Portland festival accepting bike movies

    Here’s your chance to make it to Hollywood – or at least to Portland! Filmed by Bike, a film festival showcasing independent bike-themed movies from across the globe, is currently accepting entries. The deadline is Feb. 15, 2009 and 30 films will be shown at the festival in Portland in April.

    Films must be bike-themed, limited to eight minutes in length, and be submitted on DVD. For entry details and an application go to www.FilmedByBike.org.

Therm-A-Rest NeoAir mattress wins

“Best of What’s New” award

    Seattle-based Cascade Designs’ Therm-A-Rest NeoAir mattress has been recognized by Popular Science with its 21st annual Best of What’s New award. Chosen by the magazine’s editors for its breakthrough design and performance, the NeoAir packs to the size of a one-liter bottle and weighs just 14 ounces. It boasts a patent-pending reflective barrier that keeps you warm by reflecting heat back to your body, plus a triangular core matrix that adds stability and warmth. Look for the Therm-A-Rest NeoAir in stores in April. www.thermarest.com

Take Fido skiing in the Methow

    It’s hard enough to get your dog enough exercise without winter weather interfering. Lucky for cross-country ski enthusiasts, the Methow Valley Sport Trails Association has increased the number of dog-friendly ski trails to 57 kilometers (35 miles) so it is easier than ever to bring your canine companion along. The ski trails open to dogs now includes the Rendezvous area. For a map and detailed listing of dog-friendly ski trails, check out the MVSTA Web site, www.mvsta.com/winter/dogtrails.html.

Greater Outdoors Project offers $50K Grant

   Redwood Creek may be known for making wines, but the company is also working to make the world a better place. The Greater Outdoors Project was established to support nonprofit organizations that share Redwood Creek’s commitment to the great outdoors. They’re partnered with Planet Green, the first and only 24-hour eco-lifestyle network, to offer a $50,000 grant to non-profits to fund a specific outdoor project. From April 1 through May 31, outdoor enthusiasts can vote for their favorite non-profit online or via text message.

    Applications are being accepted through March 1. For complete rules and additional information, visit www.RedwoodCreek.com.

$100,000 heli-skiing season pass!

   Looking for a perfect gift for that person who has everything? Wondering what to get James Bond for his birthday? Why not spring for the world’s most exclusive season ski pass! For $100,000, you can purchase a Platinum Heli-Skiing Season Pass from Great Canadian Heli-Skiing (GCH).

   Described as “unlimited vertical access to the best powder skiing in the world,” the pass gives you the luxury of skiing every day in British Columbia’s Interior Mountains. In addition, pass holders get a “personal powder concierge” to keep them apprised of conditions and forecasts and to assist in the pursuit of the perfect powder day.
If the Platinum pass is out of your league, consider the Bronze, Silver or Gold passes, ranging from $13,000 for eight days to $70,000 for 48 days. For more information on your adventure of a lifetime, call (866) 424-4354 or visit www.canadianheli-skiing.com.

Northwest Exposure winners on display

   The winning images from the Washington Trails Association’s latest Northwest Exposure photography contest will be on display in Pioneer Square through the end of March. The photos, chosen from more than 800 entries, showcase the beauty of Washington’s backcountry, from snow-covered peaks to ocean shores, plus a few fun shots of the wildlife encountered along the way. You can see the exhibition at the NPCA Parks Information Center and Gallery, 313-A First Ave. S, Seattle, WA, 98104. www.wta.org

Weisel releases updated cross-country e-book

   If anyone knows the ins and outs of the best cross-country ski getaways around the U.S. and Canada, it’s Jonathan Weisel. An experienced cross-country skier, guide, instructor and trip planner, Weisel is sharing his experiences and information with a new book, Cross-Country Ski Getaways.

    Weisel’s book offers information on nearly 100 North American ski destinations, from budget to luxury and beginner to expert. Also included is information on other winter activities available at the destinations, including snowshoeing, sledding, sleigh rides and alpine skiing. Cross-Country Ski Getaways is available online at www.crosscountryskifun.com and in e-book format which readers can print or read online for $9.95.

Harriet Bullitt and Sleeping Lady honored  

   Harriet Bullitt, long-time resident of Leavenworth and founder and CEO of Sleeping Lady Mountain Retreat, was honored by the Performing Arts Center of Wenatchee (PAC) in recognition of her support of arts in the community. Bullitt was honored in both the professional and volunteer divisions of the PAC and is the first individual to be selected as the recipient in both award categories.

    Sleeping Lady was also recently recognized for “Outstanding Community Service” by the Washington State Hotel & Lodging Association (WSH&LA) at its Stars of the Industry event last fall. The retreat is deeply involved in community events, from food drives to ski benefits.

  
    A portion of Sleeping Lady’s profits benefit the Icicle Fund which supports the environment, arts and history of the Wenatchee River watershed and neighboring landscapes.
For reservations and more information, call (800) 574-2123 or visit www.sleepinglady.com.

Seven summits in 11 months

   If you think you had a busy year, consider International Mountain Guides’ Mike Hamill who scaled the famed Seven Summits in just 11 months. Hamill started with Vinson (Antarctica) on Dec. 1, 2007, followed by Aconcagua (South America) in January and February 2008, Everest (Asia) in May, Denali (North America) in July, Kilimanjaro (Africa) in August, Kosciuszko (Australia) in October, and finally Elbrus (Europe) on Nov.1. Seven continents, seven summits, 335 days. A year-round professional guide, Hamill, of Seattle, has been guiding for eight years.

Recreation Passes on sale

    Remember that most national forest trailheads and day-use areas require a pass. The new “America the Beautiful” pass is a comprehensive interagency pass valid for recreation opportunities on public lands managed by the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Forest Service and can be used in lieu of the Northwest Forest Pass. The annual pass sells for $80 and the lifetime senior pass is $10. Passes are valid for one full year from the month of purchase.

    You can also purchase a Northwest Forest Pass, valid in Washington and Oregon, for an annual cost of $30. Passes are available at all ranger district offices and online at www.discovernw.org.

XTERRA USA Championship moves to Snowbasin

   The XTERRA USA Championship race, which has been held in Incline Village, Nev. for the past eight seasons, will chart a new course this year when it moves to Snowbasin near Ogden, Utah Sept. 25-26. Snowbasin is known as a world-class ski and recreation destination and was home to the 2002 Olympic men’s and women’s downhill, super G and combined races.

     The Championship race draws athletes from across the U.S. and a dozen countries, with more than $100,000 in prize money on the line. The event combines a 1-mile swim with a 20-mile mountain bike ride that climbs more than 3,000 feet followed by a 6-mile trail run.