Build My Own FeedEpic powder in Alpental, Washington
Bissel Hazen is a photographer and skier based in the Pacific Northwest, home to some major powder storms. Last season he shot one of his favorite photos and emailed us the following comments about it.
This day was one of the best of my 37 years of being a skier. It was completely not the norm for the Pacific NorthWET—blower, stormy pow skiing with really light crowds. Deep, deep, deep snow. Untracked pow all day, billowing up into our nostrils and icing up around my neck gaiter. It was 100% nuts.
This photo was on the first run of the day and the fifth frame I shot. The set-up for the photo was a bit hurried as Geoff North has really no interest in getting his picture taken—he just wants to ski the goods. I, however, want to photograph the goods and was really excited about this day’s work.
A couple of days later, leaving Alpental and driving down I-90, another friend and I wore our transceivers in my car (only half jokingly) because it was snowing four inches-an-hour all day long. The day warmed up a little at the end, providing the missing ingredient for some monster avalanches, which closed the highway and the ski area for what seemed like two weeks.
—Bissel Hazen
United States / English 
28 Jul 2009, 9:22AM
When will this be over? I hate summer with a passion!!!