Viewers at next week’s Banff Kalispell Mountain Film Festival World Tour stop at Flathead High School will have the ultimate big-screen movie experience.

The Flathead Nordic Backcountry Patrol has provided a significantly larger screen to show some of the world’s top outdoor films in high definition.

On Thursday, six patrol members assembled the new 12- by 20-foot screen purchased by the organization. After the festival, the screen will be donated to Kalispell Public Schools. Previously, the patrol had used a screen in the high school auditorium.

Jeff Gilman, a volunteer patroller for more than 20 years and film festival adviser, said it was time for an upgrade.

“We decided since the quality of movies of Banff was so high, we wanted to upgrade the screen,” Gilman said. “Since we show movies once a year for two days, we thought to donate it to the high school so they could use it for the rest of the year.”

Hosting the Banff Mountain Film Festival in Kalispell is the nonprofit’s largest fundraiser. Proceeds will help cover the cost of the $7,000 screen in addition to purchasing outdoor emergency care equipment and providing search-and-rescue training to members.

The Flathead Nordic Backcountry Patrol originated from the Essex Nordic Patrol that was established in 1975. Back then, volunteers patrolled trails around Izaak Walton Inn.

In 1981, patrol board member Steve Burglund and the late Mark Johnson re-imagined the group’s mission and renamed it.

“We wanted to step things up,” Burglund said.

The Flathead Nordic Backcountry Patrol now works with the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office as first responders for winter backcountry emergency search-and-rescue operations. It is certified through the National Ski Patrol.

“We’re basically on call December through April on any snow-related emergency,” Burglund said.

The availability of backcountry gear and growing popularity of backcountry skiing have made the skills of trained patrol volunteers invaluable.

“We’re getting busier,” Burglund said.

Burglund noted that interest in joining the volunteer patrol also has risen.

“We’re going through a big growth in membership. We’re anticipating a membership of 50 this year. It’s pretty amazing,” Burglund said.

To become a member, people basically need skiing and backcountry skills in addition to completing the National Ski Patrol Outdoor Emergency Care program and avalanche training.

Although the patrol has seen several fatalities over the years, there are bright moments of survival.

“A couple of winters ago there were two gals from Seattle who had become disoriented in the backcountry of Whitefish Mountain Resort. They were very happy to see us at 2 a.m.,” Burglund said.

The film festival will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at the Flathead High School auditorium. Tickets are $14 and may be purchased at Sportsman & Ski Haus, The White Room, Runner-up Sports and Rocky Mountain Outfitter.

For more information about the ski patrol, visit flatheadnordic.org or email [email protected]. For more information about the festival, visit www.banffcentre.ca.

Donations to Flathead Nordic Backcountry Patrol may be sent to Flathead Nordic Backcountry Patrol, P.O. Box 433, Whitefish, MT 59937.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at [email protected].