Sailors have been known for telling tall tales. So when Terry Kennedy, a now 83-year-old sailor, would talk about swimming with his friend off Mexico鈥檚 remote Revillagigedo Islands in the late 1980s, it鈥檚 understandable why some questioned if it was all true. The charismatic friend he was always going on about was, after all, a 22-foot giant manta ray.

This extraordinary bond between man and manta is the focus behind the new film , premiering at Tribeca Film Festival on June 8th, World Oceans Day. If The Octopus Teacher could change the way the world sees cephalopods, this film will surely move you to care more deeply about mantas. The documentary follows Kennedy on a final expedition, a 鈥渄ying wish,鈥� to swim with his friend Willy one last time.

An ex-Hells Angel and Vietnam vet sailing Baja鈥檚 Sea of Cortez on a boat named Erotica in the 80s, Kennedy is a local legend with no shortage of stories. But the one that forever changed his life鈥攁nd the lives of the Pacific manta rays in these Mexican waters鈥攚as how he became friends with 鈥淲illy Wow.鈥�

It all began one morning in 1988, when Kennedy was on his sailboat off San Benedicto, a tiny uninhabited volcanic island in the Revillagigedo Islands chain, 210 miles south of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

鈥淎ll of a sudden, there’s a big old bang on the side of the boat. The boat actually moves about a foot in one direction. I thought we got hit by another boat, but looking around we were the only ones in the [area],鈥� Kennedy shared with 国产吃瓜黑料.

鈥淚 look over the side and here’s this giant manta ray half the length of the boat. And the boat’s 46 feet long. Well, I can’t pass this up,鈥� he recalled. An expert diver who鈥檚 clocked more than 14,000 dives, Kennedy has taken a lot of chances in his life. At this point, he had only seen a massive ray in the distance; he had never been in the water with one before. Not wasting a moment, Kennedy grabbed his tank and his fins, and jumped over the side. But once in the water, saw the ray was gone.

鈥淗e just vanished. As I looked down to make sure I had my fins on, there he was right below me, about four feet down. Nothing but massive black coming up right underneath me. There’s nothing I could do鈥ut hang on.鈥�

And off they went. Kennedy says he hung on, gently, to the back of this gigantic manta ray while it took him for a ride. 鈥淎fter about 15- 20 minutes, he brought me right back to the boat. And then he did the same thing the very next morning.鈥�

So began a nearly 20-year-long friendship between Kennedy and Willy, his name for his new friend (鈥淲illy Wow鈥� being his full name). 鈥淲henever he’s feeding on the south end of the island, he recognizes the bottom of the boat,鈥� Kennedy believes. With a gentle slap of his wing on the hull of the boat, Willy signals him to come take another dive.

An Unlikely Conservationist

Some of you reading this are likely thinking no one should be touching鈥攁nd especially riding鈥� a . But these encounters happened over 37 years ago, when little was known about the lives of manta rays, even by marine biologists.

Since no one believed Kennedy鈥檚 encounters of riding a magical manta, he started to film them. From then on, when he talked about Willy, he’d be able to prove that these incredible moments happened by pictures and video. It was also Kennedy鈥檚 quick camera skills that documented what would become a catalyst to protect these same mantas.

On February 14, 1994, fishermen aboard two Mexican boats moved into the waters around San Benedicto Island with nets, baited hooks and harpoons seeking to catch and kill anything they could鈥攊ncluding Kennedy鈥檚 friends, two other giant manta rays he swam with other than Willy. Mexican law prohibited commercial fishermen from fishing within two miles of Revillagigedo Islands; these fishermen were only 200 yards from shore.

As eyewitnesses, Kennedy and his then partner, Joyce Clinton, were horrified yet managed to document on video and camera what later would be called . What they captured on camera attracted international news, and the swift attention of the Mexican president to intervene and soon after declare the Revillagigedo Islands a Biosphere Reserve, which increased the no-take zone to 12 miles around each island.

In 2016, UNESCO declared the islands a World Heritage Site, and in 2017,听 it become the largest marine protected area in North America. These islands are now known as the 鈥�,鈥� and home to one the largest aggregations of manta rays, and sharks, in the world.

The Last Chance to Find Willy

Kennedy鈥檚 incredible encounters with manta rays defied everything that was known about ocean life at the time, and changed irrevocably our understanding of mantas. After , founder and director of the and one of the leading authorities on the species, saw the sailor鈥檚 footage, he secured funding for one of the first major manta ray research projects. This work led to an entire field of manta research that tracks over a thousand individual mantas at these islands. The affectionate names Kennedy gave to his manta friends in addition to Willy鈥擱osy, Chevy, Tippy鈥攕cientists still use today.

Kennedy鈥檚 bond with Willy goes beyond research, suggests The Last Dive director Cody Sheehy: 鈥淲illy wasn鈥檛 just tolerating Terry鈥攈e was engaging with him, leading him through underwater canyons, protecting him from sharks, or just playing.鈥�

Terry Kennedy and his wife Dawn, watch the sunrise before the last dive. (Photo: Chance Falkner)

For nearly two decades, Willy always found Kennedy, who would then climb onto his back and the two would communicate on a level no one else could understand. Willy could read his mind, Kennedy believes鈥攚hat Dr Rubin says 鈥渋sn鈥檛 an unreasonable thought.鈥� Rubin鈥檚 research suggests that manta rays can identify us by the unique signature of our bioelectric field.

It was another chance encounter that brought Kennedy鈥檚 friendship with Willy to the big screen. Sheehy, a sailor as well, met Kennedy while he was anchored off Loreto, a coastal town on Baja California Sur, nine years ago. One evening over sundowners, Kennedy鈥檚 stories started to flow. 鈥淚t became clear that this man wasn鈥檛 just another cruiser鈥攈e had lived a life most people couldn鈥檛 even dream of,鈥� states the filmmaker.

Sheehy, admittedly, was also a bit skeptical at first of Kennedy鈥檚 stories about Willy鈥攗ntil he saw the footage. 鈥淲hen I found out about the massacre, and the role that Terry played in bringing attention to it, especially at the level of the Mexican president and the protections that came from it, that’s when I realized this is a great human story, a story of redemption.鈥�

鈥淭he reason why the mantas are still there is because of [Terry]. It just shows what one person can do,鈥� says the director. 鈥淭hink of what else people will be inspired to do [after watching the film].鈥�

As Kennedy aged, his life moved to land. Now in his 80s trips to the islands are more challenging, and maintaining a boat that can make the journey is expensive and tiring. So Sheehy saw a way he could take Kennedy back home to see his long lost friend. The last recorded Willy sighting was in 2012, and giant manta rays have been reported to . So it鈥檚 not unreasonable to think Willy could still be around. Kennedy hasn鈥檛 stopped thinking about Willy in all these years; he worries his old friend thinks he forgot about him.

Kennedy had a troubled past, but none of that mattered under the surface. He not only found redemption in the ocean, but healing. Blue therapy is a growing body of research that shows time in or near water reduces stress, anxiety, and symptoms of PTSD. Scuba diving, in particular, has proved transformative .

How to Swim With Mantas鈥擡thically

While Kennedy was the first known person to ride a manta, it鈥檚 now considered harmful and extremely discouraged. But the close connection Kennedy made with Willy and all the footage he captured proved there is so much we don鈥檛 know about manta rays and ocean life in general. The sailor鈥檚 unusual bond ultimately became the catalyst for protecting manta rays and all life around Revillagigedo Islands.

What are the dangers today for the mantas around these islands? And is there still an ethical way to swim with them?

