Amiskwi
2017 Immersive
Funded

Amiskwi

DirectorZoya Lynch
GenreDocumentary

Pitch video


Production

Interview Roster

Izzy Lynch
Izzy Lynch

Izzy Lynch is the eldest of the four Lynch children. She is a professional skier and new mother. She can remember the moment she woke up at Amiskwi for the first time, and how she could not believe the vast wilderness that surrounded her. Her parents granted her the independence to explore her backyard at Amiskwi from a young age which, ignited a passion for exploration and adventure in the mountains that ultimately led her to ski for a living. She is following in her parents footsteps by ensuring her son gets to experience the freedom of the outdoors as much as possible in his life.

Dennis Lynch
Dennis Lynch

Dennis is Izzy and Zoya's brother. He is an avid backcountry skier and kayaker and will offer another perspective on what it was like to grow up at Amiskwi Lodge and how his parent's leap-of-faith influenced their family and their life.

Pat Lynch
Pat Lynch

Pat is Izzy and Zoya's father and one of the five original owners of Amiskwi Lodge. He will tell the story behind the leap-of-faith to invest in Amiskwi Lodge with very little backcountry experience under his belt. He will describe why he chose to push uncertainty aside and dive into a venture he knew very little about. He will comment on how his children have grown and evolved with their experiences at Amiskwi, and how it not only shaped their dreams, but provided them with the skills and independence to pursue them.

Sarah German (formerly Lynch)
Sarah German (formerly Lynch)

Sarah German is Izzy and Zoya's mother. She was the driving force behind coordinating each and every trip to Amiskwi, where her and Pat would haul their four young children into the wilderness for weeks at a time to build and maintain the lodge. She will describe how each trip was a huge adventure, packing meals and gear for weeks of living off the grid, and how they managed risk of driving snowmobiles for over 50 km up remote logging roads, avalanches, wildlife, injury, and getting lost with four young kids in the backcountry.

Zoya Lynch
Zoya Lynch

Zoya is an award-winning adventure photographer, backcountry chef, tail guide and accomplished skier. She was 3 years old when she first visited Amiskwi. For her, Amiskwi has always been a huge source of creative inspiration. Too young to ski tour full days when they first started going there, she would spend hours colouring in the lodge, and planning performances to entertain her family when they returned from their ski days. The freedom to explore her creative side while fully immersed in nature is what she believes led her to discover her path as ski/adventure photographer.

Knox Garneau
Knox Garneau

Knox is Izzy's son. He is only 9 months old but has already flown to Amiskwi Lodge in a helicopter twice, hiked up mountains all over the Columbia and Rocky Mountains, and skied and snowboarded (on his parents backs). He will mostly giggle and growl- expressing how he feels about experiencing the backcountry at such a young age.

Production Design

Amiskwi Lodge is a helicopter/sled access self-catered and self -guided lodge located north of Golden, BC on the edge of the Yoho National Park. It was built by five families in 1993 and is run as a commercial ski touring operation in the winter and hiking operation in the summer. Set in the midst of the spectacular Rocky Mountains, Amiskwi offers incredible skiing, and has views of the Freshfield Icefields and is within a day's reach of the Wapta Icefields. It offers a truly “Rockies” ski experience with a large variety of terrain from glades and meadows to steep faces, and technical lines.
The reason behind the ski obsession: powder snow. Both projects will provide the audience with the opportunity to enjoy the weightless feeling of flying through powder snow on skis.
Experiencing the backcountry at a very young age is not a common experience. Risks like avalanches and the physical challenge of hiking up hills with heavy ski equipment deters many families. However, for the Lynchs it has always been a family affair, and Amiskwi made it possible with ample gentle terrain located immediately around the lodge. As children the the Lynchs spent countless days exploring the surrounding meadows, glades and burnt trees, building jumps, snow caves and playing in the area. They were given few rules- keep the lodge in sight and always look out for your siblings.
Old photos of the early days at Amiskwi Lodge will be used to tell the story and give a sense of what it was like to bring a young family deep into the backcountry in the mid-nineties.
For the Lynchs skiing in the backcountry is a family affair. Introducing Izzy's son Knox to the backcountry at 9 months old is a special moment that will be included in our project, and showcases how her parents decision to purchase a backcountry ski lodge in the remote Rocky Mountains has elicited a multigenerational influence on their lives.
The terrain on the Freshfield Icefields is not for the faint of heart. Big peaks, massive glaciers, and technical ski lines characterize the area, and make it a coveted ski mountaineering destination for expert skiers and snowboarders.  Through both the immersive and linear projects, our audience will have the incredible opportunity to experience the day to day life in such an extreme and remote environment while Izzy and Zoya test their skills.
The Freshfield Icefields is a group of peaks located between Golden, BC, and
Jasper, Alberta to the west of Amiskwi. Much of it is glaciated and it has a huge amount of beautiful terrain above 10 000 feet. It is known for steeper lines and
deeper snowpack than the Rocky Mountains to the east , thus is a coveted ski
mountaineering destination. Mt Mummery and it's immense glacier are a part
of the Freshfield group. Mummery  is the most prominent peak visible from
Amiskwi lodge.
Life slows down at Amiskwi Lodge, providing ample time for simple pleasures, like dreaming up adventures, playing cards, eating, cooking, reading, and sitting by the fire. Living completely off the grid means you chop your own wood, gather water from the creek and dry your gear by the fire.  Both our linear and immersive pieces will provide the audience with a sense of simple living at a backcountry lodge.
Ski touring is a unique experience that allows skiers to move autonomously through the mountains, and proceed self-propelled into terrain that is not frequently travelled. It is the ultimate freedom on skis. Exploring amidst mighty giants like Mount Des Poilus from a young age allowed Izzy and Zoya to hone mountain skills that have helped them discover their paths as professionals in the ski industry.