Ponderings from the skin track: JaPow

Sawback photographer Anna Sellers takes us onto the skin track during our 2026 JaPow Honshu trip this past January. In this piece, she reflects on what slowing down in the mountains truly means, while capturing different perspectives from a ski day in Myoko.

After three weeks backcountry skiing through the deep powder snow Japan is famous for, the images that I’ve chosen to share are not those of premier conditions or grandiose views, but rather, those taken in the slower moments, capturing the joys and challenges of one very unique day in the mountains. These photographs are special to me because of the realizations and reflections I had while creating these moments of stillness.

There was a moment during this climb where one skier had fallen behind the rest of the pack. They continued to ask if I wanted to go ahead. Instead, I welcomed the opportunity to enjoy the slower pace and take a few more photos—the reason I was brought along on this trip to Japan in the first place.

A photography mentor once challenged me to tape my lens as zoomed in as possible, forcing me to capture photos at a very tight focal length. This task challenges me to observe things from a different perspective, creating a unique visual experience. Occasionally, I fall back on this exercise to see things differently, and this particular day felt like an invitation to embrace the challenge once more. I left my telephoto lens on to see what I could capture despite being in such a vast environment, allowing me to focus on the smaller details others may miss.

As I continued to climb the slope, I took time to observe my surroundings. Japan was totally new soil for me, so this ski trip privileged me with seeing a landscape I felt foreign to. The unique shape of the mountains, a fracture in the snow along a ridge in the distance, the scraggly branches of the trees reaching out as if to try and grab you. On this day specifically, there was a light casting shadows on the snow before quickly disappearing as the sun slipped behind a cloud. It felt like the light was dancing with the trees, and I, in the background, dancing with the snow. I would see a beautiful image, like the shadow of a lone skier or tree, and then it became a race against the clock to see if I could capture it before the moment was gone. These experiences of beauty are special because they are fleeting. Whether or not they were captured with my camera, those images will always be on the roll of film in my head.

Although this day held much personal observation and reflection, I am also proud of the images I was able to capture on that one skin track. Even if it’s not the picture-perfect Japan pow slash or bluebird day, I can feel the creativity behind these photographs. Looking for a new perspective on the mountain as I played its game. How grateful I am to create art out of adventure, reflection, and the unexpected.

Dates for Sawback’s 2027 JaPow trips are now available on our website. Get in touch if you have any questions or want to learn more about backcountry skiing in Japan.