ALASKAHH Jan/Feb 2015

It’s funny how most people behave during a tricky winter. Everyone seems to follow the herd and either become lazy and complacent or give up and get out of town. If you have money, traveling somewhere like Japan can seem like a sure thing with the endless stream of face shots flooding social media. It is in these times that those of us dedicated to staying local are challenged the most. Whether you are tied down to a single area because of financial or commitment issues, the answer is almost never clear as to how to make the most of your favorite season. Despite all of the doom and gloom that seems to be running rampant about this year, I seem to know someone in every supposedly shitty location that is absolutely getting after it. Whether it’s my buddy Zak Mills in the Eastern Sierra who refuses to succumb to all the negative attitudes about yet another bad winter in California or the ever enthusiastic Ryan Irvin who has relentlessly been hunting couloirs in the Wasatch all season, the undying passion we all share for splitboarding has given us the power to rise above the general consensus and give er hell with what we have! Things have been no different here in Alaska. Everyone seems to think that the season is a wash before taking a good look for themselves. As mountain people, we need to remember to think for ourselves and get creative with our environments! There are always good times to be had in the hills. You just have to want it! The following is a preview reel from the last two months that goes to show how record high temps and low snowpack should not deter the spirit of the mountain surfer!