All language subtitles for Mountains.and.Manhood.2018.1080p.WEB_Eng

- Yeah!

I mean.

Yeah, yeah.

- Hey!

- Oh, you guys lost a pack.

- No, we did not.

How about Kansas?

- Well, no offense to Kansas.

Not great, not great, sorry.

- Let's take gear inside,
and we'll stage in there.

- Should we take gear inside?

No, I got a better
idea.

John, let's take gear inside.

Okay.

- He's just gonna throat punch
me, bam.

I have to wait until
he's asleep,

but I will throat punch
the heck out of him.

Yeah, I believe it, I
believe it.

The bunkhouse.

- Oh, cool, I'll sleep on the
alligator.

I'm sleeping
outside.

- There's a bunk bed, and
then there's one big one.

Is there a light
in here?

You
can't even get in here.

I've got to consolidate.

- We've gotta take about 13
pounds off of our packs here.

- We sleeping together?
- Yeah, we're sleeping together, bro, we're gonna do this.

Tommy Dial, you gotta
whistle?

- I got it.

Mark, whistle?

Yes, sir.

Tyler Barnes?

- Yes, sir.
- Whistle?

- Whistle.

- So here's the deal,
they all have to have
a whistle, so if they get lost,

you can sit down and you
can blow that whistle

so we can find you.

So why are you
guys

setting up the tent outside?

- Because we only have six
beds, and this is gonna

be a lot more comfortable
than the hardwood floor.

- Ten minutes max to pack it up
because

we're champs, warrior champs.

- Yeah, this is actually,

this is my first time
going backpacking for real.

I've heard so much about
it from Jake and the guys.

And, I'm just, I don't know.

I'm expecting it to be
definitely challenging,

but way more rewarding in the
end.

And, it's just gonna
definitely gonna trump it.

- Did you guys go to Mount
Everest two years ago?

Or, were you at a different
place?

- We took him to Mount Everest.
- We went to Mount Everest.

And, then were were like, we
were there

for two days and then we hiked
to the top

in a blizzard.

- And it was like too late to
turn back.

- So I'm wearing shorts.
- We were hiding under a rock.

- And, I'm just like.
- What is this?

What are we doing?
- And, it literally came

within, it came within like
five,

it was sunny and then within
ten minutes it's like.

I thought, I was like I'm gonna
die.

- But it can be scary 'cause it
split us.

It caused like them, Jacob,
John, and Caleb to run ahead.

Eric had like a hurt leg,
so he's behind all of us.

And, Ben and I are under
a rock hiding like,

covering each other trying to
wait

for like the lightening to pass.

- It was straight up
like Lord of the Rings.

Everyone was out for themselves.

They're trying to return to the
ring.

- Oh it was cool, two people
passed away

the week before we were there.

- Yeah they really did.

- That was a true story.

- Summiting?

- They got like hit by
lightening, right?

- Oh my gosh.

- In the area that we'll be at.

The ladies at the lodge,
and the campers, everyone

was warning us like, if
there's lightening don't

be out, get in cover, get in
your tent.

- It's a little intimidating.

Because when you've
got, you know, normally,

I've always kind of been the
younger one.

Now, in this situation, I'm a
little bit of the older one.

But, you know, the physicality
part

it's a little intimidating, you
know.

I'm not 24 anymore, so.

But I think I can hold my own.

- I mean I feel like I'm
prepared as much as I can be.

I think it's gonna be a
lot more mind over matter.

Because I know I can
push through it, maybe.

- Physically prepared?

Yeah, I feel 100% physically
prepared.

- I don't know about the hike.

I think the experience of some
of the guys

can somewhat be intimidating
just because,

I mean, Jeff's been out here for
40 years.

So, you know, he's got
so many levels up on me

and I just don't wanna screw
up while I'm up there, really.

So, that's probably the
most intimidating thing.

- Anxious?

No, I try not to be anxious
for anything in my life.

I just come at it with
open arms and enjoy it.

- So this is the tiniest pack
I've had ever in my life.

I used to be the guy that
tried to have the biggest pack

and running up the hill.

Those days are over.

At 54 I'm glad just to be here.

But I've gotta fit the stuff
that's in here in there.

So, that's what you'll see that
a lot

of us we're gonna be
having to do right now,

is decide, you know, what do
we take and what don't we take.

And the older you get,
things become less and less

important to take on the trip.

- Nope, nope, found them.

I have two pairs of
shorts, jeans, a flannel,

and a long sleeved Patagonia.

- Check this out.

So, I am writing a book right
now.

So I can't bring my MAC up
there.

So I've got a copy of
my latest manuscript.

And I've got different pages of
Scripture,

but not the whole Bible.