Today, the biggest threats to mantas are overtourism and boat strikes, both around the islands and on their migratory travels. 鈥淎s Revilla is a remote location, technically protected by both a National Park and the World Heritage Site, it’s largely a safe space for these animals,鈥� says Karey Kumli, project manager at Pacific Manta Research Group. 鈥淗owever, there is the occasional illegal fishing, primarily at night; we know this as the liveaboards keep their AIS scanner on and watch for lights.鈥�

Yet tourism plays a powerful role in protecting the manta rays. 鈥淚t wasn’t until all the tourist boats came [to Revillagigedo Islands] that the fishing really was enforced. So it’s crucial that there’s tourists there,鈥� says Sheehy. 鈥淭he money and the jobs brought to those islands show the Mexican government could justify their position on keeping it in the national park and [staving off] fishing,鈥� he adds.

Now the issue is how to keep tourism here ethical and responsible. Mantas like to come to the surface, but getting hit by boats is one of the biggest threats to them right now.

“The tourism operators are really good about understanding that too many people in the water, and touching and riding mantas, is not going to be good for mantas,” notes Sheehy. “The film, and our team really, is behind the idea of sustainable diving with the mantas.鈥�

In the 10 days they were filming the documentary around the islands, a manta got hit by another boat, adds Sheehy. 鈥淚f [mantas] get hit too many times, they’re not going to want to be around tourists, right? And then all those diving experiences that the operators are getting money from will disappear, because the mantas won’t come anymore.鈥�

Kennedy鈥檚 final chance to find his long lost friend is no fool鈥檚 errand. Individual mantas have been identified through photo-ID for up to 33 years鈥攖he worldwide age record for the oceanic (giant) mantas. When they look back at photo sets taken 10-40 years ago, ninety-five percent of those animals have made at least a second appearance, shares Kumli.

If you think you spotted Willy or any other manta ray, you can submit photos to the 鈥淲hen divers submit manta images from Revilla to us, we do a quick scan for re-sighted animals. We’d recognize Willy in a heartbeat,鈥� adds Kumli. Willy has four signature black dots in the shape of a diamond on his right shoulder.

Will Kennedy find Willy? You’ll have to watch the film to find out. While their encounters changed so much of what we know about mantas, so many mysteries remain. Why did Willy pick him to be his friend? What is certain is that an unlikely conservationist became a hero for the ocean鈥攔eminding us of how much we have yet to discover鈥攁nd that anything is possible. But bring a camera if you want anyone to believe you.

_________________________________________________________

Kathleen Rellihan is the Travel and Culture Senior Editor at 国产吃瓜黑料 who swam with mobula rays (Willy’s smaller cousins) in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Seeing a manta ray while scuba diving Australia’s Great Barrier Reef was a lifelong dream. Now another one is spotting Willy herself.聽

The post 鈥楾he Last Dive鈥� Follows a Diver鈥檚 20-Year-Long Friendship with a Giant Manta Ray appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Yes, Girl Climber has an oversimplified title. But it鈥檚 also the complex, vulnerable, and deeply inspiring story that adventure-obsessed audiences deserve.

Directed by Jon Glassberg, this 83-minute documentary describes how Emily Harrington鈥檚 life and two-decade-long climbing career culminated in one audacious goal: to become the (5.13b) on El Capitan in a day. Stymied by exhaustion, hailstorms, rope burns, mental fortitude, and sometimes one single move, Harrington persists through four attempts on the route in 2019 and 2020.

Glassberg, owner of the production company and the man behind dozens of shorter climbing documentaries, says that he didn鈥檛 want his first feature-length film to feel like a beta video. With nearly ten years of footage, Glassberg is able to expand beyond the one or two side plots that typically decorate shorter adventure documentaries.

鈥淭his is a holistic look at an incredible woman鈥檚 life in the adventure world,鈥� he says, 鈥渇rom the top of Mount Everest to crazy expeditions in Myanmar and ultimately climbing Golden Gate in a day.鈥�

Harrington鈥檚 Dream Team

Braided within Harrington鈥檚 narrative are three pivotal, developing relationships: her mentor-mentee relationship with , who passed away in 2022; her friendship with ; and her relationship with her husband, high-altitude mountain guide . All three support her during her attempts on Golden Gate through constant belays (Honnold), gentle pep talks (Ballinger), or healthy debriefs (Nelson).

It鈥檚 through these close relationships that we learn so much more about Harrington than we would through just climbing footage and interviews. When Harrington falls on the Freeblast in November 2019, we experience it through Honnold, whose normal expression breaks into wide-eyed alarm.

Something we haven鈥檛 seen in other feature-length climbing films is the consistency of a female mentorship like the one Nelson extended toward Harrington. After every one of Harrington鈥檚 self-described failures, their text conversations fade into the screen. It鈥檚 almost like we鈥檙e living Harrington鈥檚 recollection through what she shares with Nelson.

The most powerful moment in the film comes when Harrington falls on her fourth attempt, smashes her un-helmeted head against the granite, and all but gives up. She sobs openly, looking up at the summit, and gathers her grief into one brave statement: 鈥淪omeday, I鈥檒l do it.鈥� Ballinger, however, is unfazed. He corrects her gently: 鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to do it today.鈥�

A Unique Addition to the El Cap Canon

With references to , a cameo from , and, of course, Honnold, Girl Climber adds Harrington鈥檚 story to the existing El Cap cinematic universe for mainstream audiences, which primarily consists of Valley Uprising, The Dawn Wall, and Free Solo. The film鈥檚 goal of building upon this oeuvre echoes Harrington鈥檚: to join the elite group of heroes who have sent Golden Gate in a day. At the time, that list only included Honnold, Caldwell, and the late Brad Gobright.

On each attempt, Glassberg captures Harrington鈥檚 failures, and the resurrection of her self-confidence, with unbelievable clarity. One of the most inspiring parts of the film, however, is rather mundane: watching Harrington鈥檚 discussions with Honnold about gear and supplies. Despite Honnold鈥檚 good-natured sandbagging, Harrington confidently prioritizes her own needs and comfort on the wall.

鈥淚 think it would be tough to make this more comfortable,鈥� he jokes before her final go, looking at everything she planned to haul up the wall.

鈥淵up, that鈥檚 the whole point,鈥� she replies, unbothered.

In another scene, she insists on bringing her extra chalk and breakable ice packs, even though Honnold thinks it鈥檚 too much. She鈥檚 sitting across from the most famous climber in the world, and instead of trying to impress him or apologizing for needing extra gear, she鈥檚 reminding him to bring up her extra things. Her goals and comfort matter so much more than his assumptions. And that鈥檚 something every female climber truly needs to see.

Girl Climber does have some misses. For example, the movie鈥檚 title suggests an arc about sexism that the plot doesn鈥檛 necessarily deliver. But ultimately, the authentic and vivid storytelling in Girl Climber creates several layers of inspiration for both a climbing and mainstream audience.

The Emotional Tension Stays High

From the start, Girl Climber does an incredible job building the stakes. Five minutes in, a montage of Harrington winning five National Championships and climbing Everest condenses into one powerful belief: 鈥淚鈥檓 really proud of my career so far, but if you want to call yourself a successful all-around climber, you鈥檝e got to be up on El Cap.鈥�

As a film,听Girl Climber聽skillfully avoids several climbing tropes and common pitfalls. While the plot inherently involves Honnold, Glassberg avoids overly relying on him for narration. Instead, the film deftly lets him provide side-character comic relief as Harrington bangs her head against the wall鈥攕ometimes, literally鈥攁s she rehearses the route.聽Girl Climber聽also does not shy away from vulnerability; Harrington grieves her failures openly and carries no air of defensiveness or overconfidence. And even though we know she eventually sends,听Golden Gate鈥榮 five cruxes act as one, shapeshifting villain and bring an unpredictable tension to each of Harrington鈥檚 attempts. At each sequence, we鈥檙e still looking for clues to whether she鈥檚 going to send聽right now. If she holds on through a crux sequence, the music crescendoes; if she falls, the music halts, like a dream popped.

