Scott Rinckenberger Featured in Backcountry Magazine's 2026 Photo Annual Issue

The piece explores the evolution of Scott's career—his deep relationship with the Cascades, his approach to managing risk in the backcountry, and why environmental advocacy isn't separate from his photography work, but central to it. It's a story about transition: from sponsored skier to professional photographer, from chasing lines to documenting them, and how decades of intimate knowledge of these mountains informs every frame.

And yes, that photo is in there. The Baker road gap shot from '99—Chase Jarvis behind the lens, Scott launching the gap during the world-record 1,140" season. The image that kicked off his ski career and set everything in motion.

Inside you'll find inspiring work from photographers across the backcountry community, mountain skills content, gear reviews, and stories from Alaska to Norway. The cover image alone—Simon Hillis' striking line through shadow and light in Cordova, Alaska—is worth the price of admission.

The 2026 Photo Annual also features powerful pieces on photography's role in our community, including Re Wikstrom's groundbreaking work photographing women skiers and the Light Lines Project's commentary on landscape preservation. It's the kind of company we're proud to keep.

Get Your Copy
Read the full story in Backcountry Magazine Issue 165, available in print or digital format.