The Shorts — The Dread
“The dread was there, strong and palpable. I just hoped my will was stronger,” writes Luke Hinz. After losing both his father and his brother in the month of May, Luke always had a feeling that something bad would befall him as well. When he set out to ski an ambitious line in Utah’s Wasatch Range on May 2nd, 2019, he had to face that fear in the mountains.
Flight of the Monarch
“I felt as though the Monarch Butterfly contained some special sort of wisdom that I could connect with,” says Benjamin Jordan. Inspired by the Monarch, he set out to do what no one had ever done before: recreate the migration of the Monarch Butterfly–by paraglider. Through this 5-month journey, Benjamin gained a deep respect for this fragile creature and a humble awareness of his own place in nature.
Check out Benjamin’s short film here, or learn about threats to the monarch butterfly here, or even help protect pollinators here.
Music: If Walls Could Talk by Jacob Bain & Nis Kotto • Brooks by Kai Engel • Indian Summer byJohn Berry • Something by Kai Engel • Stargazing by Ken Christianson • The Architect by Cleod9 • Snowmen by Kai Engel • Delivered by Brendan O’Connell • Tracks provided by Free Music Archive or with permission from the artists.
Sacred Slopes
“I did the skiing thing, I did the Navajo thing, and those worlds didn’t cross,” says Len Necefer. After learning how to ski-mountaineer in the winter of 2017, Len set out on an ambitious goal: to connect the Navajo cultural traditions of the mountains he comes from with his new love– skiing.
Music: If Walls Could Talk by Jacob Bain & Nis Kotto • Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw • Quasi Motion by Kevin MacLeod • The Wall Cahall by Fitz Cahall and Cordelia Zars • Remedy for Melancholy by Kai Engel • Sage Circa by Amy Stolzenbach • Primary Colors by Ken Christianson • The Architect by Cleod9 • Delivered by Brendan O’Connell • Tracks provided by Free Music Archive or with permission from the artists.
The Shorts — Balancing Act
Today, Carly Rushford and Paddy O’Connell find their edge on the snowy mountain slopes. In our first double-short episode, we hear how downhill skiing has helped Carly and Paddy shape their place and purpose in the world.
Music: If Walls Could Talk by Jacob Bain & Nis Kotto • The Last Wild Mountain by Bradley Carter • The Very Beginning by Bradley Carter • High Country Waltz by Bradley Carter • The Biddy Bong Song by Publish the Quest • Regal by Bradley Carter • Brooks by Kai Engel • Freaks by Bradley Carter • Delivered by Brendan O’Connell • Tracks provided by Free Music Archive or with permission from the artists.
False Summit
“From here, it’s going to be easy.” Ryan Wichelns and Gabe Messercola repeated this phrase throughout their 21 day expedition in Denali National Park in 2015. From crossing scree-covered glaciers, to traversing ridgelines and downclimbing icy cliffs, to fording waist-deep rivers, Alaska taught these young mountaineers a lesson in making and letting go of plans.
See an overview of their route.
Music: If Walls Could Talk by Jacob Bain & Nis Kotto • Jaco 2 by Bradley Carter • Indian Summer by John Berry • Somnolence by Kai Engel • Scenery by Kai Engel • Lake Rise by John Berry • July by Kai Engel • Delivered by Brendan O’Connell • Tracks provided by Free Music Archive or with permission from the artists.