And so this is all of my writing
materials

and stuff like that where
I'll be finishing up the book.

- You know, I have two children.

I've got a three-year-old girl
and a seven-month-old boy,

and, you know, with Pastor
Jeff being able to do

this with his boys, I
think this is something

that I'd really love.

I mean The Bible talks
about leaving a legacy

and leading with your kids.

Hopefully, one day bring my kids
out here

and for them to be able and
experience God's Creation.

- All right, boys, so it looks
like

we got packs ready to roll.

Got a plan in place,
so let's hit the rack.

Lights out, right?

- Sounds good.

- Night.

- Night.

- I remember when I was 11, 12
years old,

our family was going
through a difficult time.

And I don't know if I
could've articulated it then.

But I've found since then my
parents were

on the brink of a divorce.

And that's about the time
we moved to Colorado.

And somehow the mountains became
a friend.

A place where I could go and
kind of like, find myself.

There was part of what defined
me as a man as a 12-year-old.

And then, as I grew, I kept
coming back.

And there was an allure that I
felt.

An exhilaration in the
mountains.

Something that was
dangerous but beautiful,

exhilarating, calming,
all at the same time.

And so I just kept coming back.

Each year I come back I have
to train a little harder

to make it, to be able
to stay on the trip.

And this year I'm excited but I
don't know

how many more years I have.

And so I cherish absolutely
every moment in this.

And as I bring my sons and
as I bring other groups

of men, I want them to feel
what I felt for all these years.

Guys that haven't been are
wondering can I make it,

can I do this?

Guys that have been before
are checking their gear,

they've been here and
there's this great, you know,

it's kind of like, manhood for
every guy.

Do I have what it takes?

Is my equipment right?

Do I, can I make it?

And that's what I, man that's
what I love

about this trip every year and
that's why

I keep coming back.

- In my time of extensive
backpacking experience

of two years, it's important,
I've realized it's important

to have the three F's in your
backpack.

Food, fire, and your phone.

It's important, the three F's.

- 70 pounds.

When you put it on your
waist, though, it's not bad.

If you carry with your
shoulders,

that's what hurts you,
but if you can strap it up

and sit it on your waist,
it's not a big deal.

That's a trick of the trade.

- Jake, it never gets old, man.

- So right here is Cody,
Tommy and Caden's tent poles.

I'm gonna steal them.

So that when they arrive at
camp,

they will not have anything
to set up their tent.

And we're just gonna see
how they respond to this.

Because they were diligent
preparing

but you can't be too sure.

- You got to pull all
flammable materials away.

- Uh, that is on the borderline,
man.

We just can't have a fire.

- Man, really?

- No, either way, we don't
wanna attract attention.

- Gentlemen, we are just about
ready.

Um, absolutely.

Are you fired up?

Yeah!

- A couple of things we need to
go over

that are really, really
important.

Never, ever go off by yourself
and don't tell anybody

where you're going.

Always have a buddy.

It is just imperative up here.

Especially, for some of us who
haven't,

you know, you don't live here,
you haven't grown up here

and don't know the terrain.

That's really, really important.

Next thing I want you to know
is that weather can change

in just five minutes.

It's, you know, just some clouds
and you see blue right now.

In five minutes weather can roll
in.

Lightning can be on you and you
can be,

it can get treacherous.

More people are killed by
lightning,

especially in the age
demographic 18 to like 40, male.

More people are killed by
lightning

out here than anything else.

Finally, stay hydrated.

Drink, drink, drink, right?

Altitude affects people
differently.

You've got guys like Tyler that
live here.

He's gonna be fine.

He lives here.

He should still drink but the
rest of us who don't, hydrate.

All right?

Altitude sickness and
migraines and stuff like that,

can really, really affect you
if you don't stay hydrated.

Okay, that's the third thing.

The fourth thing and final is
that,

and I had Kevin wear these for a
reason.

Never wear white socks
like that on the trail,

because Elk like to mate with
that white.

They think, yeah, they
think it's a female.

- Caleb, what'd you say yours
was?

- This is over 70 now, I'm
positive.

- Well, we are ready to roll.

My pack is like
12 pounds because I put it

all in Caden's pack.

Mine is now 70 pounds.

Is it?

Descend.

- Descend and then ascend?

To the peak, yo, summit?

- Topeka, actually.

- Here's the fun thing
about this first hill.

The guys who've never been
have the first affects

of adrenalin rush leaving
and altitude affecting them.

The pack starts to thin out.

I'm always back here because I'm
old.

But a leadership lesson that
I learned a long time ago

was that the best leaders

are the ones who can lead from
behind.

