Skiers Aaron Carlson and Adam Karch breaking trail in the Ten Mile Range near Frisco, Colorado. Safety is our first priority, and having partners that you trust—and who trust you—is critical to having a great day in the mountains. Sony a9 II, Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN | A at 24mm. Exposure: 1/4000 sec., ƒ/5, ISO 160. It’s 5:30 a.m., and my alarm stirs me from a restful night of sleep. I crawl out of my warm bed and into my base-layer clothing of wool and polypropylene that will keep me warm and dry for the day. Coffee drips and eggs fry as I load my skis, boots and backcountry pack into my pickup truck. The snow is deep, so I...