Movie Review: Jumbo Wild
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Everybody loves a new ski resort, right?
That’s not the case with the proposed Jumbo Glacier Resort, in British Columbia. I’ve been occasionally following the decades-long battle of Jumbo Mountain that developers have been fighting against a rather unyielding community. And honestly, I’ve never known which side to take.
I mean, a ski area is a ski area right? I’m a skier, and I always want more people to be able to enjoy the pleasures of skiing that I’ve come to grow and love. Even more-so, I want people to feel a connection with nature, a connection that blossomed for me as a result of strapping two planks on my feet. Without that connection, I would not understand why it’s so important to preserve our natural lands.
So, what’s wrong with building another ski area where people can enjoy fresh air, the feeling of fluffy white stuff on the face, and the freedom of the mountains? It’s not like they’re gonna take the mountain and whack off the top and strip it down to a whittle of nothing so they can extract some valuable mineral or something. No tunnel is being built for some long-spanning oil pipeline. You could argue that building a ski area would perhaps preserve the mountain, somewhat.
Well, it’s more complicated than that. And the battle of Jumbo Mountain has a lot more to do with some larger preservation issues that can spin around in some people’s brains, like mine. Yes, it’s important to create places where people can bridge the comforts of city life with an outdoors experience, hopefully a gateway into even more outdoor adventures and a solid connection with nature. But, at what point do we stop intercepting wildlife and tame our wilderness for the enjoyment of the outdoors? Where does the balance lie?
And if they actually build it, who will come? Will skiers really travel to a mega-resort in the middle of nowhere when there are so many other options nearby? Perhaps we need an influx of smaller, more affordable mom-and-pop ski areas closer to urban areas to foster new skiers, rather than expensive over-sized resorts.
The issues behind all of these larger questions are really what the battle of Jumbo Glacier is about. On one side, you have the environmentalists and communities fighting for preservation and against unnecessary development. On the other side, you have the visionary guy who just wants to see his life-long architecture dream come alive by building a place where people can begin fostering their own connections with nature. And Nick Waggoner of Sweetgrass Productions does a pretty good job of capturing the core of both sides of the story.
Yes, Jumbo Wild is obviously biased. The name tells you so. But, whether you’re opposed or against the development of Jumbo Mountain Resort, this movie captures the heart of the struggle, and gives us skiers and snowboarders something to really think about.
If you love to play in the snow, then go see Jumbo Wild. It just might make your brain spin.
The Details
Jumbo Wild is created by Sweetgrass Productions and sponsored by Patagonia. View the trailer below.
US Tour Dates
OCTOBER 16, 7:00 PM
Feathered Friends
Seattle, Washington
Hosted by Patagonia Ambassador Steve House
This event is free
OCTOBER 17, 7:30 PM
Patagonia Portland
Portland, Oregon
Hosted by Patagonia Ambassadors Steve House and Josh Dirksen
This event is free
OCTOBER 18, 8:00 PM
Patagonia Bend
Bend, Oregon
Hosted by Patagonia Ambassadors Steve House and Josh Dirksen
This event is free
OCTOBER 20, 7:00 PM
Art Haus Theater
Tahoe City, California
Hosted by Patagonia Ambassador Max Hammer
Ticket info
OCTOBER 21, 6:00 PM & 8:00 PM
Brewvies Cinema Pub
Salt Lake City, UT
Hosted by Patagonia Ambassador Max Hammer + Alex Yoder
Purchase $5 tickets at Patagonia Outlet Salt Lake City
OCTOBER 22, 6:30PM & 8:30PM
Mayan Theatre
Denver, Colorado
Hosted by Patagonia Ambassador Alex Yoder + Vince Anderson
Ticket info
OCTOBER 23, 7:30 PM
Patagonia Boulder Store
Boulder, Colorado
Hosted by Patagonia Ambassadors Alex Yoder and Vince Anderson
This event is free
OCTOBER 25, 6:30 PM & 8:30 PM
Animas City Theatre
Durango, CO
Hosted by Patagonia Ambassador Alex Yoder + Vince Anderson
Ticket info
Purchase $5 tickets at Pine Needle Mountaineering
OCTOBER 27, 7:00 PM
The Emerson
Bozeman, MT
Hosted by Patagonia Ambassadors Alex Yoder and Max Hammer
Ticket info
Purchase $5 tickets at Chalet Sports + Round House
OCTOBER 29, 8:00 PM
Patagonia Meatpacking
New York, New York
Hosted by Patagonia Ambassador Pep Fujas
This event is free
OCTOBER 30, 8:00 PM
Patagonia SoHo
New York, New York
Hosted by Patagonia Ambassador Pep Fujas
This event is free
NOVEMBER 1, 8:00 PM
Patagonia Boston
Boston, Massachusetts
Hosted by Patagonia Ambassador Pep Fujas
This event is free
NOVEMBER 2, 7:00 PM
Main St. Landing Film House
Burlington, Vermont
Hosted by Patagonia Ambassador Pep Fujas
Purchase $5 tickets at Patagonia Burlington
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