The trained guys that know what
way to go,

and lead from behind to make
sure everybody makes it.

- Peak up there at Mount Evans.

It's ridiculous.

Gods Creation's, it's
nothing in the world's

like that right there, that's
beautiful.

She's a beaut!

- To the top, twice as
far as we just came,

and it'll take you about
three hours to get up.

- All right boys, let's roll.

- Whoa, feeling my legs right
now.

Ya know, I'm doing all right.

Slowly but surely.

Taking the stride, gotta keep a
good pace.

- I got this.

- Make sure your trash goes in
there.

- Just on the other side
of these rock steps,

it's right there.

- My legs are starting to cramp
up bad.

My quads.

- For an old man, you know,
his legs are cramping,

I'm into full body cramp.

But it's because I'm 54.

And I feel awesome.

- Is there an elevator
up here on the corner?

- Yeah, half way through,
um, spirits are high.

- I feel like I need to
retract my statement.

Which one?

- The physically prepared
statement that I made.

- I always get worried
about not drinking enough.

- Yeah, I know and it's weird,
like,

you don't have to pee because

you feel like you're sweating it
all out,

you know what I'm saying?

- Is that a thing, is that
popular?

- Yeah.

Oo, thunder.

All right, stay ready.

You ain't gotta get
ready.

Watch out for the rocks.

- So, thunder.

It's a thing I hate about up
here.

It's scary.

Weather moves in with a great
day.

All of a sudden, it's coming
together.

You can see it.

With thunder comes lightning

and it makes me really
concerned.

And I'm gonna be honest with
you, afraid.

Especially for guys that
don't know what they're doing.

So we gotta get to the camp.

- Does everyone have,
like, rain jacket close?

Let's get it going, come
on.

- I felt rain.

- Just putting on our rain gear.

This is like, you know the
free things they give you

at amusement parks that
are only like ten cents.

They don't do any good,
they just trap body heat.

- That's pretty good.

- I'm ready to get back to camp

and get dry and set up tent.

I'm wet, tired and hungry.

Let's go.

- Look at that, man.

Tried to scare us off with
some rain and thunder.

And here comes the sun.

So what we really do
up here is we do this.

- Water.

We are refilling.

Even though it's rained on us.

But still we put on our
rain gear and we sweat.

We gotta stay hydrated.

You got to keep water in your
system.

It's important, it's
important in life too, right?

You gotta, not just stay
hydrated in your body,

gotta have your spirit hydrated.

You can't just live dry.

Really, really important in high
country.

- So, this is called a Katadyn
filter.

And what it is, is, you
throw this in an open stream

and you pump the water into
the Nalgene water bottles.

And this just does a filtration
process.

This is snowcap water.

You know, high Alpine rain
water,

and so it's ice cold, it tastes
great.

It doesn't get any better than
this.

- We are about a mile and a half
away

and not too much more uphill.

Now once we break out of the
trees

you can see our spot from there.

- Whoo!

- Yep, look at that.

the chance to break it down.

- Whoo.

- Whoo!

- You try to picture it as
far as what it looks like

and what it is, but when
you actually step out here

and be able to see what God has
created,

it's like nothing you've ever
imagined.

Honestly, probably it's the
toughest it's been for me.

Usually, I've got my inhaler.

I didn't have it this time.

So now, I'm doing okay.

I got a nap, got some food,
water, that always helps.

- It was pretty interesting.

I had cramps coming on rather
early into our journey.

My quads and my calves
were pretty much at a

just about a half cramp the
entire time.

- You know I think
there's probably a reason

that mountain men died in their
40's

because it's tough.

Uh, to sleep on the ground.

There are things in the
mountains

that could eat you.

But there's just an
exhilharation about it,

that I just don't know that I
could stop.

I mean I maybe have to have
a doctor tell me I can't.

- Yep.

- It's like I'm steady you
think?

- Yeah.

- The larger dome tent right
here.

And then we'll put the
little two men up there.

- Where are the poles?

I don't see any poles.

- Are you serious?

- We put them in there.

- They were in there.

- Anywhere else in your pack?

- No.

- Like the poles.

- They hold the whole tent
together.

- Yeah, there's another smaller
bag with us, isn't there?

- Take it all out, put
it up, take it down.

- We packed it all up.
- Packed it all up.

All three of us did.

- We packed it up.

- Caden do you remember
putting them in your pack?

- Did they fall out?

- We have enough room.

- It's a two man tent, but
we're willing to share.

- Three of us and two.

- Colin likes to stack.

- There's three of us and
two of ya'll so that's five.

- There's nothing that can
prepare you for

how grueling it can be.

But I feel good now that
I'm back here at camp.

I feel strong.

I feel rested.

