The following was sent by Forrest McCarthy, Wildlands Organizer for the Wyoming Wildnerness Association. Bring a date, some popcorn and settle in for a meaningful evening of films dedicated to promoting human-powered winter sports (backcountry skiing, Nordic skiing, snowshowing, winter hiking and camping). Here’s what Forrest has to say:

The Wyoming Wilderness Association, Friends of Pathways, and the Togwotee Pass Backcountry Alliance are hosting the Winter Wildlands Alliance’s fourth annual Backcountry Film Festival from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Snow King Grand Room here in Jackson Hole.

The festival showcases inspirational and thought-provoking films from independent grassroots filmmakers that will highlight backcountry and environmental issues, as well as entertain with exceptional skiing.

The film program is a combination of shorts and feature films. Films emphasize the pleasures of quiet, untracked snow, the excitement of steep descents and the ingenuity of wind-powered snow recreation, all captured through the unique lens of grassroots filmmakers.

Tickets are $5 at the door and include a raffle ticket. Beer will for sale. Proceeds will benefit Ski Cabin repairs and the Teton Pass Ski Ambassador Program.

For more information on the specific films, see below:

Tom Turiano: Local ski mountaineer and guide book author will begin the evening with a 30 minute photo-presentation showcasing over 20 years of backcountry skiing in the Jackson Hole region.

Hand Cut (Trailer Above): a beautifully shot, soulful film that explores the connection between a ski towns’ mining roots, and their present search for the powder they cherish more than gold. Inspiring footage is paired with a great soundtrack to create a film that is both entertaining to watch and thought provoking.

Ride It Out follows snow-kiters through miles of untracked powder and discovers the beauty and danger of an evolving sport.

My Own Two Feet is the stunning debut film by Leeward Cinema. It’s the first action sports film shot entirely using sustainable production methods. The cast and crew walked 1,200 miles and camped for 30 nights in the mountains of California and learned that with a little motivation your feet can take you to unimaginable heights.

The Pact chronicles the tragedy and recovery of an above knee amputee as he battles his way back from a devastating crash to making telemark turns.

Fast Grass and Dirty Corn is an entertainingly fun look at the lengths some hardcore Vermont locals will go to in order to make spring turns.

Editor’s Note: Come out for a worthy cause, cheap entrance fee, entertaining movies, stoke-inducing date night!

When Alpinist Magazine’s devoted staff members learned they were out of work last week, some went climbing, some called home and all wondered what happens next.

Among the employees is Lisa Walker, designer, Teton Art Lab co-owner and newly expectant mother. Her insurance expires on Oct. 31.

As their first event since the company shut its doors, the folks formerly known as Alpinist are hosting a Lisa Walker benefit event in the form of a climbing movie. They’ll host the REEL Rock Film Tour at 7 p.m. (doors and drinks open at 6 p.m.) THIS FRIDAY at the Pink Garter Theater.

This third annual tour is the brainchild of the boy geniuses of Big Up Productions and Sender Films. The evening will feature gorgeous film segments, including Grand Canyon Walls, featuring Tommy Caldwell and Beth Rodden’s search for new routes, The Aerialist featuring Dean Potter BASE jumping and Sender’s own The Sharp End.

Folks like Cloudveil, the Enclosure Rock Gym, Lynn Murphy of Spring Creek Realty, Jackson Hole Mountain Guides, Planet Jackson Hole, Café Ponza, KMTN, Grand Dynamics and Brandon Spackman are all helping to make the evening possible.

In addition to the beer and flicks, Alpinist is also hosting a silent auction, which will also benefit Walker and her new family. Items include gift certificates from Hoback Sports and Wilson Backcountry, massages, Snow King ski passes and a Jackson Hole Ski Club package, which includes free entrance into all its 2008-2009 events.

Come out to support your community and see guaranteed quality films.

The leaves are exploding in gold and orange colors. The skies are exploding with rain. It’s the season of weekend-long yoga retreats, blustery hikes up Jackson Peak and hot chocolate topped with whipped cream. Several groups are collaborating this week To inspire wellness and health in Jackson Hole. Sarah Mitchell, executive director of Pursue Balance sent an email this weekend detailing the intention and schedule. Pursue Balance is the brainchild of ski mountaineer, mom and all around badass Kit DesLauriers, who serves as the organization’s president. According to Mitchell’s email, people will get a chance to sample all sorts of different health and wellness techniques and events this week in Jackson Hole. Here, read for yourself:

From Sarah Mitchell:

Join the Teton Wellness Institute, Pursue Balance, Friends of Pathways, and Jackson Whole Grocer for a week of mind, body, spirit and earth related activities, events and speakers.