A Closer Look at the Title

奥丑颈濒别听Girl Climber聽captures mainstream audiences with a plain and to-the-point description, its title hints at an insult that is never actually delivered. Harrington alludes to the mansplaining she experienced during her project, but doesn鈥檛 elaborate much beyond slightly condescending comments. Nor does this theme rise to the fore. Glassberg had good intentions and sharp marketing instincts, but having聽Girl Climber聽as the title overexaggerates the role of sexism in the film.

One could argue that tiles are always reductive, especially short ones. But when a brief label embodies the heart of the story, such as聽Free Solo,听The Dawn Wall,听and聽The Alpinist, the glory of the accomplishment casts itself back onto the subject. Honnold鈥檚 free solo of聽Free Rider, Caldwell鈥檚聽Dawn Wall聽redpoint, and Marc-Andr茅 Leclerc鈥檚 bold alpinism each defined their legacies; their movies are appropriately named. But聽Girl Climber聽doesn鈥檛 add anything to Harrington鈥檚 legacy besides the most straightforward biographical info. It鈥檚 trivializing; it might as well be about a five-year-old in the gym instead of a world-class professional athlete in her thirties.

The movie鈥檚 title and its asterisked subtitle, 鈥淪tronger Than Stereotypes,鈥� remind us that female climbers face stereotypes. However, the film鈥檚 only example of this is the media鈥檚 treatment of Harrington as a 鈥渄amsel in distress鈥� after her viral accident in 2019.聽Good Morning America鈥榮 portrayal Harrington as reckless and lucky to be saved by Honnold is most definitely a combination of sexism and the post-Free Solo聽deification of Honnold. But it also represents a misunderstanding outside the climbing world of just how normal Harrington鈥檚 simul climbing really was. Overall, the flash of sexism in聽Girl Climber fades in comparison to the film鈥檚 real, dynamic antagonists: Harrington鈥檚 own expectations, gravity, slippery granite, and time.

For her part, Harrington says that she did not choose the title. 鈥淚 actually really hated it at first, and kind of laid into Jon about it when he told me,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 was like, 鈥榃hat is this? It鈥檚 diminishing. I don鈥檛 like it at all.鈥欌�� But after talking it out, Glassberg convinced her that the movie would turn the demeaning phrase 鈥済irl climber鈥� into something that means strength.

鈥淭he movie was pitched many, many times as flipping the script on the male-dominated climbing scene,鈥� says Glassberg. 鈥淲e really wanted to draw attention to the fact that Emily鈥檚 doing this remarkable achievement that very, very few people are capable of doing, and that she has this extra layer of stuff that she has to face because she鈥檚 a woman.鈥� To Glassberg, the extra burdens Harrington faces include her ticking biological clock and the additional scrutiny she faces as a woman on El Cap. 鈥淲e just kind of saw it from the way the media latched onto things, with the 鈥榙amsel in distress鈥� idea,鈥� he says. Calling attention to sexism, he explains, is the goal.

I don鈥檛 doubt that Harrington, like all female climbers, has faced misogyny and stereotypes in climbing. However, as a female climber myself, I cringe at seeing one of the most accomplished climbers of our generation summed up in this reductive phrase, especially a hypothetical one. If anyone has ever lobbed 鈥済irl climber鈥� as an insult at her, the film does not show it. Perhaps Glassberg intended that, but the discomfort is still there.

Harrington confirms that I鈥檓 not alone in feeling this way. 鈥淚 asked a lot of climbers what they thought of the title, and they had the same reaction as I did,鈥� she says. 鈥淎gain, this is the mainstream versus the core. I asked a lot of people who didn鈥檛 climb, and they were just like, 鈥淥h my god, that title鈥檚 amazing, I love it so much.鈥�

For that reason alone, even if a core audience of female climbers dislikes the name, calling the film聽Girl Climber聽was a smart business decision, and one that鈥檚 likely to pay off with millions of eyes on Harrington鈥檚 plot. In the long run, if a movie name disliked by a niche audience is what causes mainstream audiences to experience the story and know that women, too, climb El Cap, I understand why Glassberg would take it. After all, the general public has different understanding of rock climbing than climbers themselves. To someone whose only exposure to the sport is聽Free Solo, female climbers with Harrington鈥檚 grit and r茅sum茅 might as well not yet exist. What feels insultingly obvious to climbers like me might be, in fact, a necessity to break into the public鈥檚 collective consciousness. But if that鈥檚 true, let鈥檚 admit it right here鈥攁nd acknowledge that male climbers have never had to infantilize their story鈥檚 names in order to achieve broad recognition. In an ironic and meta way,听Girl Climber鈥�s title does more to prove that female climbers still face sexist barriers than the movie鈥檚 actual storyline.

Want to catch a screening of聽Girl Climber? The film is screening at the 国产吃瓜黑料 Festival in Denver, Colorado, May 31鈥揓une 1, followed by a Q&A with Emily Harrington and Jon Glassberg. Tickets available聽.

Catching Up with Harrington

The following interview has been lightly edited for clarity and length.

Climbing: What鈥檚 it like to watch this movie four and a half years after freeing Golden Gate in a day?

Emily Harrington: I didn鈥檛 anticipate it would take this long to create the film. I鈥檝e learned a lot in the process about how hard it is to create a documentary film, and honestly, it was really scary. I was pretty nervous to watch it. You鈥檙e your biggest critic, and I can barely listen to my voice message machine because I don鈥檛 like the sound of my voice. It was really stressful, actually, to watch it and see the story unfold. As human beings, we evolve and we change so much. In the last five years. I鈥檝e had a child and been through that transition, so it鈥檚 just an interesting experience to see who you were and what you cared about.

Climbing: When you announced the movie on Instagram, you wrote that your quiet moments of struggle, fear, and self-doubt gave way to stories of heroism and sensationalism that only the mainstream media could drum up, and none of it felt like your true experience. What aspects of your story do you feel were twisted into heroism and sensationalism?

Harrington: It was just the sensationalism of climbing up on El Cap. People think it鈥檚 this crazy, death-defying, adrenaline-fueled endeavor, and it鈥檚 just not that for me. I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 like that for most climbers. It was putting someone on this superhero-level pedestal and making them seem like they鈥檙e not a human, and it made me feel a little bit sensitive about it all. It happens with any achievement, when you have the greatest, the hardest, the first鈥攁ll of these things.

Climbing: When Girl Climber was in production, did you have any other movies in mind that you hoped it would be similar to?

Harrington: I hoped it would be more of a female story on El Capitan, a little bit similar to The Dawn Wall, because they鈥檙e both free climbing. They鈥檙e both the kind of niche achievements that the mainstream doesn鈥檛 totally understand, but I thought that The Dawn Wall did a really good job of explaining what it was that those guys did, and how much effort and commitment it took. I just wanted it to be an inspiring female story on El Cap, because women also climb up there. And we don鈥檛 have that many female climbing stories, honestly.

Climbing: Jon told us that he saw a renewed psych in you during COVID. How did your thinking about Golden Gate change throughout early 2020?聽

Harrington: There were multiple reasons. I had this bad fall, and I knew immediately that I could go back. I remember Jon being like, 鈥淣o pressure, you could be done with this project.鈥� And I was like, 鈥淣o, I know that I made a mistake.鈥� It wasn鈥檛 this random occurrence that I can鈥檛 control. I felt really grateful that I was okay and I walked away from it. It took a while to mentally recover, but I immediately knew that I could go back and I could be better. Then COVID was helpful, because a lot of us during COVID felt a little bit aimless. This was this thing that I could hold onto and be like, 鈥淲hen Yosemite opens back up again, I鈥檓 gonna go back.鈥� Right now, I have nothing better to do than really think about how to prepare for it and how to train for it. Thankfully, climbing is such a complicated sport. You can really creatively train for rock climbing in your house.

