• Description: Limited edition of 30 giclee prints

• Dimensions: 22” x 17”

• Each print individually hand signed, labeled and numbered

• This is a **PRE-ORDER beginning November 10th - I estimate prints will be available to ship out end of November

Here’s your opportunity to own a piece of climbing history! The original is a mixed media climbing topo of a few of the first-ascents (FA) myself Drew Thayer and David Fay put up 6 years ago in the obscure Neacola Mountains of Alaska. The 4-week, exploratory expedition was the culmination of two years of planning for which we were rewarded the American Alpine Club Copp-Dash Inspire Award and Goretex Shipton Tillman Grant. For the first three weeks of the expedition, we relied heavily on our handmade wooden skies to approach 4 first-ascents (FA) and two partial FA's. During the last week, we skied 125 lb loads to the tributary we followed out of the mountains to the ocean. Upon reaching the river, we burned the skis to limit bulk; packrafting, bushwacking and portaging 40 miles through some of the most remote and wild whitewater I’ve experienced. There was so much uncertainty, so little known about this mountain range and the notoriously bad weather. Doubts about the integrity of our handmade skis and ability to transport such unyielding loads were always on our minds. I still remember the first harbor seal pop its head up in the river, signaling our proximity to the ocean and how far we had come-the sense of accomplishment was overwhelming. 6 years later, I am now a father with a 3-year-old and 5-month-old daughter, and adventures of this scale feel distant. This painting illuminated something for me. While the climbing was exceptional, the company and teamwork was what made it so special. Four intense weeks together without computers, cell phones or external distractions-it's probably the last time I felt that present. When we weren't tied into a rope together, we waited out storms, cooked, talked and played games. We ate freshly cooked bacon, egg, and avocado burritos on day 21. We skied to one of our FA’s wearing jorts in celebration of David's birthday. We held a ceremony for our skis once we reached the river, burning them to boil water for tea. And we laughed a lot.