Black Diamond for everything climbing and skiing.    Dynafit -- Speed Up!    Tracker beacons, Stash packs, shovels, more more more.    Terrific deals on randonnee AT rando backcountry skiing gear.    K2 has the skis that stay true to earning your turns.    Garmont boots -- excellent choice for backcountry skiing.

Backcountry Skier in the Hot Seat

Bookmark and Share            By Lou

A production crew from Peter Jennings Productions (PJP) showed up yesterday and did an on-camera interview of yours truly. PJP has been working on a documentary about the development of ski mountaineering. They take several years for these projects, and appear to try and portray an accurate view of a given slice of our culture. In the case of ski mountaineering, it’s been tough for them to figure out how “big mountain skiing” (as portrayed in modern ski films) relates to the type of ski alpinism that usually doesn’t get filmed because it’s hard, dangerous, and usually human powered. It sounded like they were getting a handle on how the two things are interrelated, but also are separate paths of backcountry ski culture. The guy who interviewed me, Mark Obenhaus, and the film’s producer Gabrielle Tenenbaum (along with their associates) appear to have really dug deep into ski mountaineering history and culture. Indeed, I’ve started to get the feeling that Mark should have been the one to write my history book, Wild Snow!

I’d like to thank those guys for the energy, time and money they’re putting into finding the essence of ski mountaineering.

I’m used to live radio interviews and long talks with reporters, but I’ve never liked on-camera interviews. You can’t fumble around for notes about dates and such, and you’re worrying about that blem on your lip or what to do with your hands. Then the stress makes you even more forgetful, and you end up feeling like a total klutz. At least that’s what happens to me. Perhaps I need to go to acting school or something (grin). At any rate, PJP appeared to get what they needed, but who knows what’ll end up in the actual published film: camera friendly guys like Glen Plake, or some old ski alpinist who’s never been in a Warren Miller film? Whatever happens, it’ll no doubt be fun and interesting to watch. Their “completion” date is next fall, and they couldn’t tell me when the documentary would actually be shown on television — I’d imagine sometime next winter, as it’s about skiing.

Lou getting grilled by PJP
The PJP crew made our greatroom into a film studio, with Loudawg in the hot seat. It was interesting. Louie noticed they had some cool gear, and related that he’d had trouble not laughing when I tried to do a long-term smile for a portrait shot. Where is that acting coach when I need her?

Posted by Lou on December 8, 2005 | Filed Under Backcountry Skiing, Movie Reviews 

previous post: Shrine Mountain Inn Backcountry Skiing
next post: Avalanche Death and Survival

Comments

Got something to say?





Anti-Spam Quiz:

:alien: :angel: :angry: :blink: :blush: :cheerful: :cool: :cwy: :devil: :dizzy: :ermm: :face: :getlost: :biggrin: :happy: :heart: :kissing: :lol: :ninja: :pinch: :pouty: :sad: :shocked: :sick: :sideways: :silly: :sleeping: :smile: :tongue: :unsure: :w00t: :wassat: :whistle: :wink: :wub:

Due to comment spam we moderate most comments. Please do not submit your comment twice -- it will appear shortly after we approve it. Once you've had one comment published, your comments will be pre-approved and appear immediately if you're using the same computer and not blocking browser cookies. NOTE however that ALL comments with one or more links in the text will be held for moderation no matter what, again for spam prevention.
Welcome to Louis (Lou) Dawson's backcountry skiing information and opinion website. Lou's passion for the past forty years has been alpinism, climbing, mountaineering and skiing -- along with all manner of outdoor recreation. He has authored numerous books and articles about backcountry skiing and is well known as the first person to ski down all 54 of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks, otherwise known as the Fourteeners! Books and free back country information here, and tons of Randonnee rando telemark info.

All material on this website is copyrighted. Permission required for reproduction, electronic or otherwise. That includes publication and display on other websites by whatever means. PLEASE SEE OUR COPYRIGHT INFORMATION.

Backcountry skiing is a dangerous sport. You may be killed or severely injured if you do any form of randone, randonnee and randonnée skiing. The information on this website is intended only as general information. While the authors and editors of the information on this website make every effort to present useful information, due to human error the information, text and images contained within this website may be inaccurate, false, or out-of-date. By using, reading or viewing the information provided on this website, you agree to absolve the owners of Wild Snow as well as content contributors of any liability for injuries or losses incurred while using such information. Furthermore, you agree to use any of this website's information, maps, photos, or binding mounting instructions or templates at your own risk, and waive Wild Snow its owners and contributors of any liability for use of said items for backcountry skiing or any other use.