March 2005_utah

On the final days of the storm cycle, Justin Woodworth and I hit up 3 resorts in search of the best untracked stashes. We found them! The last photo is my favorite; it truely tells the story of how the last days were.
More to come...
Max

March 2005_utah

With the incoming storm due to arrive Monday night, we are preparing for the next stage of shooting. Here are the details for the next week. If you neeed to contact me, feel free to ring my cell or e-mail me.
Details:
Thursday, Friday and Saturday 3.31.05 - 4.2.05
Team shoot
Locations:
Nevada desert
Entering Utah
Destination Brighton
Times:
8am-4pm
Thanks for your contribution of time and effort to make this pilot a success!
Max

March 2005

The big one we've been waiting for is here folks. Our powder lust should be quenched tomorrow. http://www.goes.noaa.gov/WCIR3.html 12"-14" and better in the cottonwoods. Although the weather service is forecasting much of the initial storm will move to the North into Idaho, we should get enough for face shots in the am. We'll be steppin' into Little tomorrow. Tram rides are the call. Be safe out there...

Max

March 2005 (Day 5)

Today was the culmination of the recent round of storms and provided the best day in weeks. The 24 hr. storm deposited over 12-18" and more in isolated spots through out the upper Big and Little Cottonwoods. At Brighton, the tracks were almost filled in from yesterday's morning storm event. Sources at Brighton said that the snow really didn't stop all night. Today's snow depths backed their stories.
With all the snow from the last 24hrs, I decided to mount up my new 04-05 Winterstick swallowtail. For today's conditions their isn't any other choice of rides. If you are a serious pow junkie, you need to have a swallowtail in your quiver. The board is truely amazing! By the end of the day, the clouds parted. A weak high pressure ridge moved into the region and provided glimpses of the picturesque backcountry. With another round of storms coming into the northern parts of Utah, much of the week's weather will remain unsettled. Check out the links to the right for a better overview of the upcoming weather and avalanche conditions.
Well, day 5 has come and gone like the storms through the mountains. Though today was mostly low light visability conditions, we got some more helmet cam footage and some more stills. Eddie will post up the pictures later at www.fat-tours.com/blog Check them out.
More updates to the blog tomorrow inbetween sessions.

Until then, be safe.
Max

March 2005 (Day 4)

Day 4 of shooting "the mission:snow" yeilded some helmet cam footage and some great March powder shots. With all of the athletes on hold until Thursday and Friday, Eddie and I worked on capturing more of the elements of Brighton.
With the current storm track taking aim on Utah, we are looking forward to many days of shooting ahead...

For indepth daily logs, check out the Fat Tours blog at this link.
www.fat-tours.com/blog
More updates to come...
Max

March 2005

For some more great pictures of our first few days on The Mission: Snow, please check out the blog at Freedom Adventure Tours:
http://www.fat-tours.com/blog/

Enjoy!

March 2005

Powder anyone? The next storm looks like it is going to drop about 6-8" in the cottonwoods for Sunday morning and then 4-6" during the day on Sunday. All in all, we deserve another 12"+ for waiting out the last 4 week dry spell.
Have fun tomorrow.

Max

March 2005 (Day 3)

The day just kept getting better...
The Mission:Snow

March 2005 (Day 3)

Today was one of those days that surprises even me. Today was perfect. With the morning giving us glimpses of sunshine through the clouds-we hoped for the best. On the hike up Mt. Millicent ridge, my optimism changed. The 20mph winds out of the west, thick cloud cover and flat light was beginning to make me think our day was over before it had a chance to start. Figuring we would make the best of it, we decided to set up for a couple tree run shots. Before too long, on southeast face of Mt. Millicent, we got what we needed, we got the biggest break. Classic Wasatch weater arrived before us as the skies cleared, the wind died down and we set up for the day I was looking for. The conditions were perfect and we accomplished a lot. The pictures from the day will be up soon. We are looking at the video dailys now...

Big thanks to Ben, Sarah, Gabe, Will and Eddy for getting the job done. More updates will follow...

Rubies, here we come...Stay tuned.

Thanks
Max

March 2005 (Day 2)

Green Light...
Brighton backcountry received 4-6" this afternoon. More in windloaded spots. The conditions will be great for what we are shooting tomorrow.
We are meeting at 8am sharp at the Big Cottonwood park and ride.
Please bring backcountry equipment, colorful clothes (for flat light), earth tones (for good light), and anything else you might need for the backcountry.
We will be shooting from 9:15am to 12, take a break and then from 1-4pm
I look forward to meeting you all tomorrow.
See you then.
Max

March 2005

Discussion:The east-west oriented cold front slowly sags south. It’s a complex system so it’s difficult to forecast but it looks like snow should continue this afternoon and evening with 3-6 inches accumulation before it ends by about midnight. I was hoping that the ridge top winds would die as the snow began but they seem content to keep blowing 30-40 with gusts into the 50’s. Ridge top temperatures will be around 18 degrees tonight. By morning, ridge top winds will die down to 25 from the west-northwest with temps around 16 degrees. We should have a break on Friday with some lingering low level moisture causing some clouds around the mountains but little additional accumulation.

Extended forecast: Today is the first day of our new-and-improved weather pattern. We have a series of wet storms lined up with the next one beginning about mid day on Saturday and continuing on Sunday that looks to put down perhaps a foot of snow. Ridge top temperatures will be warmer for the Saturday storm, around 25 degrees. Then there are several more pulses for the next several days, perhaps Tuesday, then Thursday and so on. Most of the later storms look to be passing to the south of us but they will still give us some snow. Most anything is better than this past month of graduate level courses in the finer points of breakable crust formation.

