Print issue 2014
During the last months we were shaken by upsetting news of avalanche accidents. Liz, Sebastian, Andrea, JP, Andreas, and many others. They perished in avalanches. They won’t return. But they passed away doing what they loved most; doing things their very own way; living their dreams; taking risks.
Such disasters raise doubts if the risk is really worth it. But nobody is entitled to judge about the sense or non-sense of their actions. And, vice versa, doesn’t that also mean that everyone of us is free to find personal meaning in what you do and how you live? This freedom is a fragile and irrevocable gift.
Thank you very much for letting us give you another insight into the countless facets of backcountry skiing with this fourth issue of BACKLINE. We would like to thank all the photographers and skiers as well as the partners that made this issue possible.
We wish you a snowy and safe winter, sharpened senses, and the courage to say no.
Schweiz · Blanche de Perroc (Wallis)
It's June in the Swiss Valais and a damp early summer storm has put a fresh coat of snow on the high peaks. For most people this means nothing more than a fleeting change in scenery, with the toothy …
2014 · Drew Tabke · 5 min
Photographer Anton Brey: from extreme skier to outdoor photographer – a portrait.
2014 · Wolfgang Greiner · 5 min
Island · Siglufjörður Mountains (Troll Peninsula)
March 15, 2014, South East Alaska. Buried by an avalanche. Precious seconds passed as we perform CPR on our teammate and fellow guide, Aaron Karitis. With each chest compression I can feel his faint …
2014 · Reggie Crist · 5 min
Norwegen · Stjernøya Island Mountains
After a long but rewarding day in the mountains along Norway's northernmost coast, eleven skiers from around the world had become sailors. Sort of. Lounging on the deck of a two-masted, 25-meter …
2014 · Leslie Anthony · 5 min
Grönland · Watkins Range (Nuuk Fjord)
It's mid-April. Winter didn't really spoil us in the Alps. There were some good days, but nothing compared to the two winters before. Luckily, we are preparing for our trip to Greenland, so the time …
2014 · Stéphane Godin · 6 min
Chile · Cerro Castillo Mountain (Patagonien)
The Carretera Austral, the only road traversing through northern Patagonia, is the lifeline for Gauchos, salmon farm workers, and anyone else in the region. Chileans define it as "el camino mas …
2014 · Timy Theaux · 6 min
Kanada · B.C. Coast Mountain
Choosing where to set up a backcountry basecamp can be one of the harder choices in life. It's a big world out there and the options seem endless. So why would somebody like Chris Davenport choose to …
2014 · Adam Clark · 5 min
Chile / Argentinien · The Andes (Patagonien)
There are no main highways zigzagging through Patagonia. Instead, the southern region of South America is crossed by only a couple of roads. Many of Chile's remote towns were inaccessible until 2003 …
2014 · Brody Leven · 6 min
Schweiz · Dents Du Midi (Wallis)
My father's youngest brother, Philippe, used to talk about the mountain, usually when the family sat together at Christmas Dinner. He was only eight years old when he spent a remote year at the Beau …
2014 · Yves Garneau · 6 min
Japanese photographer Takahiro Nakanishi: snow, silence and backcountry – a portrait.
2014 · Wolfgang Greiner · 5 min
Argentinien / Chile · Cerro Tronador (Patagonien)
Mountain people share a passion usually hard to explain to outsiders. This passion keeps us adventurous. Finding the right people to share this with is difficult. A couple of years ago I met Stefan …
2014 · Lucas Swieykowski · 6 min
Tadschikistan · Pamir Mountains (Fedschenko-Gletscher)
The sensation in my fingers has barely returned as the sun peeks over the mountains to the East. After diligently rising at 4:30 a.m. we've already managed to travel the width of the glacier under …
2014 · Vince Shuley · 5 min
USA (Alaska) · Saint Elias Range (Wrangell Mountains)
Since winter had blessed Eastern Tyrol with lots of snow that year, I fully focused on my home country. I did not really think about any ski trips. At least not before a warm weather front decided to …
2014 · Thomas Gaisbacher · 6 min
Italien · Monte Rosa Range / Aostatal
I'm a real wimp when it's cold in winter. I am freezing despite of Merino underwear and down jacket; I can't imagine a ski day without a hot shower when I get home; I sleep with my windows closed …
2014 · Dirk Wagener · 5 min
Norwegen (Spitzbergen) · Chydeniusfjella (Svalbard)
It was the end of April, and I thought my winter was done – time for gardening and mountain biking – until I got a call from my friend Chris Davenport inviting me on a trip to film for Faces of Dav …
2014 · Ingrid Backstrom · 5 min
Schweden · Nallo Mountain (Lappland)
One bottle of Scottish whiskey, two snowmobile rides, three riders, four tents, five friends and six days & nights in the wild. Come along on a winter camp in the big and remote mountains in the very …
2014 · Anders Wingqvist · 5 min
