Tell
It on the Mountain - DVD
Test
Series by Bob Sanders
Initial
Report: May 20, 2013
Long Term Report: December 5, 2013
| PERSONAL
INFORMATION |
| Name: |
Bob
Sanders |
 Backpacking
Background: I went on my first backpacking trip as a
Boy Scout at the age of 16. Over the years I have hiked the
Wonderland Trail in Washington and section hiked parts of the
Florida Trail, Appalachian Trail, Colorado Trail and 740 mi
(1191 km) of the Pacific Crest Trail. I continue to backpack and
hike year round in the Colorado mountains. I have evolved from a
heavyweight backpacker to a lightweight backpacker and sometimes
reach ultralight weights. My three day spring/summer solo
adventures (using a tarp) have me hovering around a 10 lb (4.5
kg) base weight.
|
| Age: |
55 |
| Gender: |
Male |
| Height: |
6
ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight: |
210
lb (95 kg) |
| Email: |
sherpabob(at)mac(dot)com |
| Location: |
Longmont,
Colorado USA |
INITIAL
REPORT
May 20,
2013
PRODUCT
INFORMATION (Image from website)
|
Manufactured:
2013
Website:
www.tellitonthemountain.com
MSRP:
$15.00 US - DVD
Digital download also available
Measured
Weight: 2.125 oz (60 g)
Includes DVD & Case
Measured
Dimensions : 5.375 in x 7.375 in x 0.25 in (13.65 cm x
18.73 cm x .63 cm)
Features:
- Running Time: 122
minutes
- Format: 16:9
- NTSC- All regions
|
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
This is a documentary that follows a
half dozen of the 300 or so hikers that annually attempt a thru-hike of
the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT).
PCT
map courtesy of "Tell it on the Mountain" website
The DVD
appears to be professionally produced as the graphics on the DVD
cover/sleeve are very well done. There is a map of the PCT on the
inside cover.
The
website is also very well designed and includes an introductory video,
photos and descriptions of the participants, maps and facts about the
PCT and photos and bios of the film makers.
I
have personally hiked approx. 740 miles of the PCT starting at the
Mexican border and heading north. I couldn't resist but here is a
shot of me back in 2003 at the southern terminus of the PCT. I am
sure watching the documentary of the journey will bring back a lot
of great memories for me.
Check
back shortly for my Long Term Report.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
LONG
TERM REPORT
December
5, 2013
Initial
Impressions:
This
movie/documentary is very well done. The photography and
cinematography is a nice mix of professionally shot segments mixed
in with hand-held shots by the participants. The editing, sound
track, voice over and graphics are also very well done. Everything
about this DVD has an air of professionalism.
After finishing my first viewing of the film I came away with the
feeling that anyone who is interested in attempting such an
adventure should buy this DVD and watch it several times. Even the
armchair adventurer will appreciate this film. I wish it had been
available before I attempted my thru-hike back in 2003. There is a
wealth of information out there about the technical or physical side
of the Pacific Crest Trail. Things like, what gear to take, where to
find water, what towns to pick up supplies in, when to go, and how
many miles to cover. But this film takes more of an emotional view
of the trail. I really like that about this film. The focus was
really about the people and the adventure.
After watching just the first 10 minutes and the introduction of the
main characters I began to remember all the really cool people I had
met while on the trail. Especially the trail angels. I have actually
met one of the characters in the film, Donna Saufley and her
husband. I stayed at their house in Aqua Dulce in California. The
brief segment in the film that shows their property and the people
there does not do it justice. The two of them really do have hearts
of gold and open their home and share their resources to all the
hikers that show up. Everything from feeding them, washing their
clothes to letting them use their truck to go into town. There are
many angels along the way, some you meet and others you just
experience their love and hospitality. Wonderful people, the trail
experience would not be the same without them.
The film basically follows 2 couples and 4 solo hikers on their
personal journeys to hike this incredibly beautiful trail that winds
through the deserts and mountains from Mexico to Canada. All of the
participants are quite varied in their experience level and
knowledge of the PCT. Everything from first time hikers to 7-time
thru-hikers. And each one of them had a different idea and reason
for why they were on the trail. Another nice aspect is they included
participants from other countries. The film is comprised of little
snippets of each participant talking to a hand held camera, while on
the trail or in their tent at night describing what is going on in
their lives at that very moment on the trail. And the rest of the
film is documentary style by a professional film crew doing
interviews and following the participants during their journey. They
stay behind the scenes and you never see or hear them.
Not to give too much away but what you see and experience is the
motivation, the failure, the pain, the blisters, injuries, the food,
the weather, the beautiful scenery, the terrifying obstacles, a
wedding, the love & friendship, the perseverance and finally the
triumph of completion. It really was quite inspiring. And all of it
from 6 different perspectives.
I found myself saying "humm, am I too old to think about trying this
again"? And then I remember one of the participants, a retired 70
something, bearded gentleman who's trail name is "Billy Goat".
Basically every spring he hits the trail in April and returns home
to his wife in September. He does it year after year. I think I
might still have a shot at this. Better start training.
Likes:
- Very well made
- Beautiful scenery
- Very inspiring
- This film brought back a
lot of really great memories
Dislikes:
I would like to thank
BackpackGearTest.org and Shaun Carrigan for the opportunity to test this
DVD.
Read more reviews of Tell It on the Mountain gear
Read more gear reviews by Bob Sanders
|
