Words by Austin Ross | Photos by Chris Burkard
Linking some of BC’s finest ski resorts, the Powder Highway is a collection of Ski Resorts, Heli and Cat Ski operations located in the Kootenay Rockies region of British Columbia, Canada. Between great off-piste skiing at places like Whitewater & Red Mountain and hard-charging, high-energy freeriding at Kicking Horse and Revelstoke, this is a welcoming stretch of road for anyone looking for great variety and good snow. Beautiful vistas, friendly locals and blower powder snow is what the Powder Highway is known for. Fortunately this past week I was able to link up with adventure photographer Chris Burkard to carve up some snow and visit the surrounding resorts in the area…
Chris Burkard is a contemporary man of many talents. He draws on his artistry and ability to adapt to an array of environments to produce scenes that resonate with his fans and followers the world over. He is renowned for his beautiful landscape imagery that often incorporates athletes and adventurers for scale. His recipe includes a deep understanding of space, balance, light and exotic locations that create lasting impressions with those who see it.
I follow along on his social media channels like over half a million others worldwide, to enjoy moments of escapism and inspiration.
This was one of the first photos we did and it’s actually on the side of a blue groomer run. We were on our way to a shot location that we had scoped from the chairlift and after a few turns on the fresh snow we decided it would be a good time to pull out the cameras. The perks of catching first ride up!
Location: Fernie Alpine Resort
Our chaperone Robin Siggers got the green light to let us drop into Currie Bowl before it had been officially opened to the pow thirsty public. We had a ten minute head start and about half way down we ski’d into a spot in the trees with really smooth banks of snow and gentle roll aways. I drifted a few turns for cameras and sampled some of Fernie’s finest. Delicious.
Location: Fernie Alpine Resort
At only 28 years young, Chris has established himself as a dedicated world traveler and authentic master of his craft. Fortunately, we had the opportunity to enter each other’s worlds for a couple days this February in Fernie, British Columbia. While he hadn’t had experience shooting skiers, he did have a predisposed comfort in windy, wet and cold environments which he has honed by shooting surfers from frigid beaches and other testing locales.
Temperatures were rising fast and there were plenty of fresh lines left in the trees so I knew that in order to milk the goods we’d have to sustain our elevation. After a quick skin up in the trees I was back at the top of another hallway and ready for a second helping
Location: Fernie Alpine Resort
There’s something truly special about skiing in the silence of snowcapped trees. Letting your body follow your eyes as you weave in and out of the gentle giants is a serious form of meditation.
Location: Fernie Alpine Resort
It became clear very quickly that he was excited to be in the mountains which made our collaboration effortless and fun. One of my favourite parts of skiing is being able to share the stoke of this wonderful sport with others, regardless of their familiarity with the sport. We were faced with warming temperatures and increasingly heavy snow which can be a battle for the best of them but Chris’s positivity and easy going attitude made for a productive and memorable storm shoot. It was a refreshing experience and I’m excited to have made a new friend to adventure with in the future.”
For more information about these mountains and the best places to Ski in Canada – visit Ski Canada.
I really like how this image captures the essence of those first few runs of the day after a generous storm at your local ski hill. You may wonder how Chris decided to shoot from this angle. I wish I could tell you that his pack got stuck on the chair and he went around the bull wheel in a fashion that would’ve landed him in a classic Warren Miller montage. Wait, that sounds pretty funny, let’s go with that.
Location: Fernie Alpine Resort
This photo is a beautiful example of Chris’s style. His eye caught this path through the aspens that I would’ve just ski’d right by. It’s really special to see how everyone interprets the mountain environment differently.
Location: Fernie Alpine Resort