Film festival to feature the 'snow-less-traveled'

COEUR d'ALENE - It's back! Winter Wildlands Alliance's Backcountry Film Festival is coming to the Eagles Club in Coeur d'Alene for one night only.

The Idaho Conservation League and Friends of the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness are bringing the festival to town for the fourth year. Nine unique outdoor films shot around the world will inspire winter adventurers to seek the "snow-less-traveled."

The festival makes its one-night-only, Coeur d'Alene stop at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13. Doors open at 6 p.m. - but plan to arrive early as previous years' shows have sold out.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Backcountry Film Festival is produced by the Boise based nonprofit, Winter Wildlands Alliance, to highlight efforts to preserve and promote winter landscapes for human-powered users.

This year's films include epic and quirky escapades through Alaska, Patagonia and British Columbia, visually spectacular footage of night skiing adventures, inspirational stories of redemption and the power of human perseverance and a heartwarming story of love and man's best friend. The films chronicle professional athletes like Jeremy Jones as well as backyard enthusiasts looking for just one more powder line.

Film submissions for the festival came from both renowned and grassroots filmmakers. A panel of judges picked the top films and assembled them into this year's engaging festival. Whether you like to ski, snowboard, hike, bike or sip hot cocoa by the fire, these films are sure to entertain.

The festival has grown from a single showing in Boise 10 years ago, to hundreds of showings all over the world. Proceeds from the films stay in local communities to support local, human-powered recreation efforts and to raise awareness of winter management issues, avalanche training and winter education programs.

The Coeur d'Alene festival will benefit its local sponsors, the Idaho Conservation League and the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness - two conservation groups working to protect quiet recreation areas, wilderness designation and wildlife habitat on our public lands in the Inland Northwest.

The evening includes a full no-host bar as well as great raffle and door prizes.

Tickets are $7 and are only available at the door. For more information go to www.idahoconservation.org or call (208) 265-9565.