Fire On The Mountain - Official Grateful Dead & Chris Benchetler Film

From the mind of Chris Benchetler comes TGR's latest short film collaboration with Flagship Independent. Improvisation is the silver thread that weaves this crew together. Just as the Grateful Dead did not fit their music into an established category, this short film finds a cast of some of the world’s best athletes on a spontaneous journey of skiing, snowboarding, surfing, and music, complete with a soundtrack comprised of only Grateful Dead music.

Narrated by Hall of Fame basketball player and television sportscaster Bill Walton with music supervision by David Lemieux, audiovisual archivist and legacy manager for the Grateful Dead, Fire On The Mountain features some of action sports’ most legendary athletes: snowboarding’s Jeremy Jones, Danny Davis, Kimmy Fasani, surfing icon Rob Machado, and skiers Michelle Parker and Chris Benchetler. Captured over the course of the winter by cinematographer Tyler Hamlet with the help of Sweetgrass Productions, the visual journey features never seen before visual effects within nature and original artwork by Benchetler and Skye Walker.

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[tetongravityresearch]

GIVEAWAY!! Over the next few weeks, we will be giving away some awesome Grateful Dead-inspired gear such as Dakine's Team Baron Gore-Tex Mitts and Team Poacher Backpack, as well as apparel from our very own TGR x Chris Benchetler x Grateful collab. Comment your favorite part of the movie below for a chance to win!

[tetongravityresearch]

We're beyond stoked to share this film with the world, hope you enjoy!

[Karmakatt]

RIP BILL WALTON. A TRUE OG HEAD ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[RedBullSnow]

We've got this on repeat. Mesmerizing

[dillwill]

This is the kinda stuff that makes me proud to be a Deadhead. 💀

[christopherorman]

Man...it mixes everything I love in life into a gorgeous 27 minute mix of goodness.

[wdlmj]

Brown Eyed Woman (Live) – From Europe ‘72
The Other One (Live) – From Europe ’72 Vol. 2
New Speedway Boogie – From Workingman’s Dead
Dark Star (Edit) – From Steppin’ Out With The Grateful Dead: England ‘72
Playing In The Band (Live) – From Europe ’72 Vol. 2
Fire On The Mountain (Live) – From Cornell 5/8/77
Ripple – From American Beauty

[Eric_Luke]

Forget Netflix & chill.

Time to LSD & ski ⛷

[michaellowe]

Bill Walton is a national treasure and should be treated as such, I never miss a chance to hear his broadcasts! In 1975 at the SNACK benefit in SF I did a favor for a guy who changed my life, that guy was Ramrod and I toured with the Dead until they went to Egypt. I lost my entrance visa so Bill could make the trip, as Ramrod said "never trust a prankster". I ended up in the CSNY family for the next decade or so and I am so happy this all happened the way it did. RIP!

[GiantPinhead]

Bill Walton meant EVERYTHING to us, growing up. Thank you, Bill, for all of it.

[midi]

I'm not surprised that this turned out so well coming from the mind of a Mammoth local. I'm a snowcat mechanic at Mammoth and remember when they were shooting the night riding. It took a lot of cat support and the cats always break down more during storm cycles. All I knew at the time was that Benchetler was doing something on Hemlocks with lights and Dead music. Glad to be a part of it.


All the events and competitions, plus everyday grooming, that depend on snowcats, would eventually come to a standstill without snowcat mechanics. Without snowcat mechanics, every ski area would be littered with broke down snowcats.

[iamTflan]

4 years later, still watching this all the time. ❤

[energyideas]

Walton applying his musical taste, sports and media connections to good use. Thanks to TGR.

[erbspalsey]

“Sometimes I wish I never heard American Beauty... That way I could hear it again for the first time." From Freaks & Geeks

[theotherone]

Thanks for posting this! Have a Jerry Christmas and a Happy Bob Weir!

[tstass]

Dead fan, skier and snowboarder, 59 y.o. Just awesome...awesome.. awesome... the music will never stop!!! Best Part... all 27:27 of it

[dylarianer]

I've been in the hospital emergency room for the past 39 hours in excruciating pain due to crohn's disease complications. This film is what I needed! Thank you so much for sharing this with us! I've never seen such beauty, color, nature and inspiration while watching some of my favorite athletes doing what they do best to my favorite band! So amazing! Will help get me through surgery this afternoon with a big bright smile on my face! Thank you 1000x over and again!

[mjd]

Bill Walton doing the narrative was the cherry on top of a gorgeous and fun film. This old deadhead boogied a bit in his chair watching it!

[paulmoser]

That Barton Hall Fire is just so amazing. I have listened to it SOOOO many times, and it still gives me chills. Superimposed with the skiers and surfers it's even more breathtaking.

[christopherorman]

My favorite part: the moment the sky goes dark, the colored lights go on, the skiers drop as white glow bugs, and Fire on the Mountain from Cornell 77 kicks in.