The rain is starting to go away in San Francisco and the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour is conveniently rolling into town next week!  Round up your friends and celebrate adventure with a once again impressive collection of adventure film.  But, what if I have couch potato friends?  No worries there, adventurers of all experience levels can watch these videos...and possibly be inspired to join you in your next active pursuit.

For those of you who like things 'still', show off your photography talents in the Banff Mountain Photography Competition, happening now until March 21, 2011.  Check out last year's winners for a little photo essay inspiration.

Storm Clouds over Mount Aspiring, Aspiring National Park, New Zealand © Iain Guilliard, UK.

What's your wildest dream?  It may be to simply stay in shape until you're old and grey, base jump off the rock walls of Yosemite, hike up Mt. Kilimanjaro or perhaps summit Mt. Everest!  Whatever it is, stay inspired to achieve your goals.  Watch the movie 'The Wildest Dream: Conquest of Everest' starring Conrad Anker and directed by Anthony Geffen, a captivating and vivid documentary about one of the earliest Mt. Everest explorers, George Mallory.

Click here to reserve your tickets to The Wildest Dream now!

Team Skimble got to check out a private viewing of The Wildest Dream a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it!  We met with Conrad and asked him a few questions:

• Q: Did you take any photos up during your trek? Did you take any other special item to drop off at the summit?
• A: I had two pictures en route to the summit of Everest. Always have them with me.

• Q: What's the next adventure for you?
• A: Studying glaciers and climatology. Sharing my knowledge of mountains with others.

• Q: Has anyone made a call or recorded a GPS track with an iPhone or Android phone at the summit of Everest?
• A: Maybe this year...

Anyone up for volunteering?

The 2009/2010 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour is (very likely) coming to a city near you!  It's a pretty epic world tour and here's a quick preview of what's in store:

In addition, these are inspiring images captured in the 2009 Film Award Winners from 277 entries from 28 countries:

Beyond The Summits

Natural World: Snow Leopard - Beyond The Myth

Mont-Blanc Speed Flying

Kranked - Revolve

So whether you're an armchair adventurer or an über-adrenalin outdoor junkie, add this event to your social calendar!  Here's a list of popular screening locations:

Toronto, Ontario - March 26, 27, 28, 2010
Alpine Club of Canada - Toronto Section
info2010@TorontoBanffFilmFest.com

Salt Lake City, UT - February 22, 23, 24, 2010
University of Utah

Boulder, CO - March 2, 3, 2010
REI Boulder 303-583-9970

San Francisco, CA - March 10, 11, 2010
REI San Francisco 415-934-1938

New York, NY - March 8, 9, 2010
Chestnut Mountain Productions 215-923-9161

Ann Arbor, MI - April 11, 2010
U of Michigan Outdoor Adventure
734-764-3967 jstawski@umich.edu

Chicago, IL - April 20, 21, 2010
The Field Museum 312-665-7400

The Banff Mountain Film Festival is sponsored by National Geographic, The North Face, Deuter, Outdoor Research, Polartec, Three Cups of Tea, MSR, Fernie Mountain Resort, Petzl, World Expeditions, and Mountain Hardware.  They're giving away prizes at the events and online contests including a chance to win a 15-day trip for two to Peru - woah!  Good luck.