A journey to Alaska, Iceland, Chile and Peru to document glaciological research expeditions and sustainability.
Socially conscious musician and snowboard mountaineer, Todd Anders Johnson, begins touring to Alaska to play music but falls deep into the allure of Alaska’s vast wilderness and the extent of the myriad of glaciated mountain peaks to ride. After enrolling in a glaciology course with an associated glacial expedition, he commits himself to document the research of Alaskan scientists who are furthering knowledge of climate change impacts on glaciated environments and ecology. He continues touring throughout the state with his band and forays further into the Alaskan outdoors. With an opportunity to join a remote backpacking expedition to the Brooks Range in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge with Dr. Matt Nolan, Todd chronicles his annual fall research expedition on the McCall Glacier and deepens his awareness of the connectivity of the Arctic ecosystem. Finding established sustainability in energy production on Kodiak Island inspires Todd’s continued mission to document climate change.
Todd’s networking with international glaciologists empowers an immersive trip to Iceland to capture environmental perspectives of President Olafur Ragnar Grimmson and to document an annual expedition of a team of glaciologists drilling ice cores on the Vatnajökull ice cap. Weaving in sea kayaking, horseback riding and splitboarding along the fjords, Todd absorbs the wonder of the island nation and settles into a discussion around the successes of geothermal energy production at the Hellisheidi Power Plant, just outside Reykjavik.
Todd had met Norwegian glaciologist, Dr. Sebastian Mernild, at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks and an opportunity arose to join Dr. Mernild on his annual glaciological research in the Olivares Basin in the high Andes, outside of Santiago, Chile. After a week-long expedition documenting the project, Todd finally flies to the capital city of Lima, Peru and out to Huaraz to join a team from the Mountain Institute conducting research with programs focused on ecological impacts from climate change in the Cordillera Blanca, high in the Peruvian Andes. In documenting Peruvian regional programs aimed at securing access to clean water, Todd confirms and evolves his understanding that the ecological impacts of climate change are extensive, especially in Arctic and glaciated environments and that localized sustainability initiatives can be a transformative component of a better praxis.
Todd Anders Johnson is a socially-conscious multi-media and event producer and snowboard mountaineer. With the Risan Brands family of companies, Todd merges his passions for the environment, the arts, cannabis and outdoor recreation.
Risan Media produces cinematic film and video, Risan Project produces multi-media events, Risan Consulting Group has developed extensive partnerships within the cannabis industry, and Salem produces socially-conscious music.
Risan Media has produced video projects for Snoop Dogg’s MERRY JANE and Leafly. Salem music has been featured in a variety of ski and snowboard films, the band has performed at many North American Snowsports events and has also performed solar powered concerts with tours powered by vegetable oil. Risan Consulting Group works with many of the largest cannabis brands in the world and Risan Project merges the outdoor, environmental and cannabis industries in engaging concert events with Salem, backed by on-screen action sports films and partner content alongside experiential activations.
Todd’s passions for exploring big mountains brought him from Vermont to Seattle and then Alaska, where his first of many tours and expeditions began throughout the glaciated state. Todd now lives with his family high in the mountains of Colorado.
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