CRAFTING A RESCUE

A LIFE-CHANGING DAY DEEP IN THE WOODS

- LACY KEMP

Skye Schillhammer was shooting photos in Bellingham, Washington, on a winter day with Pacific Northwest ripper Taylor James, a local well-known for his wild-guy antics on and off the bike, when suddenly the day took a serious turn. James had just attempted to flip his downhill bike but came up short and emerged covered in dirt. It was one of those days when you have to really want to ride. Temperatures hovered around freezing. The dirt was as hard as concrete and tires felt like Lego blocks rolling against the frozen earth. The crash ended a long day of shooting.