For decades, James Niehues has painted the world’s mountains and ski resorts from above–over 350 hand-crafted trail maps that capture not just geography, but spirit. Now, that legacy continues with Montana artist Rad Smith, an illustrator turned painter who’s carrying forward the tradition of handpainted ski area maps, one brushstroke at time.

Morning light spills across Bridger Bowl, turning the snow to silver and the air to glass. The ridgelines cut sharp against a pale sky, wind carving its own language along the slopes. Below, skiers trace their way towards the lifts, their breath rising like small ghosts. At the base is a familiar sight, a trail map that has guided countless days on this mountain.

James Niehues painted that map, every shadow and fold of snow rendered with an artist’s devotion and a mountaineer’s respect. His work is more than reference; it’s reverence. Each brushstroke captures not just where we ski, but what we feel when we do.

When I heard Jim was ready to set down his brush, something stirred in me. I’d spent my career charting landscapes and illustrating movement, first digitally, then by hand. I missed the rhythm of the brush, so I reached out to Jim, unsure if he’d even respond. But he did, and from that moment, everything changed.

He shared his patience, process, and philosophy. He showed me that a trail map isn’t just drawn, it’s understood. For me, it all starts from above, looking at the mountain from the air or through aerial imagery. That’s where you begin to see how the terrain moves. From there, it becomes a mix of memory, conversation, and light, until the mountain almost starts to tell you how it wants to be painted.

Now, as I step into his place, I don’t think of it as replacing him. No one could. I think of it as continuing a conversation, a long, unfolding conversation between artist and mountain. His legacy lives in every line I lay down, every valley I shade.

For more of Jim Niehues’ work, visit Big Sky Resort. To see my maps in action, head to Lost Trail Powder Mountain and other resorts across the Rockies.