I feel like I'm hydrated again.

But the trip itself going up the
mountain

was actually pretty difficult
and actually shocked

me a little bit, because
I had prepared so much

and it still was pretty
grueling.

- It was a lot of fun, honestly.

The trip was a lot of fun

and it was actually pretty
challenging.

The first part where,
before we took lunch was,

I mean it was like you go
up hill, you go down hill,

your heart rates' up and then
you're like,

ah, this ain't so bad.

But then that second
part it was a no-joke.

- This should be cozy, right?

- You guys can tie some rope.

- Is this where the zipper is
zipped?

- Happy birthday.

- Where were they?

- Where were?

I hate you, bro, you knew the
whole time.

What?

What?

- You hate him?

- Naw, but right now, but it's
gone.

I did, for that.

- Oh, my.
- That time.

- Yeah, it was on you, dude.

- No, was it was on me?

- He was...
- It was 100 percent on me.

- Pissed.

I don't wanna punch him.

- We both didn't want to be
like, Caden carried it up.

But we're both like, Caden
carried it up.

- Yeah, well it's okay.

- No, it was nobody's fault,
but.

- You guys, this is awesome.

- I fell in love
with the mountains of Colorado
so much.

And they helped me become a
man in such a powerful fashion.

That I said to myself, when I
was young,

when and if I have boys,

I want to give them the same
opportunity.

Because to sleep on the ground,

to walk through weather like we
did,

to have some of the elements

that we have to endure and step
up to,

it is a powerful, powerful
training for manhood.

- I learned to realize that man,

this legacy tradition
aspect is not common.

And more men need it as they're
growing

and developing into the
men they're supposed to be.

I realize how many men in this
country

and in this world are lacking
that aspect.

- So now being the youngest in
my family

and, you know, the youngest boy
too,

it's just like an honor
every year to come back

and realize the gift that this
is.

It's something that I
absolutely want to carry on

as long as I can.

You know bring, some day, my
sons up here.

Carry on the legacy, write about
it.

Because it never changes.

You come up here, and
I've changed over 15 years

but this hasn't and what this
trip brings hasn't changed.

- Bro, come on.

- Hear that whistle pig?

- It's a whis pig.

They whistle at you, they're
right over here on the rocks.

Look close, you
can see them running around.

- Ah!

- Oh, nice.

- Paddy bro's.

- We're also tenting together.

- You guys are actually
matching shorts too.

- Okay, you guys if you need
water,

you pump right up there.

You can get that five gallon,
who had the five gallon?

- It's over by Calen's backpack.

Okay, so we take that up there,
fill that.

Take a few water bottles,
fill those as well.

And a couple of other things.

If you've got stuff hanging out,

it's gonna rain tonight.

You should make sure
your pack is all tight.

You're gonna get wet.

But when you get in your tent,

get in there then I'd just
try to keep my clothes

in there and keep them dry,
okay?

We're good?

Yes, sir.

- All right guys, I'm
grabbing my gear and head down
to fish.

All right.

- You can literally see the
trout swimming right in front

of you, it's amazing.

So I'm gonna hopefully catch one
today.

Emergency power bait.

- For when we're really bad,
we'll uh,

back-to-school pack for 97
cents,

some weights, some bobbers,

a couple keel lures, Cast
Master.

Panther Martin is a big Colorado
go-to.

Always got a knife and
a little pair of pliers.

And that's about it.

- Gonna rub some lamps.

- This whole thing, from here to
here.

Great fishing.

- Yeah, I have entered
a new phase in my life

with kind of honestly starting a
career.

And working full time.

It's different than being a
student.

And so the day to day
really grind of work,

kinda takes a toll.

Unless you get out into the
wild,

I really feel like guys
start to loose their energy

and lose passion and lose drive.

And getting out into the
wilderness,

I think shows you that you are
a part of something bigger.

And it gives you a chance to
kind of reignite those passions

and stuff and so.

Lots of things are changing in
my life

and this has been the
stable thing over the years.

And this feels like home.

- Yeah, I'd say the past year

has been super stressful for me.

Just had to go through a lot of
adversity

my first year of college.

So it's really tough mentally on
you.

And it's tough physically on you
as well.

So this is kind of like just
relieving all my stress.

It's good for my mind.

It's good for my body.

Just to relax and hang out
with some really good people.

- You know, growing up, I played
hockey since I could walk.

And, you know, I've been on
teams and through the amount

of concussions I've racked up,

it's just gotten worse and
worse.

And this last year I had
to quit hockey, obviously.

Just felt kind of alone and
struggled with a lot of things.

And it was just like my
personality was changing

and it had never been
affected like that before.

