Andrea Johnson Photography

 

Helicopter snowboarding with Canadian Mountain Holidays

I’ve dreamt of the complete freedom and incomparable adrenalin rush of helicopter skiing & snowboarding for the past twenty years. My expectations were high, yet these visions were exceeded by my Canadian Mountain Holidays experience in the most surprising ways.

Bugaboos Lodge overlooking Bugaboo Range and Spires, British Columbia, Canada

I learned to ski at the age of 9 from my grandfather, Andy Hennig, who was an Austrian Ski instructor at Sun Valley, Idaho until the age of 77. He was a legend in his own right teaching the Hemingway family and countless celebrities while working with Warren Miller in the early days of the adventure ski films. This lifestyle made an unforgettable impression, and in my mid 20’s I took a job at a snowboard company, hired photographers for marketing campaigns, and watched endless ski and snowboard films to fuel the fire.

Clear days offer unlimited access to tracks high alpine glaciers

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Queen Charlotte Trek, Marlborough, New Zealand

A few photo highlights from the Queen Charlotte trek, story to come soon.

Traditional Maori wood carving greets hikers at beginning of Queen Charlotte Track, 44 miles of spectacular walking track passing through secluded bays, coastal bush, and to luxurious lodges in Marlborough, south Island, New Zealand

Furneaux Lodge, first stop on our Queen Charlette Trek, is nestled at the head of Endeavor Inlet and surrounded by 3 miles of virgin native forest unchanged since Captain Cooks's first visit in 1789, Marlborough, New Zeland

Details of Black Tree Ferns, New Zealand

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Summer Adventures at Canadian Mountain Holidays

Looking for an adrenalin rush? Check out our video of CMH’s newest summer adventure, dramatic scenery where the Bobbie Burns guides have developed a new Conrad Glacier Experience for 2012 with bridges, ziplines and waterfalls.

CMH used the our video to launch ‘The Wildest New Adventure in North America”.

Brett Lawrence setting the course for the new Conrad Glacier experience, Bobbie Burns lodge

Brett Lawrence zip lining across glacial river, working with Bruce Howatt to create the newest Conrad Glacier Experience

The CMH blog written by Topher Donahue also interviews Bruce Howatt, the manager of CMH Bobbie Burns – here’s an excerpt from his post: “You’re right. It isn’t a via ferrata nor is it anywhere close to a traditional hike. The trip is hiking, navigating wild canyons using bridges and rungs, ascending colourful rock slabs right next to waterfalls, zipline crossings, traversing rock walls next to a glacier and, coming soon, more climbing, waterfalls and hopefully some crevasse crossings. All this is mixed into some of the most scenic, mind-blowing, wild mountain hiking you can imagine. Blue glaciers, dark orange rock and bright green ponds are everywhere.”

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Colorado winter adventures

Winter in Colorado is magical. The town of Breckenridge, with it’s charm, friendly locals, and walking access to the mountain brings back nostalgic memories of family vacations with my grandfather who was a ski instructor in Sun Valley, Idaho. In my mid twenties I worked in the snowboard industry and traveled frequently to Whistler, Utah, Jackson Hole, Lake Tahoe, and Mammoth Mountain in addition to local haunts at Mt. Hood & Mt. Bachelor. After a ten-year hiatus from snowsports while focusing in the food, wine, & spirits industry I’m now drawn back to the outdoors in a quest to balance these passions.

I arrived in Denver on Feb 1st, which happened to be the coldest day on record for that date (the high was 1 degree below zero Fahrenheit with a low of minus 17). Luckily the Hotel Teatro, a historic boutique hotel in the heart of downtown theatre district, is just blocks away from breweries, distilleries, restaurants, and bars with a free driver service anywhere downtown: http://www.vistatvdenver.com/detail/hotel-teatro.

Downtown Denver in winter

Enjoying samples of microbrews at Wynkoop Brewing Companny, Denver, Colorado

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First snow of the season – Allison Inn & Spa

What a difference a week can make. Last Tuesday I was in Napa in 85 degree temps, and this morning I woke at the Allison Inn & Spa to a beautiful dusting of snow contrasted by the golden vineyards.

A glorious sunrise at the Allison Inn & Spa with a dusting of snow over fall foliage, Willamette Valley, Oregon.


View from my room #307 at the Allison Inn & Spa, a picture perfect vantage from the loveseat overlooking fall vineyards dusted with snow, Willamette Valley, Oregon.


View from the balcony of my room #307 at the Allison Inn & Spa, Willamette Valley, Oregon.

Sometimes the only way to get the best vantage point for landscapes involves a helicopter flight or waking before dawn and driving an hour to wine country from my home base in Portland. Other times like this morning I’m pampered by staying in a room with a view and enjoying a brisk walk around the the Inn’s garden path to capture these scenes. After finishing my shoot of the Allison Inn rooms today, I’m looking forward to a scrumptous lunch at their renowned Jory restaurant and an indulgent spa suana & steam room session to warm up. Life is good!