Offenbacher talks Tahoe Adventure Film Festival and Flying Wild in Alaska

It has been quite a year for Lake Tahoe's outdoor adventure tribal elder Todd Offenbacher. The film festival founder, Lake Tahoe TV host, mountaineer and unofficial statesmen of all things uniquely outdoors has been to the Arctic Circle, just returned from a trip to Antarctica, and will be featured in two segments on the popular Discovery Channel program Flying Wild in Alaska.
Oh yeah, his wife, Tara, is pregnant with the couple's first child, a girl whom they've already named, (Olive Dakota Offenbacher). She is due to come into the world right around the time Offenbacher winds down the Dec. 10 Tahoe Adventure Film Festival, founded by Offenbacher 10 years ago.
"I would say 2011 is by far the most adventure-filled time of my life. 2011 trumps everything," said Offenbacher as he prepared for his Antarctica trip. 

Flying by the seat of his pants, literally, Offenbacher and South Lake Tahoe Adventure photographer Corey Rich spent part of April up in Alaska filming the program Flying Alaska, which will air Dec. 9 and Dec. 16 on the Discovery Channel. Flying Alaska features Alaska's unique aviation community by following the Tweto family from Unalakleet, Alaska. Rich and Offenbacher will be featured on the show, which will highlight adventure sports, adventure photography and journalism. 
This is one part of the pole. The other is in Antarctica. Offenbacher was part of a team of about 100 skiers who ventured out onto the untamed peaks of the Antarctic tundra, among the first to ever attempt to do so in the region.
Upon Offenbacher's return, he's ramping up for the Tahoe Adventure Film Festival, which captures the intensity and passion of mountain sports and culture. The show begins the minute the doors open on December 10 at 6:30 p.m at the MontBleu Casino Resort & Spa Showroom. Dramatic action photography from Aurora Photos flashes on the big screen while Little Jon Flip, go-go dancers and a deejay pump up the crowd.
Next, the films commence with the main event at 7:30 p.m., showcasing segments from the best action sports films of the year. Films cover the full spectrum of adventure including skiing, snowboarding, kayaking, rock climbing, surfing, skating, mountain biking, BASE jumping and other heart-pounding sports. Many of the segments are special edits, including previews of films that have not been released.
To top off a night full of excitement, the Adventure Film Festival will host a wild after-party at the Opal Ultralounge. All film attendees are invited to party with friends, athletes and the filmmakers to fuel their passion for action.
We caught up with Offenbacher before he left and asked him about what's he's been doing. Here's some of our conversation:
Tahoe Mountain News: Tell us how you became involved in Flying Alaska? When do the shows air with the Tahoe crew in them?
Todd Offenbacher: The programs, two of them with us in them, air Dec. 9 and Dec. 16  on The Discovery Channel. We're limited as what we can discuss until the show airs. Network respect stuff, national security, "tell ya but have to kill ya" crap.
I will say it was a hell of an adventure, soul -rushing hard work, climbing trip in the Arctic Circle. We ended up in the Brooks Range of Alaska in April. Very far from a Starbucks. I was working with the best climbers and videographers in the world on this trip. Very cool, and very humbling. Oh yeah, it was minus-20 at night too.
TMN: Tell us about your experiences in Alaska and what sets this last trip apart being with part of the aviation community. 
TO: "First, I gotta say I love Alaska. It really is the last wild frontier in the USA. I've been several times to ski and climb — we heli-skied with Points North Heli Adventures a few years ago, which is as good as it gets. Skiing steep Alaska faces and yo-yoing with a helicopter is amazing. 
Last year I flew to the Ruth Glacier to alpine rock climb. We spent most of the time in a tent in bad storms and did very little rock climbing and we ended up without food for nearly five days. They could not fly in to get us because the weather was so bad.
So going into this time around we knew what to expect. Alaska is large-scale wilderness. It is not connected by roads like the lower 48. Lots of remote villages and homes and folks living off the grid. They like it like that. But the only way they can get fresh deliveries of food, fuel, clothing and supplies is by air. Everything is flown in. That's what the show Flying Wild Alaska is about. A family that flies the wild skies.
TMN: How this dovetails with your trip to Antarctica?
TO: This latest trip where I will be working as a guide is through November 20 and it is through Doug Stoup, a guy out of Truckee who runs Ice Axe Expeditions. He has made many trips there over the years. Our goal is to ski mountains that have likely not been skied (first descents). We go in by ship and I've never been on a ship before. I'm stoked to cross the Drake Passage to get to Antarctica. Shakelton man.
This is like a poor man's trip to the moon. Plus we get to ski Chile before we embark on the ship. Then ski Antarctica. Ski two continents in one trip! That's good skiing value.
TMN: And when you get back, it's Film Festival Time. The party where everyone in Tahoe is a guest of honor. What keeps you doing this and what does it say about your overall philosophy?
TO: It is high energy, all interactive and every local should come and experience it. This is for everyone here who loves the outdoors. and I do this for the Tahoe community because I love the Tahoe community. It's like a our own Tahoe Tribe. I see so many acts of kindness with fund-raisers, and sponsoring of events to raise money when needed. We are a powerful force and a passionate group. I think a lot of visitors want to be us. 
These are hard times in our country. I believe we need to work together in simple ways. More gatherings of the tribe for good causes (or for no reason). We have to welcome Tahoe visitors with open arms. No one is too cool to be friendly or to smile. Follow your passion and make Tahoe and the world a better place. We live in the greatest nation in the world. America. And we get to live in Tahoe. Never waste day.