Why do we go to the woods?
Ask that question, and you’ll get a different answer from everyone. It’s not just about being immersed in nature. Or the physical challenge.
It’s an escape. A place to reconnect with that core of our being that remembers that humans lived in wild places. Foraging. Communicating. Surviving.
While hiking, we spend a lot of time on our inner self, turning things over in our minds. While backpacking, that self-reflection can be even more intense.
The story of five friends who spend ten days backpacking across a lesser-traveled route in Utah, the new movie Highline follows how a spectacular outer journey also leads to an inner one. Take a look at the trailer.
The Florida Connection
Zpacks is a nationally-renowned lightweight backpacking gear manufacturer based right here in Melbourne, Florida.
We visited their warehouse a few years back to outfit Sandra with new lightweight gear after knee surgery, and discovered nearly a hundred people at work sewing backpacks, sleeping bags, tents, and more.
Matt “Details” Favero showed us around. He’s the Brand Manager for Zpacks, and he’s one of the five hikers featured in this film.
In 2018, Matt and two of his colleagues -- Zpacks founder Joe “Samurai” Valesko and social media guru Will “Redbeard” Wood -- decided to try the Uinta Highline Trail. They found very little information about it, so planning for it was challenging.
The senior staff of Zpacks go out in the field a few times each year for gear testing. On their trips, they usually shoot their own video and share it on YouTube.
In the case of this journey, they had a team with Outmersive Films with them. Backpacking under the same rugged conditions, but with the additional burden of video equipment and sound equipment with lots of spare batteries.
The result? Highline. A feature film that explores both the natural and cultural history of the Uinta Mountains and the adventure of backpacking through them.
For this Florida premiere, proceeds will be donated to the Florida Trail Association.
Tickets are still available for the showing on Friday Feb 28th at Cinema World, West Melbourne at 6:45 PM. The cast and crew will be available after the movie for Q&A.
Learn more about the film
Learn more about the movie in Matt Favero’s words
Learn more about the Uinta Highline Trail from Zpacks
Learn more about Zpacks