Taos Mountain Film Festival, October 11-13, 2002

Tomorrow's Wilderness in the Hands of Today's Youth...

INTENT
Taos Mountain Film Festival believes that the future of wilderness preservation lies in the immediate outdoor education of the present younger generation. The Youth Endurance Challenge was devised to expose youngsters from the age of 15 to 25 to the wilderness experience. The challenge will be made to youth of all social, educational and ethnic backgrounds, but 'at risk' kids will be especially encouraged to take part. The wide range of terrain in close proximity to Taos provides a unique location for staging this event.

DAY ONE
A short rock climb and rappel test will start the day. Next our participants head up the switchbacks and five miles along the mesa using three bikes among the team of five. Then the teams carry a raft into the canyon, inflate it and paddle it back down the Rio Grande to the starting point. We complete the day with a swim of the river.

DAY TWO
From a trailhead in the Moreno Valley contestants take the beautiful South Boundary Trail 23 miles across the Sangre de Cristo range - with only one drawback, the team must share three mountain bikes among the five of them. Finally into Taos plaza

REWARD
The Youth Endurance Challenge is not a race. The participants' reward will be in the successful completion of the course. The event is scheduled to finish on the opening afternoon of the Festival. Participants will receive acknowledgements and awards from the dignitaries at the opening ceremony. Complimentary tickets to films and events will available to the entrants. Every effort will be made to introduce youngsters to the adventurers and filmmakers who are attending the festival.

SAFETY MEASURES
In the high country ham radio operators from our Search and Rescue team will monitor the progress of teams and stand by to evacuate. The cliff challenge will be organized by the experienced guiding outfit, Mountain Skills Inc. Los Rios River Runners and Native Sons Adventures will provide boats and guides to ensure safe passage through the Rio Grande Gorge. Native Sons Adventures will supervise and oversee the mountain biking and jogging return leg to town.