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• Friday, February 10, 2012

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Top of the World: Climbers take in the view from Mount St. Elias. Photo courtesy of Planet Watch Films

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Hot Spot: Squaw Screens Mount St. Elias Movie

March 12

In 2002, Tahoe City skier and mountaineer Aaron Martin set out to accomplish a long-held dream — summit Mount St. Elias, the second highest peak in Alaska, and ski 18,008 feet to the ocean. He achieved the first goal, becoming one of only 20 people to ever make it to the top. But Martin never made it down the mountain. He and another climber died in a fall soon after summiting. Two other members of the team were rescued the next day.

In 2007, Austrian ski mountaineer Axel Naglich, along with countryman Peter Ressmann and American Jon Johnston, attempted to achieve the same feat that Martin came close to fulfilling. They realized the dream, but in two separate attempts. Along the way they faced extreme avalanche dangers, high winds, and an incredible snowstorm that left their tents buried and the team digging for their lives.

Their adventure is documented in the 2009 movie by Austrian Gerald Salmina, “Mount St. Elias: The Longest Ski Descent Ever.” The film has taken top honors at many European film festivals and won Best Film and Best Adventure Film at the X-Dance Action Sports Film Festival in Utah. The movie includes interviews with Squaw Valley cinematographer Steven Siig, who was part of the 2002 rescue effort, and includes some of his footage of that fateful day.

On March 12, the Plaza Bar at Squaw Valley will host an exclusive U.S. public viewing of the movie. Siig will be on hand to talk about the 2002 climb and the movie. Matt Reardon, the singer for band Black Sunshine and a local Squaw skier who wrote and performed much of the soundtrack, will play an acoustic set of songs from the movie; Truckee band Subjektochange will headline. The event is a benefit for the Truckee-based High Fives Foundation. The family of Squaw freestyle skier CR Johnson, who was recently killed in a fall on the mountain, has asked that all donations be made to this organization.

Limited tickets available. $20 in advance/$25 at the door. Doors open at 7 p.m.; film at 8 p.m. (530) 363-0235 for ticket info; movie trailer at mountstelias.com.