crew beside helicopter

Photo: Sioux Nesi

Blades of Glory

O's intrepid team flew to the upper reaches of Mendenhall Glacier in glorious Alaska to prep for a photo shoot that had been months in the making. And then things got epic.
crew in helicopter

Photo: Sioux Nesi

As the choppers took off, skies were blue, smiles were wide and long johns and boots were on.
adam glassman helicopter

Photo: Sioux Nesi

O creative director Adam Glassman peers out the helicopter window.
the sled without oprah

Photo: Sioux Nesi

The Prep

Adam, photographer Ruven Afanador and their crew lost no time scouting angles, setting up lighting and preparing the set for Oprah to take her place behind the sled.
photo team and adam glassman

Photo: Sioux Nesi

Photo assistant Sebastian Beckmann, Ruven (on ladder) and Adam work on getting the perfect shot.
team managing presents

Photo: Sioux Nesi

Set designer Stephen Brown handles some of the 50 handmade packages he brought all the way from Tennessee (each one used up to ten yards of ribbon!).
tailor holding oprah's dress

Photo: Sioux Nesi

Tailor Wendi Williams-Stern wrangles the wardrobe.
the outhouse

Photo: Sioux Nesi

No Porta-Potties here—the makeshift outhouse was a simple tent.
the crew posing with huskies

Photo: Sioux Nesi

The team poses with Alaskan Huskies from the dog camp operated by Alaska Icefield Expeditions.
mushers' camp, exterior

Photo: Sebastian Beckmann

200-Dog Night

Things were going great—until once-in-a-blue-moon weather conditions intervened. Oprah wasn't able to get to the set, and the crew couldn't get out, so they turned to their friendly neighborhood mushers. The dogs leading Oprah's sled lived in a camp about a mile from the set, and their handlers were kind enough to take in our castaways for the next two days.
mushers' camp interior

Photo: Sioux Nesi

The Alaskan team generously shared their tents, space heaters, pasta and puppies for warmth!
adam sleeping in musher tent

Photo: Stephen Brown

Adam enjoys a quick nap in a hammock.
oprah meme

Photo: Sioux Nesi

Coincidentally, this hilarious Oprah meme was discovered inside one of the tents.
crew playing kickball

Photo: Sioux Nesi

The crew plays kickball to pass the time as they wait for rescue.
dog camp manager matthew failor with dog

Photo: Sioux Nesi

Dog camp manager Matthew Failor gets a hug.
adam glassman and jenny capitain

Photo: Sioux Nesi

Adam and fashion editor Jenny Capitain pose between takes.
crew escapes to helicopter

Photo: Sioux Nesi

The helicopter finally arrives to bring the O team home.
the great escape

Photo: Sioux Nesi

They make their great escape, leaving the snow-covered glacier behind.
oprah's cover shoot

Photo: Harpo, Inc./George Burns

Shooting at Sea

Thanks to the weather, for the first time in O magazine's 17-year history, Oprah' s image had to be added to the cover digitally. "I so wanted to be with those dogs!" she says. Luckily, Holland America Line's MS Eurodam, host of the O, The Oprah Magazine Share the Adventure cruise, was available as a stand-in set. And Oprah looked ravishing as Mrs. Claus.
oprah's jewelry

Photo: Gregor Halenda

Get Oprah's cover glitter at Pandora!

Earrings, $250, and ring, $125; Pandora.net