Boulder, Colorado-based Serac Adventure Film School offers courses in the Himalayas, Antarctica, and for those seeking a more domestic program, the Colorado backcountry. January 25 through February 2, explore the 10th Mountain Division Huts, a system of 29 backcountry huts in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, and learn how to make your own movie based around the hut trip. “The Colorado session is one of our most enjoyable,” says Michael Brown of Serac. “We cook good food, talk about filmmaking and generally create a group of friends. This year we have some really interesting guests, including Colorado Powder Forecast website creator Joel Gratz, NOLS guide Phil Henderson, and avalanche safety expert Tim Brown in the mix. We even have some surprise guests.”
While studying the necessities of backcountry travel, students will also be tasked with capturing the excursion for their own adventure film. Brown, an Emmy Award winning filmmaker who has carried a 25-pound HD camera to the top of Mt. Everest four times, is just one of the mentors available on the trip. Serac also provides sponsoring musicians, so students don’t need to worry about claiming music rights during the post-production steps of their film.
As for skiing, Serac takes students with skill levels ranging from the beginners to wannabe pros. “You do not need to be a strong skier to participate,” says Brown. “We have a contingent going on snowshoes. We will be setting up camera angles from great spots and shooting whoever wants to be on camera. Equipment is accessible as well.” Bent Gate Mountaineering, in Golden, Colorado, will help outfit students with backcountry gear.
Fill out an application at adventurefilmschool.com.
