Garrett Grove Gallerie
Almost a decade ago, after receiving his first digital SLR as a wedding present, Garrett Grove accidently deleted three weeks of honeymoon images; the next year he made his first tenuous ski runs, careening recklessly down the slopes of Mt. Baker Ski Resort. It’s been years nearly a decade since that photographic fumble and his first terrifying trips under Chair 8, but the same focus and fearlessness has earned Garrett coverage in publications worldwide, on multiple photography contest podiums, and placed him among the upper echelon of action sports photographers.
Words Sakeus Bankson
Despite years of sweating, multiple brushes with exhaustion, and a small fortune spent to cut ounces off my touring gear, I have yet to catch photographer Garrett Grove on a skin track.
Never mind his 35-pound camera pack, or that he probably covers twice the vertical during his nearly compulsive search for an angle. I’ve spent far too many hours chasing Garrett’s tail clips. Annoying, yes, but it’s okay, for I’ve learned that following Garrett in the mountains usually leads to someplace stunning.
I first got to know Garrett during my sophomore year at college, while we were both working at the REI in Bellingham, WA. I had been dorm-mates with his younger brother Ramsay and both Garrett and my brother had decided to pick up skiing for the season, so we regularly filled Ramsay’s Subaru Legacy sedan for trips to the mountain. I still remember the first photo and first run I saw Garrett take—out of his ability level and quite reckless, but completely determined. Years later, that same focus and fearlessness has earned Garrett spots in publications worldwide, on multiple photography contest podiums, and placed him among the upper echelon of ski photographers…