Climbing: What kind of advice or support does the sports therapist give you? And do you talk with them through every major project, or was this specific to Golden Gate?

Harrington: I work with a sports therapist, like a mental health coach, and I have since 2019. It鈥檚 been wildly helpful for me. It wasn鈥檛 just for that project; I still talk to her probably twice a month. It鈥檚 really about leading into your feelings, validating your feelings, and understanding that body-mind connection. A lot of athletes can neglect that mental side. In the past few years, I鈥檝e really learned how important it is to train that side of things. It鈥檚 work. It鈥檚 training, and you have to think about it like that. It is something that we have to train, like a muscle, and it is very intimately connected to our physical bodies and our performance, as well as, our well-being and happiness. So, that鈥檚 another reason why I think it鈥檚 super important. But a lot of what we do is about how I鈥檓 feeling鈥攆ear, anxiety, failure, and motivation. It鈥檚 just a lot of letting those things come up and not judging them, but being really aware of them, and of how to work through them and move forward.

Climbing: What advice do you have for people who want to free climb El Cap in a day?

Watch the video below for Harrington鈥檚 response.

Climbing: What鈥檚 your current focus in climbing right now?

Harrington: All of it. I trained really hard this year, probably harder than I have since Golden Gate. I wanted to climb 14c, and I went to Spain with that specific objective. I fell short of my goal, but it鈥檚 okay. I ended up climbing a 14a that I was really excited about and really proud of. It was kind of my first big thing away, with Adrian gone, and bringing our son with us, and having the chaos of single parenting and trying to do a big trip. I succeeded in that, and it made me more motivated and excited to keep going and see what else I can do. Now that I have a kid, I鈥檓 a little more deliberate and focused. I actually think that鈥檚 helped me a lot in my climbing, so I鈥檇 love to climb harder sport routes. I鈥檇 love to climb my hardest grade. I think that鈥檇 be really cool.

The post 鈥楪irl Climber鈥� is an Incredible Climbing Movie鈥擮nce You Get Past the Title appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

There鈥檚 a certain magic that hits when the days get longer, the air feels lighter, and the soundtrack shifts to something more sun-soaked and whimsical.

For us at 国产吃瓜黑料, the 聽is the official place to kick off that summer vibe in Denver, May 31-June 1. With live music, world-class speakers, gear demos, outdoor clinics, and a community of adventurers ready to celebrate all things outside, the festival is the ultimate signal that summer is on.

As school lets out and mornings are made for trail runs, the evening stretches on endlessly with time for mountain bike rides, dinner outside, and catching the sun set around a campfire. It’s the season of s’mores, sleeping under the stars, and road trips.

This summer, get ready to take a long walk down a winding trail with this 聽from none other than , the indie-pop duo known for weaving electronic pulses with organic emotion. Their live shows are electric鈥攊ntrospective and ecstatic all at once. And their music is the perfect bridge between the natural and the modern.

This playlist聽is sure to set the mood for summer. It鈥檚 uniquely introspective and earthy. These tracks blend ambient soundscapes, folk, and meditative rhythms鈥攑erfect for slowing down and tuning in as you wander.

Track List:

1. eiko ishibashi – deer blood
2. tenzin choegyal – mountain
3. walt mcclements – a painted ship
4. hans reichel – could be nice too
5. m煤m – green grass of tunnel
6. cool maritime – temporal dryft
7. jeremiah chiu – seawater swell
8. autechre – altibzz
9. carlos ni帽o & photay – c u r r e n t
10. sam amidon – never
11. phil cook – i made a lover’s prayer
12. mary margaret o’hara – when you know why you’re happy

So get ready to get outside鈥攕ummer鈥檚 here. And if you’re in Denver, you can join us for the 国产吃瓜黑料 Festival in Civic Center Park May 31-June 1 where you can catch Sylvan Esso playing alongside headliner , , and Tickets are available .

The post 12 Songs to Wander in the Woods to This Summer from Sylvan Esso appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Remaining Native begins with a warning: This is a film that doesn’t shy away from abuse, violence, or any of the other crimes that darken Native American history. But that’s also the film’s strength: The feature-length documentary captures what it means to be a , balancing joys and tragedies in a way that will resonate with any athlete鈥攁nd any human being.

Remaining Native, which will be screening alongside a curated lineup of other top adventure films at this year’s 国产吃瓜黑料 Festival, is a beautiful, powerful, and important documentary by filmmaker Paige Bethmann, a Haudenosaunee (Mohawk/Oneida) woman. Bethmann鈥檚 great grandmother was stolen from her reservation as a girl and taken to an abusive Catholic boarding school. Tragically, Bethmann鈥檚 ancestral story is common to hundreds of thousands of Native Americans, including the subject of Remaining Native, Kutoven (鈥淜u鈥�) Stevens.

The film鈥檚 opening lines explain:

For over 100 years, the United States made violent efforts to strip Native American children of their languages, spiritual beliefs, and culture through federal and church-run boarding schools.

Many children resisted this assault on their Native identity by running away.

From this prelude, the viewer knows to take a deep breath and buckle up. But then, beauty: scenic shots of the desert landscape. A hawk high in a tree. The rhythmic sound of a runner鈥檚 footfall on an open dirt road. And we鈥檙e introduced to the boyish face and voice of the film鈥檚 hero, Ku Stevens.

Ku is a runner鈥攐ne of the best in the state of Nevada, having clocked the fastest time across all divisions in the high school state cross country championships. Through interviews, voiceovers, and scenes of Ku living with his parents on the Paiute Indian Reservation in the small town of Yerington, we get to know the teenager. We learn that he鈥檚 always wanted to run for the University of Oregon and pushes himself to be the best he can be.

Like most runners, he says that when he runs, he thinks about his breathing and his body. But, he adds, he also imagines running for his life.

Stevens’s great-grandfather ran away from the Stewart Indian Boarding School three times. His last attempt was a successful escape. That legacy is often on Stevens’s mind.

The film does a fantastic job of weaving together inspiring action scenes that any sports fan can appreciate with sepia-toned historical images set to haunting tribal music.

鈥淭his land I was raised on, it feels heavy,鈥� says Stevens. Through shots of barren landscape and close-up faces of those who live here, we feel it.

Parents of teens will appreciate the internal struggle of Stevens’s father, who loves and supports his son, but fears he鈥檒l lose his ancestral heritage by moving off the reservation. Still, he and his wife do everything they can to help the young runner reach his goals.

One of the most exhilarating scenes of Remaining Native takes place at a high school track meet, where Stevens attempts to run the 3200-meter under nine minutes鈥攁 benchmark that’s become the recruiting standard for distance athletes hoping to run for the University of Oregon. The racing drama is on-par with any Olympic final or Disney sports movie.

Among the most poignant moments of Remaining Native鈥攁nd there are many鈥攃omes with a slow pan of a black-and-white image from the Stewart Indian School. Native American children sit with pained faces, hair cut short, sadness in their eyes. A drumbeat plays, as if to hammer into our awareness that this bit of American history, when thousands of Native American children were stolen from their families and died or survived abuse, happened. It actually happened. And yet, people like Ku and his family keep fighting for their culture while trying to heal from their past.

At one point in the film, Stevens says, 鈥淚 really just want people to understand鈥攏ot just to know what happened, not just to learn from our history鈥攂ut to fully understand why we feel the way that we do.鈥�

At one point in the film, the teen explains that his name, 鈥淜utoven,鈥� refers to 鈥渢he eagle bringing the light from the darkness鈥� and that he doesn鈥檛 yet feel he lives up to its meaning. Viewers of Remaining Native will beg to differ.

