For the past few weeks, Outdoor Research (OR) ambassadors Molly Baker, Zack Giffin and Neil Provo, along with video-crew Sam Giffin and Andy Walbon, have been shacked up in a 112-square-foot house. Said house happens to be constructed atop a trailer bed, which is towed by a pick-up.
The Tiny House as they've dubbed it, along with its inhabitants, set off from Sun Valley, ID in search of sidecountry powder and also passionate individuals who could help showcase new destinations and terrain to the OR squad. Should these passionate individuals be deemed "esteemed, enthusiastic and talented individuals," in the words of OR, they'll have the opportunity to join OR’s Grassroots Athlete Team.
As Neil explains it, “The opportunity to explore the accessible powder stashes with the most passionate locals is the mission. Getting it the best we can is our objective.”
Zach notes, “We are refining the entire process of living as ski bums. It is really about figuring out what you do and don’t need. For me, I want to ski and there isn’t much else that I need.”
Above: The Tiny House stationed on Main Street in Sun Valley, ID.
As explained in OR's press release detailing the trip, the public will play a role in dictating the course of the Tiny House travels. The press release notes:
Based on recommendations of local skiers via Facebook (no, you can’t nominate yourself), Molly, Zack and Neil will ski, climb and adventure with chosen nominees in order to select the newest members of OR’s athlete team. “Being a part of Outdoor Research is really about being genuine with an honest devotion to a life in the mountains. It makes it really easy for the right people because they essentially continue doing whatever it is that they do and that embodies the mission of the company as a whole,” says Molly. To nominate someone you know? Post their photo to the Outdoor Research Facebook page. In the comments section, reference hash tag #SCSessions and include a brief description of why your person would be a great OR Athlete. If we come to their hill, Molly, Zack and Neil want to get in touch with them for a session of slaying pow.
Whether you opt to nominate a friend, or simply to follow along with the weekly episodes, you'll assist OR in its mission to showcase local talent, communities and mountains.
We've got the first two episodes posted below. Stay tuned as we'll continue to post the latest and greatest on all things Tiny House related.
OUTDOOR RESEARCH | SIDECOUNTRY SESSIONS: EPISODE 2
From OR: Outdoor Research Sidecountry Sessions Episode 2 takes the tiny house crew South to Colorado San Juans, where they find grassroots ambassador Steve Mead. Silverton, Colorado is exactly the kind of place a group of five ski bums living within 112 square feet—no shower and ski gear avalanching from every nook of space–want to spend Christmas. The locals are blushingly generous, the streets caked white with snow, and the surrounding mountains a gift unlike anything that comes wrapped in waxy paper covered with Santas.
From OR: Sun Valley, Idaho: a living, breathing museum of the North American ski timeline, dating back to the mid Twentieth Century. It began in 1939 when the first chairlifts were installed at Bald Mountain. An ageless place, this Idaho hide-out is still home to some of skiing's modern day pros (Mike Hattrup, Picabo Street, Lynsey Dyer and the Crist Brothers). We took the tiny house there in tribute to ski history and a passion for skiing we hope to convey with the Sidecountry Sessions tour.
