The Mad River Valley Backcountry Coalition (MRVBC) partnered with Winter Wildlands Alliance (WWA) to offer a screening of the Backcountry Film Fest at the Big Picture Theater in Waitsfield on December 7, 2024.
The sold-out event was also a gear donation drive for Unlikely Riders.
As part of the event, people were asked to bring gently used gear to be donated to Unlikely Riders: a nonprofit organization whose mission is to reduce barriers to snow sports for BIPOC Vermonters, build a supportive community, and claim space in the snow sports industry.
The Big Picture reopened its doors for the event. The WWA is a national nonprofit organization working to inspire and empower people to protect America’s wild snowscapes. The Backcountry Film Festival, in turn, celebrates the power and spirit of humans in winter through a thoughtful and exciting suite of short films. This year marks the 20th annual season for the festival and the fifth here in the Mad River Valley.
MRVBC return profits from this screening to the Catamount Trail Association (CTA) Youth Program promoting healthy lifestyles, increased engagement with nature, and increased access to outdoor activities in the winter.
See trailer and film descriptions, or stream last year's films https://winterwildlands.org/backcountry-film-festival/.