** “Everything is Connected” is the theme of the 2008 Teton Wellness Festival hosted by the Teton Wellness Institute (TWI). TWI educates and promotes well being of body, mind, spirit and the environment. TWI events inspire a deeper understanding of health care options, awaken new perspectives, and expand knowledge of an integrative approach to personal and community well being. The Festival presents a wide range of speakers who address a complementary and integrative approach to health care and medicine. We offer a free exhibit and hands on hall, workshops, presentations, a movement studio- there is something for everyone! For more information about the Festival including this year’s keynotes Jill Bolte Taylor PhD and David Simon MD, please visit the Web site TetonWellness.org. Tickets to the Festival are on sale now at The Herb Store, Living Green and Jackson Whole Grocer in Jackson; Barrels and Bins in Driggs, online or by phone, 307-733-9355.

** Pursue Balance, thanks to a grant from 1% for the Tetons, will be rolling out the Teton Area 10×10 Initiative designed to help residents and businesses reduce energy use 10% by December 31, 2010. The Teton Area 10×10 Initiative will lead and support resource- use efficiency efforts, produce and provide educational materials, and take other steps to make it easier and more acceptable for Tetons-area residents, visitors, businesses, non-profits, and governmental agencies to use resources in an increasingly efficient fashion. Pursue Balance is a non-profit agency dedicated to providing leadership in personal transformation and environmental stewardship. For a schedule of upcoming events and programs visit PursueBalance.org/Events or visit the new 10×10 website at TetonArea10×10.org.

** Friends of Pathways (FOP) is a community advocate for all aspects of bicycling, walking, and trails. This week, FOP is pairing up with Teton County School District #1 to participate in International Ibike/Iwalk to school week. Expect to see hundreds of students, of all ages, riding and walking to school in an effort to relieve congestion, decrease pollution and stay healthy. Parents and students can be on the lookout for more specific information at each participating School.

** Jackson Whole Grocer provides the community with local, organic and traditional products in a fresh and lively marketplace that maintains a commitment to education and the environment.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Tuesday, October 7:
Join Friends of Pathways for “iWalk/iBike/iBus” event at the Jackson Hole Middle School.

Wednesday, October 8:

Join Friends of Pathways for “iWalk/iBike/iBus” event at the Jackson Hole High School, Wilson Elementary, Jackson Hole Community School, Journeys School, and Summit High School.

4 to 6 p.m. Pursue Balance presents “Celebrate with Solar” at the Teton Science Schools Jackson Campus. This program is designed for kids to learn about and experiment with solar energy.

Thursday, October 9:
Join Friends of Pathways for “iWalk/iBike/iBus” event at the Colter Elementary School and Jackson Elementary School.

8 to 10 a.m. Pursue Balance hosts a business breakfast discussion on “Why Offset?” at the Wort Hotel’s Goldpiece Room. Join Bonneville Environmental Foundation in a discussion about using carbon offset in the workplace.

12 to 7 p.m. Jackson Whole Grocer’s Harvest Festival at the Whole Grocer Parking lot. Because of the success of our Earth Day Festival Jackson Whole Grocer has decided to throw an even bigger party this fall when many of you are ripe with fresh produce. The focus of the festival will be the same, highly interactive booths with free samples and giveaways to stoke the good spirits of our community.

7 to 9 p.m. Pursue Balance will be hosting “Wind ~ Solar ~ Water” at the Hard Drive Café. Bonneville Environmental Foundation’s Vice President will speak about clean renewable energy projects, how they work, and the future of the market.

Friday, October 10

7 p.m. Teton Wellness Festival presents “Connecting with Joy thru Rhythm and Movement” at the Jackson Hole Center for the Arts. Celebrate life with energetic, healing and interactive performances.

8-11 p.m.- Teton Area 10×10 Kick Off Party at Lyndsay McCandless Contemporary. After attending the Wellness Festival’s evening performance join us in your most REDUCED or REUSED outfit for some dancing, food, drink, gifts and prizes! This event will provide opportunities to sign up to reduce your home energy use and take the 10×10 Challenge. All those biking to the event will receive a bike bell thanks to Friends of Pathways

Saturday, October 11

8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Teton Wellness Festival workshops at Snow King Resort

7 p.m. Teton Wellness Festival keynote speaker Jill Bolte Taylor PhD. Presents “My Stroke of Insight.” In this remarkable keynote presentation, Dr. Taylor, who completely recovered her mind, brain and body, will help us better understand how we can “tend the garden of our minds” to maximize our quality of life and consciously influence the neural circuitry underlying what we think, feel, and how we react to life’s circumstances.

Sunday, October 12

8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Teton Wellness Festival Workshops at Snow King Resort

9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Teton Wellness Festival keynote speaker David Simon, MD “Vital Energy: 7 Keys to Invigorate Body, Mind & Soul” at the Grand Room at Snow King Resort. In this keynote workshop, David Simon, co-founder and Medical Director of the Chopra Center for Wellbeing, will explore the essential elements of a lifestyle that generates physical, emotional and spiritual wholeness.

Monday, October 13

10 a.m. 5 p.m. Teton Wellness Festival Workshops at Snow King Resort

It’s been a crazy, eventful, long summer in Jackson Hole and we’re having a party in Teton Village to celebrate it! Starting Friday, we’ll have four days of live music, food, arts, movies, and sales!

