Sego Ski Co, a made-in-the-Tetons ski company, is proud to have Sego athlete Mark Ortiz in The 13th Annual Winter Wildlands Alliance Backcountry Film Festival. Since the initial one-film screening in 2005, the festival has grown into a 90-minute showcase of top films selected by Winter Wildlands Alliance staff members.

This year’s tour is going international, with over 100 non-U.S. stops planned for winter 2017/18. And while films can be submitted from any country, they must all share a common theme — the human-powered backcountry winter experience.

Mark Ortiz’s film, Idaho 12ver Project, chronicles his attempt to climb, ski and film all nine of Idaho’s 12,000-plus foot peaks. Over a three-month period, Mark skied eleven peaks and estimates that he gained more than 40,000 feet in elevation. The routes weren’t always straightforward and many required multiple attempts.

“Hyndman took two tries. Borah took three,” said Ortiz. “Diamond Peak I got on my first try, though it was a long day because I got real lost in the predawn darkness. Lost River Peak took four tries because I couldn’t find a ski route from the summit. Breitenbach took one day, but I climbed the wrong mountain first (suitably, that peak is called No Regret Peak). Mount Idaho, Donaldson and Leatherman were first try. Mount Church was attempt either three or four depending on how I count it.”

Ortiz is “somewhere between flattered and thrilled that they accepted my film. It’s a no-budget, pro-Idaho film and to be included in a tour with such high caliber content and athletes is really exciting and an awesome opportunity.”

The Backcountry Film Festival is a celebration of the human-powered experience and a gathering place for the backcountry snowsports community. It is produced by Winter Wildlands Alliance – a national organization that inspires and engages human powered recreationists to steward and care for their public lands.

The organization is aiming for 120 screenings this year and hopes to raise over $200,000 for local action. Funds raised at each screening stay in the local community to support human-powered recreation and conservation efforts, winter education and avalanche/safety programs and to raise awareness of winter management issues.

Films in this year’s program include:

  • The Space Within, DPS Skis Cinematic | 5 min 28 sec
  • Ruth Gorge, Noah Howell | 8 min 1 sec
  • Below 0, Itai Hagage | 4 min 54 sec
  • The End of Snow, Jane Zelikova and Morgan Heim | 20 min 35 sec
  • Follow Through, Anya Miller and Becca Cahall | 21 min 48 sec
  • Genesis, Ben Sturgulewski and Dan Pizza | 5 min 50 sec
  • Idaho 12ver Project, Matt Ortiz | 12 min 10 sec
  • Adventure Not War, Max Lowe | 7 min 35 sec

To learn more about the Mark and the Idaho 12ver project, visit idahosummits.com/over12/over12.htm.

Photo courtesy Winter Wildlands Alliance Backcountry Film Festival