Palisades Tahoe USA's Plaza Bar will host the only U.S. public viewing of the award-winning documentary "Mount St. Elias: The Longest Ski Descent Ever" on Friday March 12th. The film follows an Austrian team in their attempt to climb the Alaskan mountain - only successfully summited by less than 20 people - and ski off the top, 18,000-vertical feet to the ocean.

This movie has taken top honors at almost every European film festival as well as the X-Dance Action Sports Film Festival. In addition to the ski descent, the film also incorporates the story of local Lake Tahoe ski-mountaineer Aaron Martin, who, along with another climber, died after summiting the mountain in 2002 in their bid to pioneer the ski descent (two others survived). Palisades Tahoe cinematographer Steven Siig was part of the 2002 rescue effort and is interviewed in the film. At the event, Siig will talk about Martin’s climb and provide more details about the 2002 tragedy.
 
At the afterparty, the winner of the Marker Flying V Guitar auction will be announced. Local Palisades Tahoe skier and Black Sunshine singer/songwriter Matt Reardon, who wrote and performed much of the soundtrack, will play an acoustic set of songs from the movie; and Truckee band Subject to Change will headline.

The event is also a benefit for the Truckee-based High Fives Foundation, where CR Johnson’s family has asked that all donations be made, and in memory of Aaron Martin.

Location: Plaza Bar, Palisades Tahoe USA

Door: 7pm, Film: 8pm

Limited tickets available. $20 in advance/$25 at the door. (530) 363-0235 for ticket info.

Watch the Trailer