Backcountry Film Festival - Fort Collins

Last night, the Northern Front Range Chapter of BSA hosted the 3rd Annual Backcountry Film Festival at the Mountain Shop and Northern Hotel in Old Town Fort Collins. The group's second public event attracted more than 100 attendees in a celebration of the reemergence of a Fort Collins tradition and support for human-powered recreation at Cameron Pass. With more than $700 in swag giveaways, attendees clamored over donated items from Never Summer Nordic Yurts, Mountain Khakis, Keen, Outdoor Research, Chaco, Black Diamond, and others.

The group was able to raise more than $500 on the evening and would like to thank the following organizations for their support:
Black Diamond Equipment, Keen, Chaco, Outdoor Research, Mountain Khakis, Backcountry Provisions, New Belgium Brewing, Never Summer Nordic Yurts, the Ski Shack, and the Mountain Shop.



We'll see you at the American Mountaineering Center in Golden on Friday March 28 for another screening of the film festival. Admissions will be $8 per person and doors will open at 6:30pm.

Wooden Ski Rendezvous 2008

Our Steamboat Springs area chapter, Friends of Routt Backcountry hosted their annual wooden ski festival February 29 - March 1 at the Columbine Cabins at the base of Hahn's Peak. The festival is a chance for FORB and BSA to thank our members in the greater Steamboat area for their support throughout the year and get the woodies out of the closet.

This year's event included cross country ski races, including the Boil em' Up Race during which racers are required to boil a cup of snow however they like; a Treasure Hunt for the kids, Potluck with live music, and skiiing at Hahn's Peak. A wonderful time was had by all in such a wonderful setting.



Thanks to Leslie Lovejoy and FORB, Backcountry Provisions, Neptune Mountaineering, Mahogany Ridge, Backdoor Sports, Ski Haus, Smartwool, Little Moon Essentials, Ambiente, The Silver Lining, Ace at the Curve Hardware, BAP, Tread of Pioneers Museum, Columbine Cabins, and all those that contributed to this year's event.

We'll see you next February!

Fines for Snowmobile Violators Increase

Forest Service hikes fines
Aspen Daily News Staff Report

Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Fees have gone up, in some cases dramatically, for violations on Colorado’s national forest land.

The fine for using a motorized vehicle, such as a snowmobile or a dirt bike, in a designated wilderness area is now $500, up from $75. The fine for being off of a designated road is now $250, up from $75, and the fine for an unregistered snowmobile went up from $50 to $100. All fines also require a $25 processing fee.

[full story]

Developers look to install chairlifts, happily carving alpine skiers on Pikes Peak

Former Aspen resident Harvey Carter and a Boulder executive hope to develop a new ski area on the flanks of Pikes Peak. It appears that developing ski areas on private land is the new fad amongst resort developers, once reliant on permits and leasing from the US Forest Service. Echo Mountain Park...Eclipse Snowpark...Hmmm...

Ex-Aspenite hoping to bring ski area to Pikes Peak
Aspen Daily News Staff Report Tuesday February 26, 2008

Famed climber and former Aspen resident Harvey Carter is helping hatch a new ski resort on Pikes Peak within easy striking distance from Colorado Springs.

Carter, the founder of Climbing magazine, recently agreed to sell a 320-acre parcel for $4 million on the famous mountain to John Ball, former chief executive of Boulder-based Eller Industries. Ball is proposing to develop the acreage on Pikes Peak as a ski area, resort and condominiums. [full story]

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Stay tuned to the Deep White. We'll be running the following stories, in addition to others:
Darkside - one telemark skier's changeover
Gallery from the Wooden Ski Rendezvous
Spring Skiing Wish List
How to approach steep couloirs
End of season gear maintenance
Backcountry Film Festival

Brian

BSA Winter Board of Directors Meeting

The BSA Board visited the Jackal Hut January 31 - February 2 for our winter meeting. The views were expansive, the snow deep and creamy, the energy high, and company great.