Skiing The Longest Run In The World | Stoke-Ness
Is it spring yet?
To be honest, I’m usually over winter at this point. All I want to see it some green grass and feel the sun’s warmth on my skin. But this year I’ve bought a season pass to the local ski hill and even went camping 3 times in January. I think all this activity has changed my brain because I’m still happy to see new snow falling. Call me crazy, but I like winter in February 2020
In this month’s issue, I share a new technique to make your photos easier to edit, a Japan winter paradise and my new favorite YouTube channel.
Be stoked,
Isaac
Who I'm loving on Instagram
Ben's account is a wild look at high alpine mountaineering in the best light. Most of this type of photography is shot in mid daylight due to the difficulty of reaching and then descending from the top of mountains in the Alps. Ben’s photography focuses on alpenglow and blue hour where the light up high makes every shot refreshingly new.
Give him a follow Here
Photo/Video Technique
Color Range Masks on Lightroom
I have found myself using this tool often recently to create definition and depth in my photos by smoothly adjusting colors or light.
You can use it on the radial and gradient filters as well as the brush. It is game-changing for accurately adjusting light and color to create a more engaging photo. You can spend forever manually selecting what you want to adjust or select it by the color.
Here is a video that goes into detail on how to use the Color Range Masks.
New Places
Niseko, on the island of Hokkaido Japan
If a winter destination has ever looked better, I don’t know of it. Most folks I know are dreaming of sandy beaches and sunny deserts, but there is a place where the snow is deep and the spings are hot. Niseko, on the island of Hokkaido Japan, is a winter paradise.
If you ski then you know about the legendary powder. If you don’t then you will still love the hot springs (onsens), food (ramen), and famous Japanese hospitality.
My friend Alex Strohl is hosting a workshop there in March so if you can get a spot before they are all gone it’s the ideal way to see the area.
If not, book a ticket and find out what all the fuss is about. Beaches are overrated anyway.
Gear
Build a Snow Cave
I was going to write a camera comparison, but then I thought “why not teach a technique to build something photogenic?”
If you saw my recent stories than you watched some friends and I build a snow cave. You might have had the impression that it was a bad idea. Well, it is if you build it how we built it. But if you build it the right way, it’s cozy to sleep in. It is also photogenic as heck and fun to build.
Here is what I learned from building one wrong and waking up to a slowly sinking roof.
Find a deep drift so the ceiling can be higher.
Walk on and pack down the roof area of the snow cave before you start digging. This will give it more support after you hollow it out.
Don’t build it so big. We built ours with room for 4 plus a dining area. That takes forever and makes the cave too spread out. This made the ceiling sag and it was colder than a smaller cave.
Shape the cave ceiling like a dome or bell this will keep it from dripping on you when it melts and make the structure stronger.
With this knowledge, I am planning another build soon. I am sure I will sleep more comfortably.
Music I'm Diggin'
Ten Ate by Very Yes
It could be pronounced 10 8 or ten et-tay, but either way it’s a crooning vibey song that is fun to work to or work out to.
It’s February and in some parts of the country, that’s one month away from spring. This is the song for that last push to the warmer months.
10/10 would recommend.
Give it a spin on Spotify here. (or hit the play button above)
Videos, Movies, and TV
Nikolai Schirmer skiing a 9000ft run.
I’m going to say it, Nikolai is the most underrated channel on Youtube.
Nikolai is a professional skier and filmmaker from Norway who makes vlogs . You may not aspire to ski like he does or be the level of epic that he is, but the way he shares his next-level adventures will keep you on the edge of your seat.
In this video, he and his friend ride some of the most epic lines in Chamonix. Often videos like this are made to look epic and show the subject in the most “badass” way possible. With Nikolai you get the sense that he is a regular guy doing this for fun. And the fun is contagious.
Watch it HERE (or click the play button above)
Reads
Elon Musk. Tesla, Space X and the quest for a fantastic future by Ashlee Vance
I read this book in 2016. Even back then Elon Musk was an accomplished billionaire. The book is a fascinating read about the creation of one of the most interesting people of our time. From a troubled childhood, his immigration from South Africa and working nonstop to build PayPal, his journey is like a carefully crafted superhero back story.
Buy the book HERE
Or borrow the audiobook by using the Libby app HERE for free
Be stoked and have a great month,
Isaac
