What gets you out of bed at 5:00 a.m. to ride? Is it the prospect of fresh pow or the promise of a bluebird day? For our latest Hotshots contest winner, it was seeing the sunrise on his favourite mountaintop.
Below, we learn more about Nathan Livingston, who is from Invermere, B.C., and the day he took this photo:
How did you get into sledding?
I started ski touring first and then I had to get a sled to get to places, so in 2006, I bought my first sled.
What do you currently ride?
A 2016 Ski-Doo Summit 153 T3.
What kind of riding do you like best?
I prefer big mountain riding in the spring.
What does sledding mean to you?
I live for big mountain snowmobiling, doing stuff that’s never been done before—being the first one in untouched bowls with freedom to move through the mountains and go anywhere!
What’s the riding like in your neck of the woods?
The riding in the Windermere Valley is great. You have a whole mountain range to yourself and a few friends.
How does your group stay safe when sledding in the mountains?
By heading out early in the morning and keeping a close eye on avalanche.ca.
Tell us about the day you took this photo.
On the day this photo was taken, we headed out at 5:30 a.m. from Invermere, B.C., and got to the trailhead at 6:15 a.m. It was a balmy -17 C and the race was on to get to the alpine for sunrise. We got there with a few minutes to spare and had a cool down because we were just soaked from sweating, having dressed up like Eskimos. There’s one downfall to going out that early—you’re out of gas by 11 and you’re having to leave as everyone else is just getting there. The Rocky Point riding area is a sweet place for sunrise riding because it faces east.
Have photos you’d like to share? Enter them in our Hotshots contest.