Tremper

March 2005 (Day 1)

Snowing at Brighton

.SYNOPSIS...A PACIFIC SYSTEM WILL GRAZE NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE
AREA TODAY. A COOL AND SOMEWHAT MOIST NORTHWEST FLOW WILL REMAIN
OVER THE AREA TONIGHT. WEAK HIGH PRESSURE FRIDAY WILL GIVE WAY TO A
MOIST BUT MILD PACIFIC STORM FOR THE WEEKEND.

&&
GREEN LIGHT.
We are on for Friday.

With the setup flow depositing 2-6" of new with
1-3" windblown in spots, the conditions are shaping up
If you have been contacted, please confirm your attendence by
calling or e-mail tonight. We will be meeting at
the Big Cottonwood park and ride at 8am sharp.

More details to follow...

Max

Current Status

Everyone,

.SYNOPSIS...A WEAK DISTURBANCE IN NORTHWEST FLOW WILL CROSS THE AREA LATETONIGHT AND THURSDAY. THE FLOW WILL BECOME MORE WESTERLY FRIDAY NIGHT ANDSATURDAY WITH INCREASING MOISTURE. && SLC-weather

First off, thank you for your interest in the The Mission:Snow.

We are currently in debate about the upcoming storm track. After analyzing thedata, it looks as if the bulk of the precip is heading on a southerlydirection. We may get a trace to 2" with more potentially through the dayThursday. If it is snowing in the morning, we will be meeting at the bottom ofBig Cottonwood Canyon at 8am sharp. If no snow, we are on hold to Friday. This pilot is dependent heavily on stormy weather followed by snowaccumulations. We are hoping for such conditions. We will be treating everytest shooting to actual filming shoot like a surf event, of sorts. Each attemptwill have a RED YELLOW or GREEN light status. We are currently on YELLOW.Thanks for your patience and your interest in the pilot.

Please stay tuned tothe blog.

Thanks!

Max

March 2005

Yellow light...
This week's test shoot is currently scheduled for Thursday and Friday at Brighton. Depending on the forecasted storm due on Thursday, plans may change. For those that we have contacted for this week, we will be calling you tonight to discuss the itinirary. There is a chance the snow won't come, the conditions will stay weak and we will postpone the test shoot to another time when the conditions are better suited for what we are looking for...I will keep you posted with another message after reviewing the weather tonight...Please stay tuned here for more details.

Thanks!
Max

March 2005

Keep those applications coming...We are narrowing our choices for the test shoot this week.

Stay tuned for more details.

Max

March 2005

As I write this, the Northwesterly jetstream is bringing scattered snowshowers to the Uintas and easterly flank of the Wasatch mountains. We received 1-2" last night and 1-2" today. This should improve our backcountry trips on Tuesday through Friday this week.

I am looking forward to getting part of the the mission:snow team together this week to do some shooting around the Brighton area. We are still looking for 1 skier and 1 snowboarder for the shoot. Send an e-mail to info@themissionfilms.com to join us this week.

I will update this more throughout the week.

Max

March 2005 CASTING CALL

For immediate release:
The Mission:Snow Episode One
pilot filming
March 9 2005

The Morrill Film Group is currently casting for our latest the mission:snow episode. The episode will be filmed through the West Coast and Intermountain area of North America. We are casting for 2 snowboarders and 2 skiers in the intermountain area. If you are chosen, you will be scheduled to film with us March 16th-22nd and in April as we plan, plot and chase winter storms throughout the intermountain west.
You must be proficient in backcountry travel. You must be knowledgeable about backcountry terrain and working with film makers and photographers in mountainous terrain. You must have a flexible schedule. This is a dream position for an up and comer as well as an established film icon. Pay is dependent on experience, current snow sport status and prior published work in film and photography.
The mission:snow episode 1 is a documentary style view into the lives of a group of athletes that chose to chase storms. During the pursuit, the excitement level is amplified as the storm develops over different areas as it travels across the region. The team will be filmed as they plan, map, navigate and time the storms arrival into various mountainous regions. The focus is to chase the storm to a destination and reep the rewards of the the best conditions possible.
If you think you have what it takes to become part of the mission:snow episode one, contact us immediately.
For further inquiries, please contact our production assistant at info@themissionfilms.com. Please e-mail a high rez action photo, movie clip and resume within the message.

Thank you,

The Morrill Film Group.

March 2005

We have definately made the best of the high pressure over Utah. Although we didn't have a storm to chase, we stayed in Northern Utah and took advantage of the best snow in North America.
We filmed on two big peaks, the hypodermic needle in Hogum Fork and the North West face of the SLC Twins. Each is a large ascent and a great accomplishment. We will have pictures and video up soon. Keep praying for storms to bring snow to the West.

March 2005

The high pressure is here to stay. Ahhh! It's march 3rd, the week I planned for the pilot is dashed by no storms coming into the West Coast. Oh well. The crew is on stand by. We will be doing some big peaks while the conditions are good. Pray for snow...

March 2005

March is here, where are the storms. A dreadful high pressure has wedged it's way into the intermountain west forcing all precipt. around us to the north and south. Meanwhile, the East Coast gets pounded on the week we had planned for the pilot run. Thinking of heading East...