See Remaining Native鈥攁nd other captivating documentaries from top adventure filmmakers鈥攁t the 国产吃瓜黑料 Festival, May 31-June 1 in Denver. This year’s festival will also host a group run and talks from top endurance athletes from across the country. .聽 聽

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One of the biggest highlights of the inaugural was its program of riveting adventure films. And this year promises to be even better. Curated in partnership with Mountainfilm, the lineup revolves around three core themes鈥攋oy, unity, and renewal鈥攁nd captures some of the most gripping personalities and narratives in the outdoor world.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a clich茅 to say you鈥檒l laugh and you鈥檒l cry and it鈥檚 better than Cats, but in this case it鈥檚 really true,鈥� says Micah Abrams, 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 VP of content development. (He鈥檚 not much of a musicals guy, anyway.)

The stacked roster includes everything from a heartwarming, semi-animated short by watercolorist Max Romey, to a documentary about the struggles of a young Pauite runner coming to grips with his people鈥檚 history. In between, viewers will switch continents several times over, darting from Brazil to the Arctic Circle, and from the Hawaiian surf to the mountains of Pakistan. It鈥檚 a globe-trotting journey that captures all the joy, triumph, and heartbreak of a life spent outdoors.

The screenings will be held at Denver Public Library on Broadway, which just reopened after a state-of-the-art renovation. 鈥淲e鈥檙e 国产吃瓜黑料, so there needs to be a good reason for us to encourage you to come inside, but this year鈥檚 new film festival venue qualifies,鈥� Abrams says. The building鈥檚 purpose-built Park View event space鈥攃omplete with soaring ceilings and carefully designed acoustics treatment鈥攊s at once intimate and sophisticated. Plus, after a long day of festival revelry under the Colorado sun, the library鈥檚 air-conditioned quiet is a welcome respite, Abrams adds. 鈥淲e hope folks come in to cool off and leave inspired for their next outdoor adventure.鈥�

Here鈥檚 what viewers can expect from this year鈥檚 film lineup.

A Little Film About Forever

This short film about forever unfolds from the POVs of father (Max Romey) and son (Kip) as they attempt to write a book about what forever means. The father feels overwhelmed by all of the threats to forever, like forever chemicals, and calls an unlikely hero 鈥� Mark Ruffalo 鈥� to ask for help seeing the big picture.

Runtime: 10.2 minutes

Director: Max Romey

Showing: Saturday, 3:10pm

About Damn Time

In 1983, Cindell 鈥淒ellie鈥� Dale talked her way onto her first commercial river trip through the Grand Canyon. Like many women in the industry at the time, her place was in the kitchen. But determined to push against the tide of a male-dominated river-running world, she earned her spot on the oars and became one of the Grand Canyon鈥檚 legendary dory guides. Inspired by the trailblazing women before her, Dale is now proudly passing the oars to a new generation, declaring, 鈥淚t鈥檚 about damn time.鈥�

Runtime: 24 minutes

Director: Dana Romanoff

Showing: Sunday, 1:15pm

Arctic Alchemy

Arctic Alchemy follows renowned Alaskan adventurer and climate scientist Roman Dial and his team on a 112-mile research expedition above the Arctic Circle. Traveling by packraft and foot through Alaska鈥檚 mighty Brooks Range, their goal is to find the source of a mysterious phenomenon poisoning watersheds in the Arctic. Along the journey, Dial reckons with fatherhood, personal tragedy and the power of wilderness to both break us and bring us fully alive.

Runtime: 25 minutes

Directors: Colin Arisman, Zeppelin Zeerip

Showing: Sunday, 3pm

Beyond Beliefs

A young woman from Cleveland, Ohio earns a scholarship to attend a four-day river trip through the wild Green River鈥檚 Gates of Lodore Canyon. The only catch? She doesn’t know how to swim and is terrified of water. Join Danielle and her peers on this wonderful journey, and bear witness to her inspiring first-hand account of what it took to go beyond her beliefs about water, and how that expanded the vision for her future.

Runtime: 5 minutes

Director: Quamae Hall

Showing: Sunday, 3pm

Butterfly in a Blizzard

Butterfly in a Blizzard shares a deeply personal look into professional snowboarder Kimmy Fasani鈥檚 extraordinary journey into motherhood and what this new phase of life reveals about her past. Fasani and her family opened all doors to capture her metamorphosis from globe-trotting winter sports icon to mom, while exploring matrescence, a newly coined term that encompasses a woman鈥檚 transition into motherhood. Throughout the film, the blizzards hit again and again, coming in waves of identity shifts, childhood trauma, relationship struggles and a cancer diagnosis. Through raw and intimate footage captured over five years and supported by leading expert voices in maternal health, Fasani fights through life鈥檚 storms while maintaining her place in a sport she loves and evolving to become the mother she strives to be.

Runtime: 99 minutes

Director: Rose Corr

Showing: Saturday, 1:15pm

David Blaine Do Not Attempt: Brazil

From National Geographic and Imagine Documentaries, David Blaine Do Not Attempt is a thrilling six-part series that follows world-renowned magician and endurance artist David Blaine exploring the world through the lens of magic. David takes viewers on a fascinating cultural exchange and a jaw-dropping journey through extraordinary cultures, where he meets with performers and masters鈥攌indred spirits who inspire and share with him exceptional skills (and secrets)鈥攊n Brazil, Southeast Asia, India, the Arctic Circle, South Africa and Japan. David is widely recognized for his epic stunts and illusions. Through intimate documentary storytelling, the series also reveals a surprising and more personal side to David, which has rarely been seen before. In Brazil, David meets daredevils, artists, explorers and athletes who unite to help execute an audacious leap of faith that he鈥檚 long dreamt of.

Runtime: 44 Minutes

Director: Toby Oppenheimer

Showing: Saturday, 3:10pm

First In, Last Out

When competitive swimmer from Colorado Christa Funk joined the Coast Guard, she found herself stationed on Oahu, Hawaii for five years, where she discovered the world of surf photography. Inspired by the memory of her father and his parting words, Funk pushed herself into the world鈥檚 most dangerous and crowded surf lineups, becoming one of the best surf photographers in the world, and notably, one of the few women out there.

Runtime: 25 minutes

Directors: Keith Malloy, Andrew Shoneberger

Showing: Saturday, 3:10pm

Girl Climber

Professional climber Emily Harrington has summited Everest, completed numerous first female ascents of 5.14 routes, scaled 8,000-meter peaks and dominated the competition circuit. But her greatest challenge extends beyond the physical. To cement her legacy in the male-dominated world of elite rock climbing, she sets her sights on a career-defining 24-hour ascent of Yosemite鈥檚 El Capitan. Caught between the pursuit of personal ambition and the ticking biological clock of life, Harrington grapples with what she鈥檚 truly willing to risk. Equal parts gripping survival story and intimate portrait of a woman who deals with self doubt, Girl Climber isn鈥檛 just about breaking records. It鈥檚 about breaking barriers. Among Yosemite鈥檚 legendary boy鈥檚 club, Harrington doesn鈥檛 prove she is the best female climber ever 鈥� she proves she is one of the best climbers of all time.

Runtime: 83 minutes

Director: Jon Glassberg

Showing: Sunday, 5:00pm

Momo

From the humble beginnings of a small African village to the dazzling heights of Cirque du Soleil, Momo shares the story of a man who defied gravity and destiny. This short film is a celebration of resilience and the magic of flight, where Momo doesn鈥檛 just perform 鈥� he transcends.

