Film Director Opens Up About Difficulties of Outdoor Filmmaking

Salén wrote that this difficulty is only enhanced when "you have to wait for three weeks looking at the mountain from the tent, have a lot of patience and then not be able to go for it." 

Part of his process is always asking the people he films with (which has included Seth Morrison, Andreas Fransson, Samuel Anthamatten, and Cody Townsend) how they feel daily about the current situation. 

"That’s my job, to film and capture everything that’s going on. It’s even more important to ask them how they feel when we pull the pin and decide to head home because the conditions are not right," he wrote.

The third slide of Salén's post shows the mountain the team was attempting. The second slide shows their living conditions. 

The team for the recent push up Alaska's University Peak—Taylor Sullivan, Mali Noyes, and Cody Townsend—asked Salén how he felt about leaving and his paraphrased answer was: "All the preparation and training that we put into make this happen and then not be able to give this one a good try is part of the process." 

The filmmakers insightful comments continued when he provided a reflection to his younger self, saying, "it’s part of the journey trying to get this special ski line. If this was 15 years ago I would be more bummed, but now I feel totally ok with it." 

"Of course I would be more stoked if we got this one, but such is life. The bottom line is that it’s just a mountain and life goes on towards our next adventure." 

The post ended with a timeless call to reflect and improve mentally. Salén urged his audience to reflect, learn and do better. "[The] mountain doesn’t go anywhere and who knows, we might be back someday…" 

We'll be waiting.