ENFIELD — A documentary called “Mountains Not for Profit,” tackles the scrappy and creative efforts of Whaleback and three other nonprofit mountains to remain sustainable in an era of resort consolidation that has seen the closure of many small, community-focused mountains.

This is no Warren Miller footage-fest. It is peek into how nonprofit ski areas manage to remain viable.

“They filmed parts of our board meeting,” Whaleback Executive Director Jon Hunt said recently. “They did interviews in the building. They came in May and June, not during the ski season for the majority of their content,” he added.

In addition to Whaleback, the film focuses Black Mountain of Maine, Wyoming’s Antelope Butte, and Shames Mountain in British Columbia. It was produced by Teton Gravity Research, an adventure-sports media company, and Indy Pass.

Indy Pass is a multi-resort pass that allows purchasers to ski for two days at any of more than 200 independent ski and snowboard areas. In the Upper Valley, those offerings include Whaleback, Dartmouth Skiway and Saskadena Six.

“The owners of Indy Pass came to us and had this idea about partnering with TGR, and wanted to make a film,” Hunt said. “We happen to be one of the few nonprofit ski areas in North America, so they wanted us to feature in it.”

The film examines the creative thinking and year round effort it takes to keep “the Whale” and similar mountains afloat. It is “less about skiing and riding and more about what we mean to the community and how we operate,” Hunt said.

Whaleback has been owned and operated by the nonprofit Upper Valley Snowsports Foundation since 2013. Its mission, Hunt said, is to provide affordable skiing and riding to the local community in a way that enhances the Upper Valley community.

Like most small ski areas, it operates at a loss most winters. Keeping costs low enough to be affordable to the community it serves “doesn’t cover the budget,” Hunt said.

“If there’s a good season and we do turn a profit, we can reinvest in the infrastructure,” Hunt said. But it’s grants, donations and green season activities such as concerts, event rentals and summer camps that are “the key to our long-term survival,” Hunt said.

Over the past two decades, the snow sports industry has seen a wave of consolidation as companies such as Vail Resorts and Alterra Mountain Company purchased ski areas throughout the world, creating large conglomerates. In the U.S., Vail owns 36 resorts including Okemo, Mt. Sunapee, and Stowe Mountains, and Alterra owns 16, including Sugarbush and Stratton.

Independent mountains are usually smaller than their corporately-owned counterparts, and they don’t have the same number of on-mountain amenities — slopeside condos, fitness centers and restaurants — that larger resorts boast. But to Wendy Clinch, Ludlow, Vt., resident and founder of the women-specific ski forum The Ski Diva, that’s part of the charm.

“You kind of have to make an effort” if you’re going visit an independent mountain, Clinch said.

But she says it’s worth it. “It’s a vibe thing. I love the community feel and that I’m supporting a community and not a corporation in Colorado,” she said.

Clinch has been an Indy Pass user in the past and enjoys visiting quirky, off-the-beaten path ski areas.

“I almost hate divulging some of these areas because if people become aware of how good they are but people might start flocking there,” she said with a laugh.

At Whaleback and other nonprofit resorts, the goal is to keep skiing fun and affordable for area residents.

Hunt said that Whaleback has been able to meet 100% of financial aid requests from families or individuals who apply for assistance with passes, lessons or equipment rentals.

Skiing or snowboarding “shouldn’t be about getting VIP parking or paying to skip the lift line, or paying $30 for a cheeseburger,” Hunt said. “We do a deal on Tuesday night. $25 for a burger, a lift ticket and a drink,” he said.

“That’s a hot date night.”

When Whaleback reached out to the Lebanon Opera House about screening the film, it was ” kind of a no brainer,” Laura Jean Gilloux, events manager at LOH, said. “It’s going to be a great night. I’m really happy for them,” she added.

The screening of “Mountains Not for Profit” will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16 at the Lebanon Opera House. There is no fee to attend, but anyone wishing to reserve a spot may do so online at: lebanonoperahouse.org. The film will be available to view on Teton Gravity Research’s YouTube channel beginning Nov. 26.

Christina Dolan can be reached at cdolan@vnews.com or 603-727-3208.

CORRECTION: The documentary “Mountains Not for Prof it” will premiere at the Lebanon Opera House on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. A previous version of this story included an incorrect date for the premiere.