proved fun. The weather was cloudy and really moody, it made for soft diffuse lighting and I could really expose for winter’s beautiful muted hues. Purple, orange, and blue. With just us on the wave, I saw a few unridden ones go by, unheard of back in the Tri-state area. We’d found our own private surfing winter wonderland.

The next day, we awoke to a gorgeous sunrise and an ocean suffering from morning sickness. The waves and wind still needed a bit more time to clean themselves up. After breakfast, driving around and checking for waves, we decided to paddle back out in front of our hotel. There, we found a few wedges, barrels and turn sections. The entire scene being draped in white made for an epic surfing arena. The sun fooled the observer in believing it was warm, however, standing in the elements for any period of time quickly educated the body of burning cold.

Musing on something often allows you to peel back the many layers, to see the unseen. Surfing has been my muse since I picked up a camera, and I’ve come to love shooting in the snow. Surfing so often is shown as a beautiful, sunny and warm experience. I’ve been there and still love to do that. But shooting in the cold harsh winter conditions, when the sunlight is scarce makes my experience and moments I capture worth wild.

But, as much as I relish the visual trophies that I bring home from these spontaneous road trips, it’s the experiences and the friendships that come from these surf adventures that I will look back on and cherish forever. I am a surfer. I am a photographer. I am a surf photographer. And I am proud to be a part of this community.

Ryan Struck is a New York surf and adventure photographer whose client list includes Red Bull, Surfer Magazine and Billabong. Follow Struck on Instagram to keep up with his adventures.

The post A Spontaneous Surf Trip to Maine’s Frigid Winter Waters appeared first on Resource Travel.

Aspen Mtn, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk…Lights of XGames can been seen far right

Recently, Doran visited one of his favorite locations, Aspen, which we have already proved is one of the state’s most photogenic locations.

See More: 27 Photos That Will Inspire You to Travel to Aspen, Colorado Right Now

Doran first went to Aspen to shoot stories for Powder Magazine and OnTheSnow.com.  Now, after having met many new friends during his projects there, the photographer likes to return at least once a year. 

I sat down with Doran to ask about what it is about Aspen that keeps him coming back when there are so many other ski towns on in the Rockies.

Aspen is one of the classic ski towns in North America. While it is known as a hot spot for the rich and famous it is also a real community with down to earth people who are very passionate about their skiing. I also love the proximity of the skiing to the town.  The slopes are right there! The food and nightlife are both fantastic.  

Downtwon Apsen

The Belly Up is one of the best venues you could possibly see live music at

Good to see some character still deeply embedded in Aspen

Downtown Aspen with Ajax runs coming right into town

Well, that sure gets us sold on the town. But what about the snow? Is it going to give us powder junkies our fix?

The snow and terrain at Aspen are incredible and as good as anywhere I have skied.  There are four mountains actually, Aspen, Snowmass, Buttermilk and Aspen Highlands and they each have their own character for skiers seek out and explore. From family friendly to super challenging Aspen offers terrain for all abilities. 

Tj David at Aspen Highlands

Baker Boyd at Aspen Mtn

TJ David at Aspen Mtn

TJ David at Aspen Mtn

As a die-hard snowboarder, Doran’s photos of the snow get me amped up to visit. As Doran closed out our interview, he simply said

Every skier and snowboarder should put Apsen high on their list of places to visit. 

Count us in…especially if I have Doran there to take awesome photos of me looking like a bad ass.

Follow Liam Doran on his website, Facebook and Instagram. 

Perfectly groomed runs await skiers on the frontside of Aspen

The view from Aspen(Ajax) over to Highlands

Highlands Bowl…the epicenter of Colorado powder skiing

TJ David at Aspen Mtn

Greg Strokes and Baker Boyd at Aspen Mtn with Highland bowl in the background

Biking to Aspen is still one of the more popular ways to beat traffic

Aspen Mtn scenics

Aspen Mtn scenics

Aspen Mtn scenics

Baker Boyd at Aspen Mtn

Downtown Aspen

Downtown Aspen

Downtwon Apsen

Downtwon Apsen

Tj David at Aspen Highlands

Katrina Devore at Aspen Highlands

Baker Boyd at Aspen Highlands

Apres at Campo de Fueri with Colter J Hinchliffe

Apres at Campo de Fueri with Colter J Hinchliffe

Highlands Ale House

Katrina Devore at Aspen Highlands

The post 35 Photos That Will Inspire You to Ski in Aspen, Colorado Right Now appeared first on Resource Travel.

Alta, Utah: Photo by Andy Best

So when my good friend Andy Best, (yes, the same guy who lives in a camper) told me that he was working on a new campaign for the Mountain Collective, I was intrigued. The idea behind the Mountain Collective pass is to get passionate snow bums a chance to explore new mountains and continuously feel the rush I felt last winter when I conquered new terrain. For just $409, the pass gets each holder 28 days worth of skiing or snowboarding. But while that is a steal financially, the catch is, you have to dig deep down and find your spontaneous and adventurous side. Those 28 days are good for only two days each at 14 different mountains in the western U.S. and Canada.  With no blackout dates however, the pass allows for a pretty loose schedule as to when you will tackle those mountains. If the adventure of roadtripping across the western United States in search of fresh powder wasn’t enough to get those winter day dreams going, it doesn’t hurt that the 14 mountains are some of the most respected in North America.

Athlete Forrest Shearer in Snowbird, Utah: Photo by Callum Snappe

Primarily responsible for the film shown above, Best teamed up with adventure photographer Callum Snape to help capture some of the best moments of the adventure. Based on the photos taken by both Best and Snape, it’s easy to see why this is an adventure that, while a time commitment, can make for one of the most memorable winters for someone who loves bombing down snow covered mountains during the day and enjoying a cocktail by the fire in the lodge at night.

