Grayson Schaffer

Grayson Schaffer was a senior editor and writer for Outside magazine, spending the last decade reporting on stories across five continents — from the slopes of Everest to the unrun rivers of Madagascar. Schaffer told the story of the 1963 American Mount Everest Expedition, "Lost on Everest: A Dangerous World Waits Above Hurling Down Avalanches in White Fury," which explores the previously unknown details of the first ascent of Everest’s West Ridge. As a directing partner at Talweg Creative in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Schaffer works alongside Ryan Heffernan and Kahlil Hudson in documenting the iconic characters and personalities of the American West. With Heffernan, Schaffer directed Engler, Fast Forward and Trail Angel (all Mountainfilm 2016). The two went on to direct the short ski film John Shocklee: A Fairy Tale (Mountainfilm 2017). The duo joined Hudson in directing A Prayer for Joshua Jackson (Mountainfilm 2020), which follows the tragedy and triumph of a young race car driver following his dreams.