Snow to Sand: A Review
When Justin ‘Trauma’ Lichter and Shawn ‘Pepper’ Forey thru-hiked the PCT in the winter of 2014 - 2015, I followed their courageous undertaking (and regularly posted progress updates on this website) through its successful conclusion on March 1, 2015. The challenge of day after day of wet, snowy and cold conditions, limited daylight, the absence of accessible water, and much more . . . seems insurmountable. Filmmakers Brent Yontz and Jill Jones have created an hour-long documentary about this incredible hike that is now available on Amazon (free to those who have Amazon Prime).
I viewed the film this morning and, as we have done of this website in the past, offer our review.
Perhaps the greatest challenge the filmmakers faced was having very limited actual film footage to work with aside from a few stills and, what appeared to be, a recreated snow camping sequence with Shawn and Justin. Interviews with Jack Haskel of the PCTA, long distance hiker Heather ‘Anish’ Anderson, and Native American consultant and naturalist Leora Beihn are interspersed with commentary from Shawn and Justin. In addition there was some stunning High Sierra footage shot from a helicopter. But, I felt that the content had to be stretched to fill the sixty minutes.
There is much that I liked about the movie:
1) I appreciated the efforts the filmmakers and Shawn and Justin made to provide a larger context for their walk and life, for the existence of the PCT, for the threats to the natural world. The film begins with a wonderful connection with John Muir and Muir’s spiritual celebration of nature and ends by making the distinction between preservation and conservation. The film also recognizes the long Native American presence in the mountains. And, there was commentary on climate change (and Justin and Shawn’s observations about the impact on pika) and the management of fire in the wilderness.
2) I appreciated the candor of Shawn and Justin’s comments about their relationship, about the challenges on the trail, about life after completing this amazing ordeal.
The glimpse we got into what it was like to walk for such an extended period in wet, snowy, and cold conditions was humbling. I respected their extensive preparations (5 years of research) and their own hesitations to undertake this journey (17% chance of succeeding). The reality of frostbite was particularly powerful. And I was amazed at their decision to utilize a tarp for shelter. As Jack Haskel observed, you recognized just how “tough these two guys are.”
3) What drives people to push themselves to take on such challenges? It seems fitting that Heather ‘Anish’ Anderson (see recent posts related to Heather’s book, Thirst) would have connected with Justin and Shawn. She walked 100 miles with them near the end of their journey. I’m still chewing on what I am learning through these three intrepid souls. Testing the boundaries of human speed and endurance is certainly part of the attraction. As Heather Anderson noted, “our breaking point is much higher than you think.” As Justin notes, “There is something rewarding about getting somewhere on your own power.” Being out in wilderness . . . in the natural world.
Shawn and Heather both seem to gravitate toward a solitary lifestyle. Shawn acknowledges near the end of the film that he finds it hard to relate to people. He has found that you are “most happy when you please yourself first.”
It sum, I always admire anyone who undertakes the making of a film like this. There is much about the Snow to Sand that works and warrants devoting an hour of your life to watching it. As I said earlier, there was just not enough actual footage from Justin and Shawn’s walk . . . and the ‘B’ roll did not always work for me. For that reason, I give the film:
7 Clif Bars