Brief by Allen Best
Wilderness – June 2007 – Colorado Central Magazine
A filmmaker has been refused permission to make movies of Chris Davenport skiing down 14,000-foot peaks in Colorado.
Ben Galland had sought a permit to film Davenport skiing on the peaks. Filming had already occurred on Castle Peak and possibly others in the Elk Range. All are located within federally designated wilderness areas.
The Forest Service refused a permit because low-flying helicopters are banned above wilderness areas. Also, federal regulations frown on commercial activities that encourage uses contrary to the spirit of wilderness.
“While the Forest Service does not want to diminish Davenport’s accomplishment of skiing all of Colorado’s peaks over 14,000 feet, whether the film is beneficial for wilderness is what is at issue,” said a Forest Service press release. The press release said the film focused on the concept of the “ski challenge” instead of concepts such as solitude, untrammeled nature, and the absence of urbanism.
Rich Doak, acting recreation staff officer on the White River National Forest, said private, as opposed to commercial, ski filmmaking is permitted on the 14,000-foot peaks in wilderness areas. Still photography, even if for commercial purposes, such as is done for coffee-table books, is also allowed.
Doak said the filmmaker was invited to seek a filming permit for 14ers located outside wilderness areas.
