Central California In Black and White

Hello again,

I’m sure you’ve heard it before this post and you’ll most certainly hear it again after but the classic California road trip up the Pacific Coast Highway through Big Sur is simply a ‘must do’ for any and all who enjoy expansive views and the beautifully blue Pacific. Personally, I’ve done the trek a handful of times and each time my resulting photographs are filled with colorful memories of the people and places with which I’ve spent my time.

However, I wanted this particular drive up Highway 1 to be captured a little bit different, I wanted more depth. This past year was filled with harsh contrasts, big changes, a lot of uncertainty and a certain aura of moodiness similar to the feelings that black and white photos can communicate. So I stocked up on black and white film, loaded up the car with surfboards and camping gear, and headed north bound with a loose plan.

As I get older I’ve began to realize that sometimes a loose plan can be both a blessing and a curse. You see, I’ve camped, for free, in Big Sur many times without a plan. There are secret nooks and crannies one can find if you know where to look, back roads that lead up mountains, to campsites with views that you can’t put into words, and you best believe I will not be giving away this pertinent information regarding some of Big Sur’s hidden gems. However, due to the state of the world at the time, every campsite, paid for or free was closed along highway 1 in Big Sur, information we did not know until we’d arrived.

This particular scenario was a time when rolling with a loose plan turned out to be a bit more of a curse than a blessing. As we drove Northbound along Highway 1 high above the expansive pacific ocean we saw road closure after road closure. Caution tape and big closed signs were posted on every fire road, dirt road, and campsite. At first we were bummed, then after a quick brainstorm we decided, “eh lets just drive north into Monterey, get a cheap hotel, then figure it out from there…” Unfortunately, this meant that sleeping under the stars, the thrill of finding a free campsite, or making eggs and coffee at sunrise above the clouds were no longer an option. But the silver lining was a new experience was to be had, and that is something I always welcome.

The following night and day was filled with wandering around Santa Cruz, Carmel, and Monterey Bay. The waves were huge and the water frigid, we paddled out at a one peak but both only lasted about twenty minutes without the proper wetsuit thickness or booties. Next we checked out a big wave spot and watched from the cliff with coffees and croissants. After that we ventured to Monterey’s best lunch Cafe. The day was easy and everything felt new. It was a special trip because we simply had no agenda, no real plans, and no idea what the next hour would hold. I’d never spent any real time in Carmel, Monterey, or Santa Cruz up until this trip but those little towns certainly hold some California magic.

After being cooped up inside the whole year it felt good to just be out and about in the world, even though the world was still not at all normal. Originally we were loosely planning to find a secluded camping spot away from all people, post up for a few days, sleep outside, and enjoy the seclusion that Big Sur can offer. Our trip was entirely different than previous trips to Big Sur. Similar to how the year 2020 has been entirely different than all other previous years. If there’s anything I’ve learnt this year it’s that everything will work out one way or another. We just have to keep moving forward and putting good energy out into the world.

I learned more about Big Sur and the surrounding communities more this trip than any trip before. Funny enough, rolling with a loose plan turned out to be more than a blessing than a curse after all, who would’ve thought. These photos were taken over a three day span driving up and down Highway 1. I hope you enjoy them and I hope they encourage you to get out there and do something with a loose plan, because similarly to Carmel, Monterey, and Santa Cruz, there’s magic in spontaneity.

-owen

Two Weeks along the Powder Highway

Hello my friends,

I truly am a sucker for a good road trip… especially one that involves quality snowboarding, close friends, and exploring new mountains. I’d never been to Canada before this trip but after living in Mammoth for two winters I’d gained a close Kiwi friend who were spending this past winter up in the Great North. So, myself, and my two close friends Tess and Lindsey bought plane tickets from LAX into Calgary and secured a two-week RV rental. The plan was to scoop up our friend Sam, then bounce from ski resort to ski resort along the Powder Highway through Alberta and the interior of British Columbia all while living out of an RV with four people. No hotels, very rare cell service, and a lot of fun to be had.