Maroon Bells, Colorado: Photo by Andy Best

After knowing Best for years, I have noticed he seems to gravitate to cold images and scenery. I asked him about what it is about winter that he finds so appealing.

I grew up in eastern Idaho where winter lasted 8 months out of the year. Jackson was my home mountain and being the president of my school’s ski club, we were able to ride all weekend long for just $20. Growing up with that as your backyard, it was hard not to love the cold weather and fresh powder.

I love the feeling that winter brings. The food, the warm drinks, a fire. All the better after first going outside and earning it. in my photographs and films, the colors, snow packed peaks, and flocked trees all make for a visually stimulating image…Looking back through them today reminds me, it’s almost time to get out and play. Rinse and repeat.

Snowbird, Utah: Photo by Andy Best

Obviously, the snow and the sports were an incredible part of Best’s and Snape’s adventure, but I asked about what the down time was like, and if there was one moment that stood out.

While we waiting for snow to fall at Squaw Valley in California, I got the urge to buy a childhood motorcycle (Honda trail 70) to rebuild and cherry out. I found one on Craigslist and drove into the hills of Sacramento up to this very old and creepy house, but purchased the bike, which makes a cameo in the piece.

I ordered like 15 boxes of parts and sat outside the uniform building at Squaw Valley, where they were kind enough to let us plug in. I sat for hours and hours over the course of a couple of days, waiting for the snow and rebuilding the bike from the wheels up. The manager of the uniforms department wound up sewing Squaw beanie jackets for our dogs. By the time we left Squaw, the employees were like family to us. It’s those moments and the connections we made, even through all of the epic scenes and adventures we see, that really live in my memory for life.

Aspen, Colorado: Photo by Andy Best

Follow Andy Best’s adventures on his website, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Follow Callum Snape’s adventures on his website, Facebook, and Instagram.

To learn about the Mountain Collective Pass, visit their website, Facebook and Instagram. 

Snowbird, Utah: Photo by Callum Snappe

Snowbird, Utah: Photo by Andy Best

Aspen, Colorado: Photo by Andy Best

Aspen, Colorado: Photo by Andy Best

Athlete Banks Gilberti in Sun Valley, Idaho: Photo by Callum Snappe

Aspen, Colorado: Photo by Andy Best

Aspen, Colorado: Photo by Andy Best

Athlete Banks Gilberti in Sun Valley, Idaho: Photo by Callum Snappe

Mammoth Mountain, California: Photo by Andy Best

Andy at work in his camper home in Mammoth Mountain, California: Photo by Andy Best

Mammoth Mountain, California: Photo by Andy Best

Whistler Blackcomb, BC, Canada: Photo by Callum Snappe

Maroon Bells, Colorado: Photo by Andy Best

Mammoth Mountain, California: Photo by Andy Best

Mammoth Mountain, California: Photo by Andy Best

Mammoth Mountain, California: Photo by Andy Best

Mammoth Mountain, California: Photo by Andy Best

Mammoth Mountain, California: Photo by Andy Best

Aspen, Colorado: Photo by Andy Best

Whistler Blackcomb, BC, Canada: Photo by Callum Snappe

Maroon Bells, Colorado: Photo by Andy Best

Mt. Morgan, California: Photo by Andy Best

Nevada: Photo by Andy Best

Aspen, Colorado: Photo by Andy Best

Aspen, Colorado: Photo by Andy Best

Snowbird, Utah: Photo by Andy Best

Aspen, Colorado: Photo by Andy Best

Squaw Valley, California: Photo by Andy Best: Photo by Andy Best

Photo by Andy Best

The post 35 Photos That Will Get You Stoked for a Winter Roadtrip to the Slopes appeared first on Resource Travel.

Clark describes why Santa Fe made an ideal location to put the D5 to the test.

Santa Fe is this city based in this high-altitude altiplano between three different mountain ranges. It’s a small city with some of the best light I’ve seen anywhere in the world. There is 30 different climbing areas, skiing, mountain biking, BMX, white-water kayaking. There is a whole variety of adventure sports here.

DPReview tells us why the autofocus is so impressive. “Nikon’s D5 is a full-frame professional DSLR designed for shooting in tough environments. Market leading 153-point autofocus with 3D tracking enables the D5 to accurately maintain focus even on fast-moving subjects, in very demanding conditions.”

Based on the in-depth field test, it looks like the combination of photographer, sports and location were perfect to find out if the autofocus system on the D5 was all it’s made out to be. Based on what the video and the test shots show, it appears it may well be one of the best, if not the best, on the market today.

Read more on the Nikon D5 on DPReviews detailed review.

Follow DPReview on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

The post Field Testing the Nikon D5 in Action-Packed Santa Fe appeared first on Resource Travel.

DPReview is known for their in-depth camera field tests, and lately, they have been adding a travel angle to most of them. From fly fishing in Washington, exploring the Mississippi Blues Trail and SCUBA diving in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, the team has been creating some interesting real life field tests of some of the industry’s newest cameras.

So when it came time for Barnaby Britton to put the new Canon EOS 80D to the test, he decided to partner with his friend Kiliii Yuyan to build a kayak in their home state of Washington. You may remember Yuyan from our story about the time he documented primitive skills training in the rigged Cascade Mountains.

The field test is a great look into how the Canon performs in the dusty kayak making hanger. But in addition, you may even learn how to build your summer kayak. Or you could just contact Yuyan at Sea Wolf Kayak.

See more on the Canon EOS 80D field test on DPReview.
Follow DPReview on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Photos courtesy of dpreview.com

The post Field Testing the Canon EOS 80D While Building Kayaks in Washington appeared first on Resource Travel.