I found out about the One Mountain project last winter while researching some stuff on the web and hearing about the filming up on the Grand Teton. The movie is a feature length documentary that focuses on two Jackson skiers’, Hunter Wood and Dan Petrus, dreams of skiing the Grand Teton. (Kind of like the video from my first descent of the GT, but a bit more dramatic and much longer.) The film…or at least the trailer…has some cool aerial footage of both the Teton Range itself and skiers skiing the Grand Teton, and well worth the seven and a half minutes it takes to watch the trailer. Click here to watch on amazon.com.
PROJECT SUMMARY
ONE MOUNTAIN is a feature length documentary that will follow the efforts of Hunter Wood and Dan Petrus as they attempt to ski and climb one of the biggest and most dangerous mountains in North America. The film will use interviews and sync pieces to carry the audience through spectacular action and scenic sequences, exploring the mystical attraction of mountains and how they are able to inspire and dominate our lives.
The film will showcase the beauty and grandeur of the high-mountain environment, revealing the inescapable attraction that has taken over the lives of Hunter and Dan. But the audience will also see that in this dramatic landscape danger is everywhere. From avalanches, to weather, to exposure, the film will look at the risks that Hunter and Dan face, building tension toward their ultimate challenge – the Grand.
Though the film is full of spectacular skiing and mountaineering, ONE MOUNTAIN is not a “ski film” and is designed to appeal to a diverse audience. By developing the characters the audience will find that these skiers and mountaineers are not so different than anyone else and their devotion to the mountains can be found in virtually all of our lives, only in other ambitions far less dangerous. With their lives consumed by their passion, Hunter and Dan struggle with the internal conflict of their love of being in the mountains and their desire to have some of the comforts of a more traditional lifestyle.
Looking deeper into Hunter and Dan’s lives, the film will find humorous and lighter moments revealing the effects of their addiction to the mountains. But there is also tension as friends and family worry that they may become “65 year old bartenders who ski a lot”.
In the climax of the film, Dan will climb one of the most difficult routes up the Grand and Hunter will ski it from the top. These will be the most dangerous endeavors of their lives. By accomplishing them, they will have reached the pinnacle of their sports. Will this be the final achievement that will allow them to concentrate on other aspects of their lives? Or will it reinforce their desire to test themselves on more dangerous mountains?
This storyline gets pretty old. Same old formula, However, I do like the rudolph the rednose reindeer subplot with Hunter sharing the same passion as did herme the elf.
I would agree that a video like this probably only needs to be about 10 minutes long…like the trailer…but I do think the feature length will probably have more great footage of the Teton’s in general…which is all us skiers really need to keep our attention.
Remember, movies like this are often geared for a broad audience…who may not be living the skier/mountain lifestyle. Therefore..even video of tuning skis can be captivating.
Both those guys are gifted skiers and low-key people who represent a real dedication to the skiing lifestyle. Whether the story is worthy of a feature-length documentary treatment depends on the director’s skills. I look forward to seeing a final cut.
I thought it looked pretty good, but then again, the seven minute trailer might be enough. I don’t know what eventually happens, but the stuff Hunter/Dan were skiing inbounds at JH was harder than anything they were going to find on the Ford/Stettner, so I had to wonder what they were so freaked out by. I guess I’ll have to see the movie to find out, eh?
In any case, it is some excellent footage of the Grand and skiing the grand. Between this movie and the Grand being ski guided, I wonder if traffic will go way up on it? Has anyone ever been hurt skiing it?
There is always some fear, anxiety and risk when skiing mountains like the Grand Teton. IMHO, I think being far from rescue is a HUGE factor in how hard one charges/skis a line as well.
Traffic has already gone up on the Grand Teton, with parties even climbing the Exum Ridge to descend the Ford/Stettner late in the season. Not really my cup-of-tea…but whatever. Whether it’s because of the growing popularity of backcountry skiing and backcountry skiing in general, or advances in the equipment, or media hype and guided parties…it’s tough to say.
while i have not done it with skis on, popping over to the ford after rolling over wall street seems like it could be fairly quick as opposed to some of the conditions you can run into in the chevy. same with getting out of the ford. guess it would take away the fun of connecting the lower section to teepee, but certainly would seem like a way to do it for the not as experienced mountaineers who want to ski the ford, but who are less accomplished with dealing with the ice aspect below.
and i definitely think advances in equipment is equal with media hype. i still remember a descent of the middle with my kvc’s and rossy boots, with ice axe duct taped to my ski pole.
i like the fact that they shot the dude in his job trailer complete with his scrubby ass clothes waxing whimsical about the mountains. true dirtbag. not one of these pataguccied out trusties climbing out of their SUVS skiing only when the snow is good enough for them and acting like they own a certain part of the hill. i think any form of media is gonna come across as cheesy to those who spend time in the mountains. like RS said the footage of the peaks is what is valuable and more credit should be given to the dude lugging the heavy camera AND participating in the event at the same time.
I agree, the camera man is the real hero.
Steve, AMA launch party December 1st if you’re itching for a trip to Denver. Flylow, Icelantic and a few others will be there along with Tommyknocker brewery! You’re invited, beer’s on us.
If it helps the general public to understand what we do and why, that’s a good thing.