There’s a certain type of person that fits the mold for this particular type of trip. Simply put, you just need to be down for the journey. You need to be okay with being uncomfortable, okay with the uncertainty of where we would sleep each night, okay with waking up in quite literally an ice cold RV every morning, and okay with snowboarding all day then driving all night. This was not at all a party or relaxing trip, this trip was a trip dedicated to a coveted snowboard mission to pack as many epic resorts in as we could. We each had our own little of plan of the resorts we wanted to hit. Some overlapped and some didn’t.

For anyone who’s never been on Canada’s Powder Highway, there’s ski resort after ski resort along a rugged and treacherous highway that weaves in and out of the Kootenay Rockies. The stretch covers both the Alberta ski resorts and interior BC resorts. Also, there isn’t just one Highway, there’s a few different highways and different routes to take… but all resorts in this region claim to be on the Powder Highway, good marketing I guess.

On top of the epic big mountain riding, small resorts with less crowds, and beautiful mountain scapes everywhere, the snow along the Powder Highway is classified as champagne powder. That means it’s extra light, extra fluffy, and snows a ton each season. The reason for this type of snow is because the resorts are far away from any big body of water like an ocean so there’s not as much condensation in the air and clouds resulting in snow with a lower water percentage that is extra light. Pretty much it’s a powder hounds dream.

Throughout our two week road trip we drove over 1,000 miles, woke up in a freezing RV exactly fourteen times, parked and slept illegally in five separate resort parking lots and never got in trouble, spent a total of eleven days snowboarding, scored six epic powder days, snowboarded at a grand total of nine different resorts, only had one minor case of frost bite, travelled once across the worlds longest free fairy while eating a terrible Mexican food dinner at our table in the RV, went on one in-door water slide, tried four different types of Cesars, soaked in three different hot springs, and somehow only lost control of our giant 2WD RV once! Which resulted in.a 30 mph donut during an insane snow storm across all four lanes of the icy highway and caused us to lose our passenger side mirror… but we were very thankful there were no cars coming in the opposite direction.

But the highlight of the entire trip was the small town of Nelson, BC and Nelsons local hill Whitewater Ski Resort. There’s something about the people of Nelson that made it so special, lots of small ski towns now are filled with massive vacation homes, five star resorts, tourists, and big pretentious egos. Nelson is not at all like that, Nelson is a true throwback town where you feel like you’ve almost transported to an alternate universe. The town hasn’t been tainted by tourists and isn’t overrun by others looking to capitalize on the monetary value of a ‘ski vacation’. It’s simply a town filled with people who live and work in Nelson and who go up the hill to ski Whitewater when they can. My friend who was living in Nelson put it beautifully to me, “the people who end up working or living in Nelson are here for all the right reasons…” It’s almost as if Whitewater is Nelson’s private backyard ski resort. There’s only three chairlifts and crowds are literally not even a thought. Once you’re up on the hill it’s as if everyone knows one another. The three lifts access a huge amount of terrain that feels more like a backcountry playground than a groomed ski resort. It was the only resort we rode for three days straight because we had so much fun.

The best part is that it feels like Whitewater’s primary goal is to service the people of Nelson, the others visiting come second. It’s a family owned resort that has no plans of growing, bringing more people, or charging higher prices. Again it’s a place where people are there for the right reasons. I would encourage everyone to stop by Whitewater and Nelson on their Powder Highway roadie, I guarantee it won’t disappoint.

By the end of the two weeks we were all absolutely exhausted, I mean just complete piles of dust. We were in it for the long haul and our time spent driving and snowboarding was certainly a long haul. But truth be told, it was the most fun I’ve ever had. Like literally, ever. That is not an exaggeration. I know I’ll cherish these photos forever and I hope you enjoy them too. Take a peak below and let me know what you think.

-owen