Mt. Shasta Nordic to host festival of backcountry films

Wax those skis, tune those boards and gather your friends – the eighth annual Winter Wildlands Alliance Backcountry Film Festival is coming to Sisson Museum in Mount Shasta Jan. 18.

Hosted by Mt. Shasta Nordic, the Festival features seven films created in backcountry corners around the world.

Doors will open at 5:30 and the first film starts at 6:30. Tickets are $10 or $5 for students; they can be purchased at the Fifth Season or at the event. Snacks will be available, along with a cash beer and wine bar and a raffle. Used Nordic ski gear will be for sale and raffle tickets will be available at the door.

For more information contact Justi Hansen at

530-925-2359 or visit mtshastanordic.org. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Mt. Shasta Nordic Ski Organization.

Backcountry Film Festival entries are juried by a panel of judges, and the top selections are then assembled into a 90-minute program.

The festival was created eight years ago to highlight Winter Wildlands Alliance's efforts to preserve and promote winter landscapes for human-powered users. From a single showing in Boise that first year, the festival has grown to include showings in locations throughout the United States, Canada and overseas to Antarctica, Europe, Australia and Asia. Funds raised stay in local communities to support like-minded, human-powered recreation efforts and to raise awareness of winter management issues, avalanche training/safety and winter education programs.

This year's program includes seven films:

• Winner of the Best of the Backcountry award, "Skiing the Void" from Sweetgrass Productions is a reflection on taking chances during a two-year odyssey in the Andes.

• A festival cut of "Further" from Teton Gravity Research brings the return of Jeremy Jones and friends to push the limits of their mountain experience under their own power.

• "Alaska Wilderness Classic" by Luc Mehl, winner of the Hans Sari Scholarship and Best Grassroots Film, chronicles an epic trip across the wild.

• "Stories of Trust" is a call for climate recovery from a nine-year-old activist and winner of Best Environmental Film.

• "Denali Experiment" is a look at a different type of expedition film from Camp4Collective.

• From Switchback Entertainment comes "Freedom Chair," an athlete's journey back to the slopes and his love of winter.

• "Unicorn Sashimi" from Felt Soul Media highlights the amazing winter snowscapes of Japan.