The Provo Bros - mining powder at Retallack, British Columbia

Retallack powder mining, its a one of a kind experience. Karl the Gnarl is a one of a kind experience. You'll have to see for yourself at the legendary lodge in British Columbia...

Until then, enjoy this video which tries to somehow capture the energy. This piece was created with footage from an even larger project, Retallack: The Movie. Check it out from Inspired Media Concepts.




"During the winter of 2011, my brother Neil and I were presented with a once in a lifetime opportunity. We were to spend two months embedded in the heart of the Kootenays at the legendary Retallack Lodge. The mission was to shred pow with our good friend Tanner, who was on his comeback, and to help film Retallack:The Movie for Inspired Media Concepts. I took the role of the dedicated time lapse junkie, while Neil was a true on slope camera master. This video is a showcase of our skills behind the camera, as well as a few of our favorite long lens shots from Retallack:The Movie. Time lapses make way for deep powder mining, and a trip into the heart of the "silvery slocan" to see how silver miners conquered the mountains a century ago. Mining for powder in the Selkirk mountains is serious business, and we found out just how serious it can get. We hope you enjoy our short film, and perhaps absorb just a sliver of the energy that is Retallack Lodge in beautiful British Columbia."

Back in Utah...

Well, after spending nearly 60 days in the Interior of British Columbia, it sure feels nice to be home. Ideally, I would spend the rest of my life in some shack in the heart of the Selkirk mountains, but the reality is, I am not quite there in life to make that happen. For now, Utah is my home. Its where I learned everything I know about the mountains. Most importantly, its where my family is.

Im very lucky to have parents that support my dreams and everything I do. Im not sure where I would be in life if not for the opportunities and encouragement from my mom and pop. Eternal thanks to my creators!

Every spring, I like to bring my pop out on the snowmobile for a little taste of what his boys get up to for 8 months of the year. All of the stories and photos we share are great, but nothing is as sweet as getting out there and experiencing the mountains for yourself. He's not entirely comfortable on the snowmobile, so it provides a great oppurtunity to scare the shit out of him for a brief moment!



^This was my pops first time seeing his beloved Uintas under a deep blanket of snow

^Neil and Pop shredding pow together

^ classic view looking west from bald mountain pass

^ typical uinta snow conditions : fast, chalky, windboard powder. With the uintas looking as fat as I have ever seen them, the spring/summer ski mountaineering should be fantastic. Neil and I are starting to line up some sweet objectives in our backyard.

^ The old man preferred to open er up a bit while neil enjoys farming


Like father, like Son!


In the next week or so, after I wade through close to 800 gigabytes of files, I'll do a post from some of the highlights of our trip to British Columbia. Neil and I co-directed a ski movie, skied powder every single day, and were almost consumed by a massive class 4 avalanche. Best time of our lives!

dashing through the snow...

Twas the night before Christmas, and the powder was good, particularly over in our neck of the woods. We assembled the sleighs, loaded up on snacks, to the stoney zone we were headed, for fresh pillow stacks. We were delighted to find, that the powder was kind, but the pillows we loved, had been buried above. At the top of the headwall a new line with a vision; a hair-ball traverse through a steep pillow ribbon.   Maybe next time when every-thing's right, for now we're on a mission for a powder delight. Back to the sleighs for some boondocking splendor, there's nothing like a christmas eve, backcountry adventure.....






^ pick a pillow, pack it, send it

photos taken by Neil....

when will it begin?

Sitting here looking at the extended forecast. Not really looking too promising for the conditions displayed in the photograph below. Im a very patient individual, so I will continue to wait...



(there is a snowmobile in there)