Hotel Test: Mammoth II

So we had to move hotels and Roxy got us a really good deal at the posh Westin Monache in Mammoth Village. However our room only had two beds and being the gentlemen we are, Hayden and I let the girls have the beds. We were left to duke it out over the couch bed... until I saw this. Second circle from the left; NO JUMPING! Are you kidding me, there is no way I am sleeping in that poor excuse for a bed. I grabbed the extra blanket and hit the floor without a fight.

Tools Of The Trade

High chairlifts, black boots, waterproof pants, snow, gondolas, blue skies, warm gloves, trigger finger, PBR, bag, and camera gear.

Media Frenzy

Here I am, waiting around with my media "equals" for the winners of the Roxy Chicken Jam to be announced. I hate shooting contests, let alone podium shots. I mean don't ALL those other photographers huddled next to each other have it covered? This guy in the red and black jacket was so stunned by the podium that he was still filming after everyone left. He could still be there for all I know.

Hotel Test: Mammoth

Made the drive to Mammoth for the Roxy Chicken Jam. Just checked into the new hotel and it is a little nicer than Motel 6. Here Hayden goes for the cross over, he even has enough spring to get corked. Absorption is good too. I am going to sleep like a rock tonight.

Moving On

Trying to get my boots some last minutes of sun before they are packed in my bag for the trip up to Mammoth. This time of year my boots start smelling awful. I could even smell them across the parking lot... think about when they are in a tiny hotel room.

Action Horse vs. Big Bear

Our friends from Action Horse Films are in town as well. They are making a movie called "Pony Tale" and you can see the preview for it by following their link on the right. I barely got this shot off of Per Hampus filming Jakob on the hip. Sorry, no digital photos though. After the hill we went to dinner at a terrible Italian restaurant. If I remembered the name I would tell you, but if you are ever in Big Bear, stay away from this jolly Italian man. Jakob was so embarrassed he didn't even want his face photographed. You have been warned.

Big Bear Lake

The weather here is beautiful. It is a little too warm for snowboarding, but perfect for a walk by the lake. I found this soda and syringe a few feet apart. I wonder what upstanding citizen was also enjoying the nice weather.

Big Bear Banner Hide

Free lift tickets are nice, but they usually come at some sort of "price". When a resort knows you are shooting there, they want everyone else in world to know the photo was taken there. They do this by littering the shot with banners and logos. Big Bear did not hold back; two banners taller than the feature itself, cut out letters, and even their "bear paw" logo.
I start out taking a few photos with the logos in it to show the marketing people, but then try my hardest to hide the rest. I was able to hide all of them in this shot of Amber Stackhouse.

Hotel Test: Big Bear

We are in Bear and since travel budget is wearing thin, we are staying at the Motel 6. Here Hayden performs the hotel bed test; good spring, poor absorption. I will sleep OK the next couple of nights. Next up, we hit the snow.

Trip 3: Big Bear

Heading south on the 15. We have all day, plenty of time to take some side roads and throw the ball for the pup.

Night Rail... Farewell?

Here we are at the beginning of spring and I find myself shooting a handrail. Now that it is raining in most urban areas, I have a feeling that this will be the last rail for the season. To avoid being bothered by security/onlookers we decided to shoot this one at night. That means cold fingers and a lot of caffiene. But it also means a killer shadow. Despite the sketchy drop in and the length of the rail, Erin was able to get some photos and a video shot. Sunny Californian mountains, here I come.

Trip 2: The Dentist

Made it back to Salt Lake in one piece and have a day to squeeze in a dentist visit. He was pretty excited when I asked if I could shoot a photo of him shooting me up with novocaine. It was a first. Now that I can feel my tongue again, I am about to call Roxy rider, Amber Stackhouse, to plan our trip to Big Bear Lakes California this weekend.

End of Trip

Tensions are getting tight out here on the East coast, but this trip is almost over. Everyone got some shots and I am ready to leave. Next stop UT, then possibly California. Stay tuned.

Science of Sleep

Being able to sleep anywhere at anytime is a good attribute when you are traveling. Many times red eye flights, time zones, and long days in the snow can really mess up your sleep patterns. So it helps if you can catch a wink at the airport, on the plane, in a taxi, in the cold, in the sun, in the snow, at the lunch spot, in wet snowboard gear, on a patch of dry pavement, on the train, sitting up, laying down, boots on... I have even dug a snow cave to get a few minutes of precious sleep.