Come out to the Village to see the tram construction, get screaming ski deals, look at art, take your pup through an agility course, play disc golf, listen to live music and eat BBQ! Ladies - come out for the Marmot Ladies Day!

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For $130, those who love shaking their money makers to good vibrations can see the Black Crowes, Wilco, Ben Harper and tons more at the inaugural Jackson Hole Music Festival this weekend at The Village.

If you only want to listen to heavy metal drumming for one day, it costs $72.50. Buy your tickets here.

The Festival Network chose Jackson Hole as its concert venue because of the company’s “commitment to holding premiere music festivals in the most beautiful settings the world has to offer.” The company promises an experience you’ll remember forever.

“Jackson Hole truly embodies the ideal type of location that we want to define our festivals,” said Tom Shepard, CEO of Festival Network. “We can’t imagine a better place than under the Tetons to host such an amazing festival.”

Saturday’s Lineup:
Henry Butler 11:00-12:00
Kaki King 12:30-1:30
Medeski, Martin & Wood 2:00-3:15
Brian Wilson 4:00-5:30
Wilco 6:00-7:45

Sunday’s Lineup:
The Avett Brothers 11:00-12:00
Son Volt 12:30-1:45
Robert Randolph & The Family Band 2:15-3:30
Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals 4:00-5:45
The Black Crowes 6:15-8:00
If you need a remedy for fatigue from all the action under Jackson Hole Stars, you can buy food, beer and gear there. Alcohol sales start at noon.

International surf icon, big-wave trailblazer and Water Man athlete Laird Hamilton has officially confirmed his attendance at the Jackson Hole Film Festival. Hamilton will appear at Cloudveil’s Pro Athlete Autograph Open House Sunday June 8 at 2PM, attend the screening of Water Man at 3PM and participate as a panelist on the Q and Ale forum, which will now start at 5PM.

The Pro Athlete Autograph Open House will still be held at Cloudveil’s Flagship store, while Q and Ale will move down the street to the Filmmaker and Press Lounge in Jackson’s Center for the Arts, located at 240 South Glenwood. Arrive early since these three events will likely be packed.

Check the full Festival schedule at www.jacksonholefilmfestival.org.

Watch Laird in action

The scene: Telluride, Colorado, setting of the Telluride Mountainfilm Festival
The cast: Crunchy climbers in Carharts, bespectacled filmmakers from L.A., notebook-toting film critics, cruiser-riding Telluride locals, pro whitewater kayakers driving Subarus stacked with colorful play boats, and adventure photographers.
The date: Memorial Day Weekend, 2008

10 a.m. A crowded movie theater, lights dimmed. A larger than life image of Chris Sharma climbing a 70-foot arch above the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Mallorca plays on the screen.

WANNABE FILM CRITIC enters through the back door. She starts scribbling notes in a bound notebook.

Notes read: King Lines. A movie by Peter Mortimer and Josh Lowell. Whoa, Sharma is ripped. He’s climbing that?! Hang on tight, mister.

60 minutes pass.

Enter JENNY LOWE-ANKER, wife of mountaineer Conrad Anker and widow of climber Alex Lowe, who died in an avalanche in 1999 in Tibet. In her hand is a copy of her newest book, Forget Me Not. She reads an excerpt from the book.

JENNY: I have a vivid memory of the day I met Alex Lowe. I was young then, around twenty, but already tied to another. Barely out of high school, I had married my first boyfriend, Tom Ballard, a high school crush who was a rock climber, skier, and the proprietor of a bicycle shop in Missoula, Montana, where I grew up. Alex was three years younger than I, perhaps still a senior in high school, and so I observed him with a distant curiosity that day. Still, I felt the magnetism of his presence.

Later that day. 5 p.m. A crowded movie theater, lights dimmed. ALEX GIBNEY, the director of 2005’s film, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, stands in front a massive screen. He introduces his new film, which won an Academy Award for best documentary. It’s called Taxi to the Dark Side, and it’s about the torture of Afghani and Iraqi prisoners in U.S. detainment centers. The film ultimately traces the blame back to the highest source of American power—the White House.

106 minutes pass.

GIBNEY returns for a question and answer session. A viewer in the audience raises his hand.

VIEWER: Alex, are you afraid for your safety from the U.S. government after making a film like this?

Alex: Well, at the very least, I expect to be audited this year.

Even later that day. 10:30 p.m. A crowded movie theater, lights dimmed. Durango, Colorado residents JON BAILEY and STEVE FASSBINDER stand on stage, introducing their flick, Mallethead, which is a half-serious spoof about bike polo.

20 minutes pass.

The crowd laughs. Cheers. Claps.

FADE TO BLACK.

Megan is a former editor at Outside Magazine, and now an associate editor at Skiing and was crowned Telemark Freeskiing Champion in Alyeska in March. She lives in Boulder.