Ian Johnson - Story of My Jacket

The below is a story of Ian Johnson and how his First Ascent jacket took him to some of the most remote places to capture the incredible wildlife around the world in freezing temperatures and galing winds. 

As a professional safari guide and photographer, my adventures have taken me to some of the most remote and extreme locations on Earth. To survive in these harsh environments, I rely on top-of-the-line gear that can withstand the harshest conditions. That's why I always choose First Ascent, and my Malamute Down Snow Jacket has become my most trusted companion.

On my most recent adventure, I was headed to the far northern tip of Hokkaido island in Japan and then to the Spiti Valley in the Indian Himalayas in the middle of winter. I knew I would be facing temperatures as low as -20°C at sea level and even lower at high altitude, and I needed a jacket that could withstand any blizzard or snowstorm. The Malamute Down Snow Jacket did not disappoint.

During one particularly freezing day, I was standing on a frozen lake in Hokkaido, photographing Stellar sea eagles. The temperature dropped to -22°C with a wind chill, and I was out there for four hours. But my jacket kept me warm and comfortable, allowing me to capture some incredible photos.

But that was just the beginning. Soon after, we received a storm warning with winds gusting up to 144 km per hour and waves of up to 6 meters in coastal areas. But I didn't let that stop me. I ventured out on foot along the Shiretoke Peninsula in search of Sika deer stags, and my Malamute Down Snow Jacket kept me warm and safe in the crazy winds and freezing cold conditions.

Next up was the Himalayas, where I was on the hunt for the elusive Snow leopard. The journey to this remote valley in Himachel Pradesh province of India is normally a 20-hour drive, but I took a helicopter for a rapid ascent to altitude. Over the next week, I trekked through the snow and deep cold in search of the "Ghost of the mountains," and my Malamute Down Snow Jacket kept me warm and comfortable the entire time.

Sitting in deep snow on the edge of a cliff for six hours waiting for the snow leopard to appear would have been impossible without my jacket. Thanks to First Ascent for always making world class extreme adventure gear without which I would not have been able to visit and photograph winter wildlife in such remote cold destinations!

View our range of snow jackets, pants, gloves, and more.