You know I felt like I just
kind of hit cruise control.

Just trying to get by everyday.

And just something
wasn't clicking with me.

And there was an emptiness that
I felt.

So it just happened to be that
Jeff,

a few months ago was at our
house

and invited me.

And I know it didn't happen by
accident

and it was supposed to happen
this way.

And I think for a really good
reason.

- Look at the color on him.

Whoo!

There it is.

- The last time we went on
this, it really impacted me.

And you know, Pastor Voth, has
had,

he's been there for me recently.

Some ish hit the fan and
it was just really crazy.

And I started talking to him.

And I just realized, man, I need
more.

I need that, like, Yoda figure.

Not that Pastor Voth is Yoda.

Just a better-looking Yoda.

Less green, taller, could bench
more.

And then he asked me to come on
this trip.

And I was like, absolutely.

And this place is just,
you feel it in your pores.

You know what I mean?

Like, the height, everything.

- It was the best feeling I've
ever had,

just sitting up here and just
looking out

on just so much natural beauty.

And just knowing that I just
walked all the way up here.

And carried everything.

Yeah.

All right, gentlemen.

So, tomorrow morning, you guys
are gonna summit Mount Evans.

14 thousand, two hundred and
some feet.

Uh, I'm not gonna go with you.

I just, the last couple of
years, I, man, my knees just,

I just can't do it.

But I feel that I'm passing it
on.

I've got sons and son-in-law

and you guys like some of my
students.

Guys that, we have history, it's
an honor

to pass it on to you.

But a couple of things that
you have to understand.

At this time of year weather

almost always sets in 2:00,
2:30.

Clouds get black.

It's dark, you're gonna
get rain, lightning.

But you gotta be back here by
2:30

or man I'm just gonna shut it
down.

So, praying for you.

Excited for you.

You can do this.

But you will be back by 2:30.

Right?

Can I get a witness here?

Yes, sir!

- That's what I'm talking about,
right?

- It's a rumble in the jungle.

- We need this about five
minutes to get it boiling.

- Check that out, lasagna with
meat sauce.

14 grams of protein.

Two and half servings.

Look at that.

That's mountain man food right
there.

- That's the good stuff, the
tuna.

High in protein.

Don't gotta cook anything.

They're over there cooking.

Smart, smart.

Unless I run out then I'm
stupid.

- I'll show you where they're
at.

- How's that lasagna look?

- Now this mac and cheese is
done.

Look at that.

Just creamy.

This is like Kraft Mac and
Cheese.

- Coyotes, coyotes right
down here to the left.

He started yelling,
whistle pig in the middle,

and then a coyote back to the
right.

It's pretty cool.

- Come on guys.

- We're having to get this
in a certain amount of time.

Because the weather's
coming in and honestly,

I don't know if we're
gonna be able to make it.

I know a lot of the other
guys are getting tired.

So, I'm trying to set a
pace that we all can do.

- No, I'm trekking, you know,
trying not to think about it.

And not let it get to my head.

- I really don't know if we're
gonna be able to make it.

- One of the guys who have
done this before said,
that it was ten times worse,

this hike to the summit was,

than the second half with our
60 and 70 pound packs on, so.

I believe it now.

- First leg.

- So the beginning goal
was to get here by 10AM.

We didn't think we were gonna
make it.

Because we had to stop a lot.
Because that was a struggle.

But we got here.

We asked Cody, what does
it say on your wrist watch?

And he said 9:56.

Phew, we beat it by four
minutes.

- So now what we're gonna
do is take this trail.

And the trail actually
goes around the ridge line.

Which is probably gonna take us

an hour and a half to two hours.

Time is key.

Let's do it.

- One hold, man.

- I will say, I could not have
done this without you dudes.

- I probably would but
this is an awful lot.

- Yeah, talking to people
definitely keeps you...

- Whoa!

- Whoa!

- Yeah!

- Yeah!

- We are, we are three fourths?

- Beautiful!

- Two thirds.

What's less?

- Two thirds.

- We are six eighths away.

- We need to keep moving.

- Where they filmed Lord of the
Rings.

- Yeah, they said New Zealand.

Mount Evans, doc.

- Here you go.

Feel it.

- This right here is called the
Cairn.

And what those are used for is
when you're at these high
altitudes,

rain washes away the trails and
so people

actually build these to help
guide

the other people that are
coming.

And so really, you're standing
on the shoulders of giants.

- I'm feeling good, but
my legs are feeling sore.

But this is an experience of a
lifetime.

- Do you believe we hiked three
hours

and all these other
people drove ten minutes.

Whoo!

- Tyler's just feeling like a
champ.

- This is where we came from.

All the way down there.

That was actually only half way.

