TownLift News
A Park City News Publication
When I started at TownLift in July 2022, I was a photographer who could write. I had written magazine stories and completed all the journalism coursework related to writing, but there was still a learning curve regarding efficiency and finding my voice. Working for an online news site, everything is about content in high quantity; it’s a challenge to maintain that while also producing quality. With every story, my growth skyrocketed as I learned how to write stories about everything from dogsledding to crime stories. My primary beat was environmental stories, but I also took on the mantel of untangling complex topics and putting them in explanations anyone could understand.
The Great Salt Lake has risen by a foot, but how does that affect its dire state?
The challenges facing Great Salt Lake have been well documented over the years. From excessive water usage to years of severe drought, the perfect storm of factors created the potential for the lake to disappear without drastic efforts. In this story, I took the approach of stopping the clickbait sensationalizing that other publications had done and cut through to the problem and what will happen if nothing is done to save the lake as we know it. Through interviews, I discovered a series of tipping points that the lake was facing.
A Day in the Life of a Deer Valley Groomer
It only takes one day of skiing at Deer Valley Resort, and it’s easy to see that their grooming is on another planet compared to nearly every other resort. Through this story, I was about to dive into what it’s like to be a groomer and the hard work that they do each and every shift. Indeed, the technical aspects of how grooming works are essential, but what impacted the story the most were the talent and thought processes of the snowcat operators. I had no idea what to expect going into my ride-along or what it would be like to ride in a snowcat. Being that it is a tracked vehicle, the idea of it being the closest thing to a tank that I would ever be in is valid but what is missed is all the stopping, starting, and moving side to side on an inclined slope that makes it feel more like a boat.
Robin Gillon Debuts New Documentary Film “What It’s Like”
Robin Gillon is a deaf athlete who has had to overcome numerous challenges in his life. Gillon wouldn’t change a thing, however, as through the tough times came his love for skiing. Robin is determined to be a role model as a deaf athlete that anyone can look to and see that they can achieve their goals. Gone are the days of the stereotype that hearing aids were only for senior citizens. It’s a major driver for him as he wants to show that hearing aids are no different than glasses. Being able to tell Robin’s story and share in his mission to remove stigmas on hearing aids and being deaf is something I will never forget.
Snowmaking and Snowmakers: The Backbone of a Ski Resort
Experiencing a day in the life of a snowmaker was eye-opening. I had just photographed a prescribed burn at Deer Valley Resort with no idea that I would hop in a side-by-side with five other people and slip and slide our way up the mountain where intense winds and heavy snowfall were the conditions. To say I tested the weather sealing of my camera and lens would be an understatement of the greatest proportions. To a snowmaker, though, conditions like that are typical as it’s typically the cold not so great weather that they are out setting up snow guns. It’s important to realize that the ski industry could not exist without their efforts. That was the central theme in the story I ended up writing.