Runtime: 2 minutes

Director: Mike Schwartz

Showing: Saturday, 3:10pm

OUTLIER: Common

OUTLIER: Common follows three Latina leaders chasing summit perfection. On an emotional journey through mountain ranges, a scientist, a filmmaker and a disruptor share the deeply personal, turbulent stories of their lives 鈥� while pushing toward the summits that define them. At personal crossroads, these women turn to the mountains for clarity and an exploration of mind, heart, body and soul. From British Columbia鈥檚 deep backcountry to the Tetons鈥� towering peaks, their journey reveals hard-won lessons on tenacity, joy and solidarity 鈥� even when the world feels like it鈥檚 crumbling.

Runtime: 26 minutes

Director: Dani Reyes-Acosta

Showing: Sunday, 3:00pm

Remaining Native

Kutoven (Ku) Stevens (Paiute), a 17-year old Native American high school runner, with the skill and drive to become an elite college athlete, strives for his goals. Even though he doesn鈥檛 have access to a coach, cross-country team or recruiters, he is determined to get a running scholarship. When the remains of thousands of Indigenous children are discovered across Canada and the U.S., Stevens鈥� painful family history re-emerges: His own great-grandfather Frank Quinn escaped an Indian boarding school by foot at age 8. In an act of reverence, Stevens sets out to run the same 50-mile escape route his great-grandfather took, interweaving Quinn鈥檚 story with his own journey to run a collegiate qualifying time. Will Stevens outrun his history or will he learn to run alongside it to achieve his dreams?

Runtime: 88 minutes

Director: Paige Bethmann

Showing: Saturday, 5:05pm

The Life We Have

What would you do if death felt just steps away? For Rob Shaver, who has faced multiple stage-four cancer recurrences over the past two decades 鈥� death has felt like an ever-present shadow. The Life We Have captures Shaver鈥檚 resilience, wisdom and deep appreciation for life, as he navigates his latest battle with the disease.

Runtime: 24 minutes

Director: Sam Price-Waldman

Showing: Sunday, 3:00pm

The North Face Presents: Trango

After a two-year attempt, renowned ski mountaineers Jim Morrison and Christina 鈥淟usti鈥� Lustenberger, joined by Nick McNutt and Chantel Astorga, attempt the first-ever ski descent of Pakistan鈥檚 formidable Great Trango Tower. What begins as a test of skill evolves into a profound emotional journey. They navigate risk, grapple with grief and face physical danger as they push the limits of human experience. At 6,000 meters, constant exposure and unexpected avalanches test their resolve, but it鈥檚 the unspoken trust and support within their expedition team that allows them to face the unimaginable together. Trango transports us to otherworldly places and reminds us that the best way to honor those we have loved and lost is to find the courage to truly live.

Runtime: 45 minutes

Director: Leo Hoorn

Showing: Sunday, 1:15pm

As one of America鈥檚 longest-running film festivals, showcases documentary films that celebrate adventure, activism, social justice, environment, and indomitable spirit. Hosted annually in Telluride, Colorado, the festival brings inspiring stories to communities around the globe with Mountainfilm on Tour. 鈥�

The post The 国产吃瓜黑料 Festival’s 2025 Film Lineup Is Its Best Yet appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

This summer, returns to Denver with an electric mix of music, adventure, and storytelling that鈥檚 poised to become a cultural touchstone for lovers of the outdoors and the artists who soundtrack their journeys. Held June 1鈥�2, 2025, at Civic Center Park and the Denver Art Museum campus, the two-day event blends live music with panel discussions, immersive experiences, and a community of curious, creative minds.

With headliners like psychedelic soul trio and indie rock darlings , the festival is built for those who find their rhythm as easily in alpine air as on a city street. But beyond the big stages, 国产吃瓜黑料 Festival is also a launchpad for rising voices in music鈥攁rtists like , whose introspective lyrics and mellow grooves are gaining momentum across continents.

We caught up with Hazlett for a deeper look into the music and memories hat shaped the music, and the rituals that keep them grounded. Here鈥檚 his take, in his own words.

Artist Profile: Hazlett

Hazlett:
Blood Bank by Bon Iver
It鈥檚 Too Late by Carole King
I Try by Macy Gray
Milk by Kings of Leon
Dancing In The Dark by Bruce Springsteen

What is your greatest Festival flashback. A festival moment you may never forget?聽

Hazlett: Actually the whole reason that I got into music was from a festival. I think I was about 14 and snuck into a festival back home in Australia. Kings of Leon were playing the afternoon set, I walked in and the very first thing I saw was as they erupted into the song 鈥淔ans鈥�. I think my jaw was on the floor and I just thought it was one of the coolest things I鈥檇 ever seen. I remember thinking to myself right then and there 鈥渢his is what I want to do one day.鈥�

What do you do just before hitting the stage? Any nerves, rituals, and must-haves?

Hazlett:
Play Spirit In The Sky by Norman Greenbaum
Eat a handful of blueberries
Take a swig of coconut water
Blow hot air into my hands to warm up
Pour a glass of wine
Hug someone before walking out

The Weirdest Thing on your tour rider 鈥� and the story behind it?

Hazlett: I personally don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 that weird but I鈥檇 say blueberries. I try to stay as healthy as possible on the road and they鈥檙e full of antioxidants. Plus I just really like them. But now it鈥檚 turned into a bit of a thing and I get random photos sent to me of me walking around outside every show eating my little punnet of blueberries.

What鈥檚 in your bag: Festival Edition 鈥� a peek into go-to tour essentials.

Hazlett:
Toothbrush and tooth paste (fresh breath is a confidence booster before singing)
Bose Quiet Comfort Headphones (good noise cancelling to get some quiet time)
Coconut Water (hydration is key)
A Cap (I usually travel with about 4 in my rotation)
Room Spray (A nice person at an Aesop store gave me room spray once and now it鈥檚 become helpful to have familiar smell when being far from home so much)

Catch Hazlett’s set at 2025 国产吃瓜黑料 Festival on Sunday, June 1. The is out now. Join us in Denver鈥檚 Civic Center Park for two days of amazing music, a thrilling program, plus hear from global adventure icons and inspiring storytellers on the聽 stage, and all kinds of outdoor fun.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the . Tickets start at $79.

The post 5 Songs That Changed Everything鈥揟he Tracks That Shaped Hazlett鈥檚 Path appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

The Sundance Film Festival is bidding adieu to Park City, Utah, its home for the last 40 years. On Thursday, the festival will relocate to Boulder, Colorado in 2027, and continue there聽for the foreseeable future.

“Boulder offers small-town charm with an engaged community, distinctive natural beauty, and a vibrant arts scene, making it the ideal location for the festival to grow,” the Sundance Institute announced in a press release.

The announcement ends more than a year of speculation about the festival’s new home. In April, 2024, the Sundance Institute announced it was looking for a new host city for the festival. The festival’s 13-year contract with Park City is up at the end of 2026, and the that it was looking for a bigger community as a host. The announcement marked a turning point in the festival’s history.

Originally called the U.S. Film Festival, it was launched in August, 1978 in Salt Lake City, and then moved to Park City in 1981. In 1985 the Sundance Institute鈥攖he independent film group founded by actor Robert Redford鈥攖ook over creative control and officially renamed it Sundance Film Festival in 1991. The name was in reference to Redford’s iconic character in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.聽

Over the years, the festival became a launchpad for independent films and directors. In 1989, Steven Soderbergh debuted his pivotal聽film聽Sex, Lies, and Videotape at the festival. In subsequent years, a host of independent films made their debuts at Sundance:聽Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, The Blair Witch Project, American Psycho, The Virgin Suicides,听补苍诲听Dogtown and Z-Boys,听among others.

Outdoor films have also featured prominently at the festival. In 2013 the climbing film聽The Summit debuted at the festival, and in 2015 the Jimmy Chin documentary聽Meru won the festival’s Audience Award.