And then there's the low Chicago
Lake,

where we even camped.

So right there we had just
climbed,

I believe it's 3,500 feet.

- Whoa!

- You made it.

At 2:30, look at your watch.

- Check the time, Pastor Voth.

- I know what time it is, well
done.

- I think I've done the
summit four or five times.

It was by far the hardest.

I think we were on a time
crunch.

We had to get up a certain
time to beat the weather.

And we had to get down a certain
time to beat the weather.

- Let's get somebody else
on film, I'm about to drop.

- Um, I knew it was gonna be
hard.

Everybody talking about
it, but I did not know

it was gonna be that hard.

I haven't been sore like,

tendons that I didn't know I had
are sore.

- It was a mind deal.

It was a mind game the entire
time.

So it brought about some
toughness

that you just had to summon from
yourself,

you had to find to be
able to make it through.

- You know, then to get
up there with the group

and to stand on the highest peak

and look over many, many
mountain ranges in the state.

- When I reached the summit it
was like,

honestly a weight off my
shoulders,

and tension off my legs.

And, but, it was just,

I mean it's literally
priceless when you're up there.

- Every mountaineer, it's
completely different,

and it's beautiful
whenever you get up there.

You know you can't, it just
takes your breath away.

There's really no words
to describe the views

when you get up to the top
of something like that.

And you just feel so
accomplished.

- I'm wondering if I can get
up there without my shoes on.

Because I don't wanna,
you know what I mean?

You're just waiting for me to
fail.

Okay.

- You're good.

- We're good.

Yeah!

- What's that?

- He said, "What's that."

- Watch out it smells awful over
here.

Fields farted.

- I know I wanna eat as much as
I can

so I don't have to carry down so
much.

- That's a good reason for it.

- I just bury whatever I don't
eat.

- You're welcome.

- [Jeff} You guys see anything
crazy

while you were hiking up?

- A lot of mountain goat.

Really?

- A lot, actually, more
than ever this year.

- All right gentleman, good job.

You hiked well today.

Awesome, awesome work.

Make sure you tighten your packs
up.

Get the camp, you know, stow
the stuff under your packs,

because it's raining and I'm
going to bed.

See ya in the morning.

Good night.

- Morning.

- We were up about every 4.5
minutes.

- Good morning!

So we filled up about this
much, not we, I filled up

this much Nylogen with my pee,

because I was not about
to get out last night.

So I'm trying to find the water
filter.

Because I've got to keep myself
hydrated.

- Sleep against a root
system and a bunch of rocks.

And I need some hot, fresh
coffee.

- Brushing my teeth.

- Because you just tasted your
finger.

- That was it.

- When's the last time
you washed your hands?

That's what I said.

- See that?

- Do you have binoculars?

On that snowpile, there's like
ten sheep.

- Oh, wow!

- I think that might be a ram.

It's pretty big.

- This is an ancient whistle pig
dialect.

I'm not sure what I'm sayin'
but they're really upset at me.

- Yeah, there, I think they're
upset.

Oh, it's

So we're getting ready
to go to

one of my favorite fly
fishing spots on the planet.

It's right through those
trees, that little,

kind of a pond below the big
lake.

It is rough to get to.

Uh, but I've found, that a lot
of times,

when something's rough to get
to,

those fish haven't been fished
real hard

and it's a great payday.

But the terrain changes
every time I'm up here.

Uh, there are holes.

There's buck brush that's
taller than we are.

So, uh, it's an adventure.

Let's get it done.

We're makin' noise.

We want you to know we're here.

We want you to know we're here,
Mr. Bear.

Go away.

You can see all kind of
game has come through here.

There's the pool, right there.

The last of that sage brush.

Almost there.

So anybody who's a real
fly fisherman watching this

will know that I'm pretty much a
hack.

But, uh, this is my
really cheap Eagle Claw.

Uh, the only reason I use an
Eagle Claw,

it's a spin and a fly cast, is
because

you can do both and you
don't have to bring two rods.

For as long as I can remember,
I have loved to fish.

I, uh, I don't know if
its the predatory instinct

that's in every man, or what
it is, but I love to fish.

But it was so much better
when I fished with my dad.

Uh, we would fish rivers or we
would come

just down below here at Echo
Lake Lodge and we would laugh.

We would, when I was young,
he would answer any question

I had about women, about, we'd
talk about

the Denver Broncos, anything.

And so, fishing was just
kind of an excuse, you know,

to get time with my dad.

Here we go.

So it was really important
for me to take my sons,

uh, because I loved
spendin' time with my father

and wanted them to have
the same opportunity.

- I remember my first trip,
um, it wasn't to this spot,

but I was four years old.

