If you’re looking to watch some cool backcountry ski films, you should head up to Portland, Maine next week. The Granite Backcountry Alliance, which has created some impressive backcountry skiing and riding zones in Northern New Hampshire & Western Maine, is hosting a film festival. The festival will take place on November 8th from 6 pm – 10 pm at the State Theatre in Portland. The event will include a costume contest, raffle prizes, vendors, guest speakers, live music from DJ Ninjah Nick, giveaways, food, drinks, and more.
For more information, you can read Granite Backcountry’s press release below.
GRANITE BACKCOUNTRY FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS TO PORTLAND
The region’s leading backcountry skiing group brings human-powered films, nonprofits, brands, and a grand prize ski trip to Iceland to the State Theatre.
Portland, ME – Granite Backcountry Alliance (GBA) is returning to Portland for its 8th annual Granite Backcountry Film Festival at the State Theatre on Wednesday, November 8th, showcasing films selected by Winter Wildlands Alliance to represent outdoor stewardship, grassroots advocacy, backcountry adventure, and the connection between humans and wild winters. This marks the second year GBA will be hosting the flagship film festival in Portland to celebrate its Maine glades: the Black & White Glade at Rumford Whitecap in partnership with Mahoosuc Land Trust and Black Mountain of Maine; the Baldface glade situated in the northeast corner of the White Mountain National Forest; and the newly designed Burnt Meadow Mountain glade in Brownfield, ME, just an hour from Portland, made possible through a collaboration with the Burnt Mountain Sno Club. The film festival will feature special guests, a Backcountry to the Future costume contest, and a grand prize backcountry skiing trip to Iceland, courtesy of Northeast Mountaineering.
Produced each year as a celebratory, backcountry community event, the Granite Backcountry Film Festival raises critical funds for GBA’s network of accessible below tree line glades in New Hampshire and Western Maine, known as Graniteland. GBA’s local projects and programs perpetuate stewardship in the backcountry community and support human-powered activities as the basis for an emerging outdoor economy. Since 2016, Graniteland has amassed 17 backcountry skiing locations, from western NH to western Maine, with over 55,000 vertical feet of skiing through 33,000 hours of trail work by volunteers known as “Quarry Dogs”. All terrain is publicly accessible with specific information on GBA’s website.
“We’re ready to head to Portland and bring an incredible evening of stoke, storytelling and celebration to our backcountry enthusiasts from all over New England,” said Tyler Ray, GBA Founder and Granite Chief. “The funds raised by the film fest directly impact GBA’s capacity to maintain 55,000 feet of vertical terrain and build new glade zones while promoting stewardship and responsible backcountry conduct. And, we get to send someone to Iceland, creating a once-in-a-lifetime experience. For any skier, this event will surely keep you entertained and praying for snow.”
Film fest attendees will enjoy a vibrant night of activities including a costume contest, raffle prizes, vendors, guest speakers, live music from DJ Ninjah Nick, giveaways, food, drinks, and more. The costume theme is “Backcountry to the Future,” inspired by GBA’s fall glade season that has led to the revival of two abandoned ski areas for backcountry use: Burnt Meadow Mountain just an hour from Portland in Brownfield, ME, and Page Hill in Tamworth, NH. The individual costume contest winner will take home a pair of Fischer Transalp 98’s.
The Granite Backcountry Film Festival will take place from 6pm – 10pm on Wednesday, November 8, at the State Theatre in Portland (609 Congress Street). Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door, available for purchase here. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore backcountry vendors and nonprofits including the Mt. Washington Backcountry Ski Festival; Black Mountain of Maine; Inclusive Ski Touring; STIO; Northeast Mountaineering; and Uphill New England.
ABOUT GRANITE BACKCOUNTRY ALLIANCE
Granite Backcountry Alliance (GBA) seeks to enhance wintertime outdoor recreation across New Hampshire and Western Maine by developing its network of low-impact human-powered backcountry skiing known as Graniteland. Since 2016, GBA has developed 13 glade zones with over 45,000 ft. of vertical drop and maintained an additional 10,000 ft. of vertical drop on four historic ski trails through more than 33,000 hours of volunteer work. Collaborating with landowners, local businesses, state and national forests, and land trusts, GBA has generated terrain supply in Graniteland to meet the surging demand of backcountry skiing, the fastest-growing segment in the ski industry. Furthermore, GBA seeks to build a culture where everyone is welcome to contribute to the infrastructure development and community character of the sport.
Image Credits: Karlos Keri Media, Granite Backcountry Alliance