Boulder is already home to its own film festival, the Boulder International Film Festival, which debuted in 2005.

Ebs Burnough, the board chair of the Sundance Institute, said that Boulder was among three cities to submitted proposals to take over hosting duties of the festival. The other cities were Cincinnati, Ohio, and Salt Lake City, Utah.

鈥淭his decision was informed by a detailed evaluation of the key components essential to creating our festival,” Burnough said in a statement. “During the process, it became clear that Boulder is the ideal location in which to build our festival’s future, marking a key strategic step in its natural evolution.”

Amanda Kelso, the acting chief executive for Sundance, told the Associated Press that Boulder has the right blend of space and energy for the festival to grow.

鈥淏oulder is a tech town, it鈥檚 a college town, it鈥檚 an arts town, and it鈥檚 a mountain town,鈥� she said. 鈥淎t 100,000 people, a larger town than Park City, it gives us the space to expand.鈥�

In statement, Redford thanked Park City for hosting the festival for four decades, and praised the move as a crucial one for Sundance’s future success.

“This move will ensure that the Festival continues its work of risk taking, supporting innovative storytellers, fostering independence, and entertaining and enlightening audiences. I am grateful to the Boulder community for its support, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for the festival there.鈥�

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Leslie Gaynor, 68, loves survival shows. After she finishes her day鈥檚 work as a therapist, she makes herself some tea and puts on an episode of Naked and Afraid. By the time the show鈥檚 over, it鈥檚 dark out. Her dog has to pee, but she doesn鈥檛 like to go outside at night. What if there are wild animals in the yard? One time last year, her dog ran out and saw a possum, and the possum flopped over dead, and when she went out a few minutes later it was gone. So it wasn鈥檛 really dead, but the whole thing was traumatic anyway. Not for the possum. But for her.

Leslie鈥檚 my aunt, and my husband and I were both on Naked and Afraid; we鈥檙e outdoor folk by trade, and when we were invited to apply for the show, we couldn鈥檛 resist the opportunity to step into a ready-made adventure. That鈥檚 not why my aunt watches it, though. She was a fan first. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 really explain it,鈥� she told me after we watched a scene together of a proud, hungry woman plucking a grouse for stew. 鈥淚 just think it鈥檚 relaxing!鈥�

Leslie鈥檚 not the only one who finds survival shows addictive. Ever since Survivor premiered in 2000, and promptly became one of the highest-rated shows on network television, survival-themed reality shows and their spinoffs have reproduced like rabbits. In addition to Naked and Afraid, there鈥檚 Alone, Survivor, Dual Survival, Survivorman, Ultimate Survival, Man vs. Wild,, Race to Survive, Outlast, and Celebrity Bear Hunt, not to mention numerous spinoffs and international versions. (My personal favorite title? Naked and Afraid鈥檚 Shark Week special, Naked and Afraid of Sharks.) Sure, some of their viewers are outdoorsy, but the shows aren鈥檛 just made for survivalists any more than shows about serial killers are made for, well, other serial killers. No: what makes survival shows so popular is that, while they depict extreme situations, the feelings they tap into are damn near universal.

There鈥檚 pleasure in seeing someone succeed despite hardship鈥�and there鈥檚 also pleasure (maybe more) in watching someone fail spectacularly, particularly if they went in cocky. Whenever a survivalist鈥檚 intro includes them sayingany version of the phrase 鈥渕aking nature my bitch,鈥� you know they鈥檙e gonna get their ass handed to them. It鈥檚 just a matter of when and how.

鈥淪ome guy鈥檚 hungry, or cut himself with his knife, and it鈥檚 time to tap,鈥� says my husband, Quince Mountain, who survived 21 days鈥攎ostly alone鈥攊n the Honduran jungle. (We were on the show at the same time, but were sent to different locations.) 鈥淗e鈥檚 crying because he misses his wife and kids too much, but he says it like, 鈥業t鈥檚 really unfair to them, me being out here鈥︹�� Is that his epiphany about how his wife does massive amounts of invisible labor to keep his life comfortable, and now he鈥檚 going home a changed man, a grateful, devoted, humble partner鈥攐r is it his excuse because he鈥檚 hungry and lonely and doesn鈥檛 know how to take care of himself? You decide!鈥�

In one of the most popular survival shows, Alone, participants film themselves in complete isolation without knowing how many of the other contestants are still out there. The show premiered in 2015, but viewership soared in 2020 when select seasons became available on Netflix and Hulu. 鈥淲ith COVID, there was a lot of interest because of the isolation aspect,鈥� recalls Juan Pablo Qui帽onez, author of the survival book , who won Alone鈥檚 season 9 after surviving 78 days in Labrador with a strategy of fasting, drinking unboiled water, and hunkering down to rest. 鈥淭here aren鈥檛 many shows that are really truly unscripted, and where you can see real emotions, like craving for fish, or craving to be with a loved one. How often do we get to see someone catch a fish after five days without food? These moments are super powerful.鈥�

He believes that we鈥檙e all hunter-gatherers at heart, and that survival shows鈥攁nd wilderness survival in general鈥攃onnect us to an ancestral legacy that feels both vital and familiar. 鈥淭here might be strong feelings on The Bachelor, but it鈥檚 definitely not as real.鈥�

As much as skeptics in online forums might debate the authenticity of their favorite shows (a common theory centers around the idea that when people are getting too weak, production will leave a dead animal in one of their traps), it鈥檚 hard for viewers to dismiss the fact that at least something real is happening onscreen. People don鈥檛 lose 20 pounds in three weeks without going awfully hungry, and a lot of the effects of survival鈥攕unburn, frostbite, open wounds鈥攁re physically undeniable. There are even ways that being on a show can be harder than plain old survival. Camera crews inadvertantly scare away game, and interrupt survivors for interviews, even when they鈥檙e beyond exhausted. Plus, the survivors are usually limited by geographic barriers that have little to do with what鈥檚 actually practical or effective. You鈥檙e ravenous, searching for any darn calories, and finally spot some berries in a clearing that鈥檚 off-limits? Too bad, so sad. This isn鈥檛 just survival, it鈥檚 a show, and you gotta perform for both.

Another factor in their proliferation is that survival shows鈥攁nd reality shows in general鈥攁re economical to produce. 鈥淭he reason that unscripted TV came out of the gate so strongly is that it鈥檚 cheaper,鈥� says Rachel Maguire, who鈥檚 been an international showrunner and executive producer for Naked and Afraid and Dual Survival. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have high-paid actors. There are no writers. The cast is generally not union.鈥� Although, she adds upon reflection, Naked and Afraid does have awfully pricey accidental death and dismemberment insurance.

Her theory as to why the genre鈥檚 so popular? People are increasingly aware of instability in the world鈥攊ncluding a steep increase in natural disasters due to climate change鈥攁nd watching survival shows helps them feel prepared.

I agree with Qui帽onez and Maguire, but I also think there鈥檚 another instinctive appeal. We worry about extraordinary disasters, but we worry about problems in our lives just as much, and usually more. Survival shows are addictive because much of our daily life is also about struggling to meet our basic needs, and we feel that stress even when we can鈥檛 name it. Negotiating jobs, health insurance, child and elder care, housing? That鈥檚 all survival, viscerally so. And so watching people get shelter by building it from scratch, and food by catching it in a handmade trap, isn鈥檛 about watching them go through challenges that are completely disconnected from our own. It鈥檚 about watching our everyday adversity reflected back to us, but distilled into a pure form. We empathize when TV survivalists want to tap out; we cheer when they succeed. It鈥檚 relatable. It鈥檚 therapeutic. We know鈥攄eep down鈥攖hat we鈥檙e all just trying to survive.

