Leaving boundaries behind
Teton Gravity Research’s Deeper includes backcountry snowboard footage from two expeditions to the remote Fairweather Range inside Glacier Bay National Park, AK. The Deeper crew set up a base camp via ski-plane and then hiked and filmed first descents. (Photo: Seth Lightcap)
Backcountry film, “Deeper” shows Friday at Canyon Lodge
With one foot in front of the other, Jeremy Jones and the crew of the recently released film “Deeper” made their way through snowy wildernesses around the world, putting their lives on the line to explore well beyond backcountry boundaries entirely on foot.
This Friday, Dec. 17, the Mammoth community can experience “Deeper” first hand when the film shows at Canyon Lodge.
“I think that the catalyst was trying to search out and explore new terrain,” said Seth Lightcap, one of the principal photographers for the Deeper Project. “Being on foot leaves the boundaries behind.”
Lightcap explained that there were five major expeditions, two to Alaska, one to Antarctica, one to the Alps and one to the Sierra. Approximately 10 athletes participated in the filming, including some riders from Tahoe, and several first descents were made in the Alaska and Antarctica locations.
The film itself was the brainchild of Jones, a world-renowned freeride snowboarder, who is always looking to move the sport forward. Jones recently went out on his own to build his own snowboard product, and has also developed the non-profit, Protect Out Winters. The Deeper project took two years to complete, according to Lightcap and was produced by Teton Gravity Research, which is run by Jones’ brothers Todd and Steve.
The dangers involved in backcountry skiing are definitely heightened on foot, according to Lightcap, even while the expectation to film at a world-class level remains.
“If someone gets hurt there is no helicopter standing by to take them out, they would be relying on the crew to package them up and either take them down or get them to a spot where there is cell phone coverage,” he explained.
Luckily for the “Deeper” crew, no one was hurt during the filming.
Greater exposure to avalanche danger is also a concern. With this in mind, TGR and the Deeper project are partnering with the local Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center this Friday to raise avalanche awareness as well as dollars for the Center. An after-party will be held following the film at the Auld Dubliner with a portion of the proceeds benefiting ESAC.
“I am extremely excited and grateful for the support and dedication TGR has to avalanche awareness and local centers,” said ESAC Vice President Nate Greenberg. “It is partnerships like this that improve our reach and develop better backcountry users.”
All in all, Lightcap felt the goals of “Deeper” were reached by the end of the project.
“We wanted to take a second look at freeriding and get people to look beyond their boundaries,” he explained. “If your boundaries right now are riding at ski areas, perhaps look at getting into the backcountry. If you’re already riding in the backcountry go further. Use the wilderness to its potential.”
“Deeper” shows at Canyon Lodge at 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 17. Doors open at 7 p.m. If you don’t get a chance to go to the after-party and still want to support ESAC, check out its Annual Season Kickoff Party on Jan. 16, 2011.
