Just over three years ago, a young splitboarder, Rafeal Pease, contacted me about getting help with sponsors for a film idea. This would not be a-typical bro-brah flick headlining pros. Instead it would be a splitboard mountaineering movie highlighting people and cultures that make their lives in the mountains around the world as well as how mountaineers connect with the mountains. After traveling from Chile (his home country), Japan to Kyrgyzstan, and beyond, Pease’s film “Yugen” has come to fruition.
PanhandleBackcountry.com is partnering with Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center (IPAC) to show Pease’s film “Yugen” at 7 p.m. on October 18 at the Garland Theater in Spokane. The event is a benefit to raise funds for IPAC, a non-profit organization which conducts avalanche clinics and level I avalanche courses and provides critical avalanche forecasting for three regions covering North Idaho and northwest Montana.
IPAC works with a limited budget, so fundraisers like this are a huge boost. “We rely on both funding from the Forest Service as well as the public; without it we couldn’t provide the services we do,” says IPAC director Jeff Thompson. “Last year we were able to go from one avalanche bulletin on Friday to a Tuesday/Friday bulletin split,” Thompson added. The eventual goal is to post daily avalanche reports. None of this can happen without the support of the community.
The Inland Northwest has a very diverse snow sports community, from backcountry skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers, and snowmobilers, all of which use the services provided by IPAC. Show your support while watching an inspiring film with some fun raffle items and adult beverages. Tickets are $10 and available at Eventbrite.com. Find the promo link for more info and tickets at Panhandlebackcountry.com. //
[Feature photo: Larry Banks]