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Some of the biggest names in the outdoor industry will convene in Denver for the 2025 国产吃瓜黑料 Summit, a multi-day networking and thought leadership event that begins in late May and rolls into the , a massive celebration of outdoor culture and community.

Featured speakers at the Summit include a diverse range of celebrated pioneers and rising stars. Among them are Co-Founder of and CEO of Reed Hastings, Global Brand President ofCaroline Brown, National Geographic and TV Host Albert Lin, Founder of Alyssa Ravasio, President and CEO of Carrie Besnette Hauser, President of the Kent Ebersole, Multidisciplinary Designer , Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper, and Founder of Joey Montoya. The full lineup, which will continue to expand in the coming weeks, can be explored at .

The Summit brings together key stakeholders, career veterans, and emerging talents to set a vision for the future of the industry. Programming begins on Thursday, May 29, with a job fair hosted in partnership with , along with networking opportunities, then continues on Friday with a full day of talks, panels, and workshops, followed by evening festivities.

Over the weekend, Summit badge holders will have ticket holder access to the 国产吃瓜黑料 Festival presented by and , which takes place in Denver鈥檚 Civic Center Park and features musical performances by and among other major national acts, an adventure film series co-curated by Mountainfilm, conversations with iconic athletes, and an eclectic mix of outdoor experiences. Summit badge holders will also be invited to join exclusive Saturday and Sunday activities and gatherings, and gain entry to an 国产吃瓜黑料 Summit lounge on the Festival grounds.

Last year鈥檚 国产吃瓜黑料 Summit saw 35 speakers, 27 panel discussions, and a sold-out gathering of more than 500 attendees. In 2025, the program will expand to a dedicated campus adjacent to Civic Center Park, with sessions taking place at the Denver Art Museum and newly renovated spaces within the Denver Public Library. The program will focus on entrepreneurship, storytelling, access, and sustainability, and will include a pitch competition for industry startups.

鈥淭he Summit is an embodiment of our mission at 国产吃瓜黑料 and serves the larger vision behind the 国产吃瓜黑料 Festival,鈥� said Robin Thurston, founder & CEO of 国产吃瓜黑料 Interactive Inc., who will also be speaking at the Summit. 鈥淟ast year鈥檚 inaugural Summit brought together changemakers from across the outdoor industry to spark important conversations about the future of our businesses. Our 2025 speaker lineup will continue building on last year’s success with an inspiring group of individuals who will empower more people to enjoy, discover, and protect the outdoors. I’m eager to hear their valuable insights.鈥�

The complete schedule will be released early in the spring. Industry professionals interested in attending are encouraged to secure their spot today. A limited number of for students, those who work in education and government, nonprofits, and smaller brands or startups. 国产吃瓜黑料+ members receive a special discount on Summit badges, and group discounts are also available.

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If you grew up on any one of the Great Lakes, like I did, you may have heard of the sea lamprey鈥攁 vampiric creature that literally sucks the life out of a lake trout. As a kid, I thought they were a myth, a horror story that parents liked to tell kids on fishing trips. I wasn鈥檛 aware of the havoc this parasitic fish wrought on the entire region when it first wiggled its way from the Atlantic Ocean into the largest freshwater ecosystem on earth.

A new documentary, The Fish Thief: A Great Lakes Mystery, unpacks the ecological crisis created by the lamprey, and the extraordinary effort to contain it. 鈥淭he sea lamprey is what put invasive species on the map in the Great Lakes,鈥� says director Lindsey Haskin. 鈥淔or many people, it was the first time they become aware of the scale of damage that鈥檚 possible.鈥�

The Great Lakes鈥擮ntario, Erie, Huron, Michigan, and Superior鈥攕traddle the border between Canada and the U.S. Five million people fish them every year, reeling in tasty catches like yellow perch and walleye, and even coho salmon, which was introduced for sport fishing in the late 1960s. Recreational and commercial fishing in the Great Lakes region is a $7 billion industry. Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, on the shore of Lake Erie, my earliest outdoor memory is fishing with my dad from the Neff Road breakwall.

Oscar-winning actor J.K. Simmons narrates The Fish Thief. Simmons describes how sea lampreys worked their way into the Great Lakes from the Atlantic Ocean via the St. Lawrence Seaway to Lake Ontario. For most of history, Niagara Falls prevented them from spreading any further.

That changed in the early 1900s, with improvements to the Welland Canal, which bypasses Niagara Falls to create a shipping channel between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. The first sea lamprey was found in Lake Erie in 1921. By 1938, sea lampreys had infiltrated the rest of the lakes, all the way to the farthest corners of Lake Superior.

Sea lampreys resemble eels with their long tubular shape. But their mouths are unmistakable: a suction cup lined with concentric circles of fangs, spiraling down to a toothed tongue. They latch onto other fish, create a wound with their razor-sharp teeth and tongue, and suck out blood and other fluids.

In the Atlantic Ocean, where sea lampreys have lived for more than 340 million years, they are mere parasites, attaching themselves most often to sharks and other sea mammals. But in the Great Lakes, very few fish are large enough to escape unscathed from a sea lamprey encounter. By the 1940s, the blood-suckers were killing their hosts鈥攍ake trout, lake whitefish, and ciscoes鈥攊n droves.

The region鈥檚 fishing industry began to collapse in the 1950s, paralyzing towns and Indigenous communities on every shoreline. By 1960, the annual Great Lakes catch, once around 15 million pounds of fish, had plummeted by 98 percent to a mere 300,000 pounds.

The Fish Thief, which has won awards on the environmental film festival circuit in North America and Europe, is the first to tell the story of the lamprey in its entirety, from the initial mystery of droves of dead fish, to the resulting ecological crisis, to the efforts to find a solution. It was eight years in the making.

Haskin, who grew up in the region, near Detroit, says they filmed in a variety of regions, 鈥渇rom the far east extremes of Lake Ontario all the way to Duluth, Minnesota, and down to Chicago.鈥�

What stood out most for Haskin about the project was the tenacity of the people involved devising a solution to the lakes鈥� ecological collapse. 鈥淭he original title for the film was Relentless, which applied to the sea lamprey, but also to the people that did battle with it,鈥� Haskin says. 鈥淭heir original ideas failed, but they just stuck to it and kept going and kept going and kept going and eventually found a solution that has been workable for almost 70 years now.鈥�

Part of the challenge was the cross-border cooperation required to study, test, and, eventually, implement processes to bring the ecosystem back into balance. It required federal government oversight, which most of the fishing industry, and many of the states and provinces bordering the Great Lakes, were hesitant at first to enlist. But eventually, they ran out of options. There was nothing left to do but trust that the government (and science) could find a solution. In 1955, the U.S. and Canada formed the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, the first joint agency of its kind.

The commission confirmed that it was impossible to eradicate sea lampreys from the Great Lakes. But scientists could greatly reduce the invasive species鈥� numbers by attacking them during their larval stage, when they live as filter-feeders in lake tributaries. Some 6,000 compounds were tested to find the best 鈥渓ampricide,鈥� a pesticide capable of destroying lamprey larvae without significantly impacting other organisms, or causing long-term damage to the ecosystem.

Administering the pesticide to larvae in tributaries, as well as using barriers and traps to prohibit full-grown sea lampreys from making it out of the tributaries into the Great Lakes, cut the 鈥渧ampire fish鈥� population by 90 percent. The Great Lakes Fishery Commission, in partnership with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has been working to keep sea lampreys at that benign level ever since.

The sea monster of my youth is real. The next time someone from back home brings up sea lampreys, I鈥檓 going to have a whole lot more to add to the story.

The Fish Thief: A Great Lakes Mystery is set to release on January 31, 2025 in the U.S. and Canada, where it will be available to stream, download, or rent on platforms including Apple TV/iTunes, Amazon, Google/YouTube, and Tubi.

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