This past season, kiwi and The North Face athlete Sam Smoothy headed to the Cordillera Real mountains in the Condoriri area of Bolivia. Along with skiers Johnny Collinson and Fraser McDougall, filmers Will Lascelles and Jason Hancox, and photographer and former Olympian Mickey Ross, the crew aimed to climb and ski some massive peaks, including a number of possible first descents. But beyond their search for lines, Sam had a bigger mission: to follow the footsteps of his father Ron Smoothy, who years before had climbed in the region, and further understand this man of few words and many adventures.

To read a full feature story on the trip, written by Sam and shot by Mickey, check out the newest issue of The Ski Journal, Issue #9.4.