And I was wearing a little
blue jumpsuit, matching pants

and top, and I remember I
caught a fish on my first cast.

And I think we came to
this spot two years later.

Um, so I was six and I remember
camping

right up in the trees behind us.

Best experience of my young
life.

I couldn't wait to get back.

When he was, uh,
early teens, mid-teens, Jacob,

my oldest son, just not sure
why.

Just became curious with
some of the wrong things.

Um, and I think it just
started with some minimal stuff

and then ultimately, to alcohol
and pot and then some stuff

that led to addiction.

- Growin' up in a great
family, there's no reason

what happened to happen,
except for, you know,

I kinda fell for the Devil's
lies.

Um, I never really felt like I
fit in.

I mean, just kinda, I don't
know how to explain it

except it just took over
and I couldn't stop.

No matter how bad I wanted
to, no matter how bad

it hurt my family, no matter
how bad they wanted me to stop.

I just couldn't stop.

Um, I was truly enslaved.

His addictions, uh, put
a strain

on our relationship because
it got so bad at one point,

I felt like I had to protect my
family

from another family
member, which is just not,

that's not normal.

You know.

And so, I was mad.

I was sad.

Uh, when I saw what it did to
his mother and his siblings,

it was really, really really
difficult.

- Towards the end, it got
to where I had to have it.

I, I even, I was using
heroin just to stay normal.

Just to, I wouldn't even
get, I mean, high anymore.

It was, I needed it.

Um, or I'd get sick.

I mean, it was the last
thing I thought about

when I went to bed and the
first thing I thought about

when I woke up.

And I wish it wasn't that way,
but it was.

I went through rehab in the
military.

Um, it got me kicked out of the
military.

My addiction, it got me
kicked out of college.

You know, I kinda, I
had life set up for me

and, um, I just couldn't stop.

I think when he got
kicked out of the same college

that I went to, um, something
changed.

Something clicked in me and I
became,

I'm never a hopeless person,

but I just saw the power of
addiction.

And, uh, I just wasn't sure what
to do.

Hmm, and I can remember him
fishin'

with me here as a little boy

before all the addiction and
heroin.

Hmm, he caught his first fish
here and, uh,

it just wasn't right, you know?

Hmm, I just didn't know what to
do.

And so, all I knew to
do was keep inviting him

on the trip every year.

Uh, it was one reason to get
back together

and so this crazy trip, he
would come on and we would fish

and, uh, I didn't know
whether he was livin'

under a bridge or in a
drug house somewhere.

I'd, but he would somehow,
in July, check on us,

because he wanted to go
on this trip.

This crazy trip backpacking
and fishing somehow

brought him out of wherever he
was at.

And it would reunite us.

- Yeah, this trip was like, an
escape.

It was, um, I mean when
I was in the deepest

of my addiction, it was the only
way

I could get away, you know?

I couldn't, I couldn't
bring drugs up here.

I couldn't get high up here.

And to some extent, being
up here was actually,

I got, I got higher than using
drugs.

Like, it was better being
up here because we could all

get away from what we were
going through in life.

There was that common bond, you
know?

We could get up here and
leave everything behind.

Um, there's just something
about the power of this trip

and the power of the
mountains and just fishing

and honestly, if we didn't
have this trip, I, you know,

I could be dead because there
were times

where this trip came
just at the right time.

You know, I needed
something outside of myself,

uh, to break that for me.

And ultimately, that's what
happened.

- Makes me love God so much

for making the mountains and
just,

I feel his rhythm up here and
somehow,

this trip would pull him
back into that rhythm.

It's a beautiful thing.

The relationship now is so much
better.

Uh, Jacob's a man.

He's married, paying bills, and
a member of his local church

and he's, I always knew he was a
good man.

But now he's acting like
what I know that he is

and, uh, I'm proud of him
and it's good to see him.

It's good to see him.

- You know, I don't live in
Oklahoma.

I live in Michigan with my wife.

Um, but before I left,
that was the last thing

I wanted to make sure that we
were good on our relationship

between me and my dad and,
you know, um, he has, he um,

he married me and Abby, my wife.

Um, to see him do that and to
see him cry

because he was proud of me
and to see him proud of me

up here, um, I didn't
matter what I'm doing.

I, just as long as my dad's
proud of me and I know he is.

I couldn't ask for anything
more at this point in my life.

What's up?

- I totally thought you
guys were two strangers.

I was like, why are they rolling
up on us?

So guys, what we're
about to be involved in here is

something that, I think,
men have been doing

for probably thousands of years.

Um, they've come on an
excursion and we've been

in the mountains and now we're

at the end of our time together.

