CHARLEMONT — To celebrate the dropping temperatures and future arrival of winter, the Western Mass Backcountry Alliance is holding a pre-ski season party at Berkshire East Mountain Resort on Saturday, Nov. 16.

Skiing enthusiasts can prepare for the season with a gear raffle; a ski tuning clinic with Hal Westwood, an instructor with the Professional Ski Instructors of America; and a bike ride through the trails. The event will also include food and drinks, an update from the alliance’s board and a presentation from head ski patroller for Berkshire East, Marc Burdick. Burdick will share stories from his time living in Colorado and leading rescue missions in the backcountry and give safety tips.

This is the alliance’s second preseason bash, said co-founder Dave O’Neil. He and co-founder Andy Mathey created the Western Mass Backcountry Alliance three years ago as a chapter of the Catamount Trail Association. The group hosts backcountry ski trips, trail clearing days, weekly ski groups and more.

“Our main focus is taking care of two backcountry ski zones in South Lee and West Cummington,” O’Neil said. “We’re just trying to promote skiing in our area and bring the community together.”

O’Neil said the preseason bash is “an all-day event dedicated to skiing” that will get people excited about the alliance’s work and the upcoming ski season. There were 100 attendees in 2023, with similar numbers expected this year.

The evening will end with a screening of the nationally touring Winter Wildlands Backcountry Film Festival. For the past 20 years, the Winter Wildlands Alliance has invited filmmakers to document the “spirit of humans in winter.” Films are then taken on tour and screened at more than 100 locations across the country to support recreation and conservation efforts, and avalanche/safety programs.

This year’s film festival includes 11 short films ranging from eight to 20 minutes long, O’Neil said. The films capture stories of skiers who survived avalanches, traveled to Antarctica to lead skiing expeditions and went on backcountry expeditions while battling cancer, to name a few.

During the event, donations of hats, coats and other warm winter gear will be collected for the Mary Lyon Foundation. Each item donated can be exchanged for extra raffle tickets, and will go to support families in need.

The party will take place at Berkshire East’s Crazy Horse Bar & Grill at 66 Thunder Mountain Road. The trail bike ride will begin at 2 p.m., the ski tuning clinic will begin at 4 p.m., and doors at the restaurant will open at 4:30 p.m. for refreshments and the rest of the evening’s activities.

Tickets are $10 for Western Mass Backcountry Alliance members and Catamount Trail Association members, and $15 for general admission. Tickets can be purchased at tinyurl.com/mr44kfpe.

Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com.