Good things are found in the woodwork.
Or in this case, in the straw-bale.
John Dittli, together with his wife Leslie Goethals, are good things.
This morning, as I watched John cartwheel down Lower Rock Creek’s single track mountain bike trail, I decided he would make a great profile.
John in his element skiing Austria's Silvretta Tour
We first started hearing about John Dittli in 2001 when we moved to California’s Eastern Sierra. He is an outdoor photographer, passionate about the Sierra Nevada, and he gets after backcountry skiing with the enthusiasm of Tiger Woods traveling to Las Vegas. Certainly, he was someone we would have to meet.
It did not take long to cross paths with John and his wife Leslie. Now, nearly ten years later, we are all great friends and beginning to be able to look back on our own collection of experiences.
At 52, John can still drop the fittest of the fit in the mountains. With some fine Swiss mountain blood coursing through his veins, he puts it to good use in the summer months hiking throughout the Sierra, and in the winter, skiing peaks literally everyday. His chiseled features are softened by the broad smile he often wears.
The Dittli house; strawbale, recycled, solar, green, quality
He and Leslie spent 7 years hand building what is likely the Eastern Sierra’s most beautiful home, with the best view, and in the ideal location from which to walk out the door to play. They have mastered a balanced, healthy life as mountain people. Details are not skimped on, it shows in their house and it shows in their work.
John and Leslie have just published their first coffee table photo book following up Ansel Adam’s 1938 book visually showing the John Muir Trail. Walk the Sky is now the definitive photo essay of the entire John Muir Trail, which John has now completed twice on foot and once on skis and always with a camera.
John sampling Italian cuisine
John’s style of play in the mountains is legendary amongst his close friends. We know how hard he charges but you won’t hear it from John, we’ll have to do some storytelling for him. He prefers to roam wild areas, ski lines others don’t know about and to photograph the natural landscape with a unique, loving eye for the mountains and their infinite details.
Last year John came to ski with us in the Dolomites. I was a bit nervous about how he would fare in the more crowded mountains of Europe. For his first day in the backcountry we chose a popular peak with a safe glacier descent for bad weather days, which it was – atrocious in fact. We arrived to a bustling parking lot, so much so that John asked, “I thought we were backcountry skiing”.
“Uh ya, this is backcountry skiing Euro style.”
“Oh come on, all these people are going into the backcountry!”
Once in the up track, John stayed silent for only so long. With 70 something’s charging by in lycra suits and groups of skiers with every body shape and clothing color combo known to man, all of whom proving too fast to pass – John, in his element but completely baffled by the “scene”, had to speak up.
“This is insane!”
I convinced myself that he liked it, he just didn’t know it yet.
John Dittli, Silvretta Tour, Austria
Hours later at the hut, with a beer in hand and smiling ear to ear after a perfect 1000 meter powder run, John admitted to now “getting it”.
All those people, like him, were having a great time.
It was great seeing John go from shock to enjoying the added component of a social life in the mountains.
Now that we are back in his territory it has been rewarding seeing his new book realized. Throughout the years I know he has worked long and hard to create a book worthy of representing the experience that is one of the world’s finest treks, the Sierra Nevada’s John Muir Trail.
In part 2 of this profile, John himself will explain the process of visually documenting the 220 mile John Muir Trail, show his favorite photos and tell a humorous tale or two.
Get to know John & Leslie before part 2 of this post, visit John Dittli.com
Also, join the Walk the Sky Facebook Fanpage
John Dittli and Leslie Goethals
Dolomites Tour Operator