And the last time we're gonna be
here

at this beautiful spot, uh,
we want to affirm each other.

So this is called the
affirmation circle.

Um, and you know, it's
powerful to do it here

at 11-12,000 feet.

Uh, its almost magical.

It's mysterious.

But I guarantee when you go
down from here, um, you know,

the same 'ole same 'ole's
gonna come after you.

Uh, and I want to
encourage you to try to get

what we have here tonight.

To find some guys who
will look you in the eye,

who will affirm you, who
will tell you the truth.

Uh, and that's my hope
for every one of you.

Uh, and this group will never
be together again like this.

And so this is something
really powerful this evening.

Uh, but I just want to make
sure that you take that

home with you when we go down
from here.

- Tyler, the first time I
met you, you were somebody

that I could be friends
with, somebody that I could,

um, depend upon.

- I know what you've gone
through with your concussions

and now rediscovering who you
are and surrounding yourself

with men like this, it's, it
shows me that you want this

more than anything.

- I think what sticks out
to me most, I was in and out

of using heroin and I couldn't
stay

at certain people's homes.

Um, I remember you
looking at me and saying

"I'm with you, no matter where."

And you weren't going
through that, but I was.

Um, and that showed me Jesus
more than anything else

at that time.

I already loved you, but
I love you more for that.

- Jacob, ever since I met
you in Life Challenge,

you've been by my side
and been my brother.

From the beginning.

And I've never met a man
with such a lion's heart

like you have.

And just a ferocious warrior,
just stands there ready

to defend his own and the
presence that you walk

with carrying yourself.

It's a calm and confident
one, but it's unmistakable.

- Jacob, not only, you know,
are you my older brother,

but you truly are one of my
heroes.

How you've overcome things
in life, um, your addictions,

your struggles, things
like that, just shows

your tenacity and warrior
spirit.

- I saw your heart and love for
people.

In fact, both you guys
remind me of Robin Hood

and Little John because
you're massive, you could

wreck people, but you have
this heart of compassion.

And you help people, and
you're like, dude, let's fight

for those people who can't
fight for themselves.

- And I want to commend you, you
know.

I know the stuff you've
overcome and I know your story

and, uh, you are a manly man

and there are big things in
store for you.

And I want to thank
you, you know, from the

of oath, for
taking care of Jake.

- You have had to make
some difficult decisions

being my dad.

I never thought I'd even
be able to visit again.

But I think that day that
turned the tides in my life

was when you said, "You
can come back home."

I'm convinced that if it wasn't
for you,

that I would be dead.

And I would stay dead.

So I want to thank you for
loving me when I was unlovable.

- I never met someone who
can bring a group of people

together like you can.

It is incredible.

You're the only, like, guy
I've ever looked forward to,

like, hanging out with.

- You never talk down to people.

You know, even on this trip.

And I think that's, a
lot of people don't know

how to do that.

But you come at their
level and I think that's

a powerful thing.

- Thank you.
- I'm praying for you.

- Tommy Dial, I am proud of you.

Uh, every person that we
consider to come on this trip,

we really consider.

And uh, when Cody said,
"Tommy needs to come,"

man, I didn't even need to think
about it.

It was an automatic "yes."

You're at a point in your life
where you have made a change.

You are not the man you used to
be.

And that's why we had
you come on this trip.

I am so stinkin' proud of you,
uh,

and you're exactly why we do
this, man.

You are, you are an amazing man.

You're one of my heroes,
watching you this year, dude.

You're nobody's shadow, bro.

I love you.

I love you, and I'm so
thankful you're on this trip.

I appreciate it.

Absolutely.

- So, uh, tonight, every one of
us

had somebody say something about
us that was, uh, affirming.

That built us up.

And, uh, they can do one of two
things.

It could just make you feel
good, or it can motivate you

and kindle a fire in your heart
to go down from 12,000 feet

to where everybody else lives.

Because they don't live up here.

So to allow this trip to take
you down from the mountain

and change your world.

Otherwise, it was just a
cute little thing that we did

and made each other feel good.

And that is worthless
if that's all this was.

But the reason that we had
you guys be on this trip,

is because that's not
the kind of men you are.

So you're gonna take
what they said about you

and you're gonna find that
group of men with whom

you can lock shields with and
change, uh,

change the things that are
happening in our culture

that need to be changed.

There's some giants that
need to be taken care of.

We talked about that.

There's some stuff that
needs to be dealt with.

You talk about human
trafficking,

you talk about divorce rates,

you talk about, we can go down
the line.

And there is something that
needs a guy to be fired up

and go change that.

And you're the kinda guys that
do that.

- Three pan pepperoni?

- Yes, right here.

Thank you.

This is the
mother lode.