Original subtitles

- 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.