Behind the Lens: From Tahoe Trails to Denali’s Summit

The most powerful stories don’t come easy. They’re born in places where nature pushes back—where the terrain is brutal, the weather unforgiving, and every step is earned. That’s why I’ve built my career filming in the wild: from Lake Tahoe’s backcountry to the summit of Denali, and across the polar extremes of the planet.

Out there, the stakes are higher, the moments more raw, and the stories—if you’re lucky enough to capture them—are unforgettable.

Tahoe Roots: Where It All Started

I grew up in Truckee, California. Winters were for skiing before school, summers meant dirt on your feet and forts in the woods. My parents were true mountain people—my mom a ski instructor and teacher, my dad a racer—and they raised us with more grit than gear.

We didn’t have much in the way of tech—no phones, no TV. But we had wild freedom. We had rivers to cross, trees to climb, and brothers to chase down trails. That childhood taught me how to fall—and how to get back up. It also taught me how to see the world: with curiosity, respect, and a camera always close.

Even now, after filming on all seven continents and joining 40+ polar expeditions, I return to Tahoe to reset. Every journey I’ve taken traces back to those crisp mountain mornings and that first breath of alpine air.

Denali: Redefining What’s Possible

In 2021, I joined an expedition that changed me: filming the first-ever disabled ski descent of Denali. The team included adaptive athletes Vasu Sojitra and Pete McAfee, along with Erich Roepke, Ted Hesser, and Ben Farrar. Between the six of us, we had ten legs—and one shared mission.

At 20,310 feet, Denali doesn’t hand out victories. We climbed the West Buttress Route with over 1,000 pounds of gear, filming every step, every fall, every triumph. There were no second takes—just trust, timing, and total commitment.

The result wasn’t just a ski film. It was a story of resilience, representation, and pushing boundaries. Featured in Warren Miller’s Winter Starts Now, the project expanded how I think about inclusion, storytelling, and what it really means to summit—together.

Filming the Raw Life in Alaska

In 2022, I joined the BBC’s Life Below Zero crew in Huslia, Alaska—a remote interior village where we spent 3.5 weeks documenting Ricko DeWilde and his kids on their first moose hunt. The cold was relentless. The moments were real.

As the on-site cinematographer and DIT specialist, I juggled fragile gear through snowstorms and captured quiet, powerful scenes of family life in the bush. The project aired worldwide on National Geographic and sharpened my approach to working with legacy crews under extreme pressure.

On Board with Legends: The Arctic Expedition

That same year, I joined explorers Mike Horn and Børge Ousland during a critical training phase of their historic North Pole crossing. Sailing through Arctic waters, I helped document the preparation behind one of the boldest expeditions in recent memory.

Standing beside these legends, camera in hand, I witnessed ambition in its rawest form—where success depends on the team, the timing, and the ability to adapt when everything else falls apart.

Why the Hard Places Matter Most

When you film in extreme environments, everything is stripped away. Gear breaks. Batteries fail. You’re left with only what’s essential—your eye, your instincts, and the truth of the story.

And that’s what I live for: the moment when the lens becomes more than a tool—it becomes a mirror. A reminder of who we are, and what we’re capable of when we choose to step into the unknown.

The Purpose Behind the Camera

From Tahoe’s golden light to Denali’s summit, this work isn’t just about capturing action—it’s about transformation. It’s about being shaped by the places we go, the people we meet, and the challenges we face together.

Every frame we bring home holds something deeper: the grit of the team, the silence between storms, and the quiet moments that define who we’re becoming.

"At the edge of certainty lies the ‘Y’ in the road—where adventure ignites, kindred souls connect, and we’re forged by the fire of discovery.” — Stein Retzlaff

Want to Create Your Adventure?

Beyond filmmaking, I help guide expeditions to the most remote places on Earth—Antarctica, the Amazon, Svalbard, Indonesia, and beyond. Whether you’re looking to co-create a film project, plan a custom expedition, or simply experience something that will change you forever, I’d love to help you build it.

→ Contact Me Directly – Let’s talk stories, logistics, and what’s possible.