Alaska Basecamp Denali Glacier Camping Glaciers Gorge Holbrook Howell McLean Mountaineering Ruth Ski
It was -20 F outside which caused for a constant light show while in the Ruth Gorge, Alaska. Pictured here is Noah Howell heading back towards base camp midway through out 10 day expedition. Overall we were pretty thwarted on making bigger ski descents due to an unconsolidated snowpack, but the stellar landscape more than made up for the denial. This photo was a run and gun shot without more chance and luck than prep and scouting. It was handheld and without use of any filters. April of 2013 (Photo: Garrett Grove)

Ski Touring Alaska’s Ruth Gorge

Denali National Park

Alaska Basecamp Denali Glacier Camping Glaciers Gorge Holbrook Howell McLean Mountaineering Ruth Ski

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Our 10-day expedition through the Ruth Gorge in Alaska’s Denali National Park was plagued by poor snow conditions. A weak snowpack forced us to call off some of our biggest ski attempts, which is always hard to take after traveling such a long way. Fortunately for me as a photographer, the scenery and changing weather made up for the lack of stability and high avy danger. 

Midway through the trip, as temperatures reached 20 below, I snapped this frame of Noah Howell heading back toward base camp. I wish I could say I knew the light would react this way and cast a shadow of the mountain peaks into the clouds, but honestly, it was mostly luck. 

TOOLS: Nikon D600, 24-120mm, 1/1600 second, f/6.3, ISO 200

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Lead Photo: Garrett Grove

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