A Life Outside: American Mountain Guides (2026)
He conquered the mountains, then showed us the way
Not rated yet
A gripping look at mountain guiding and its deep roots in the legacy of Paul Petzoldt — founder of the National Outdoor Leadership School and North America’s oldest guide service, Exum. The film weaves the story of a modern climb gone wrong with the life of Petzoldt, a pioneer who scaled K2, set records on the Matterhorn, trained soldiers to fight Nazis in the Alps, and defined adventure itself. Featuring today’s mountain guides alongside rare archival footage and breathtaking cinematography from Wyoming and France, this feature-length documentary explores risk, grit, mentorship, and the enduring call of the mountains.
- Release date
- January 17, 2026
- Country of origin
- United States
Cast
- Glenn Exum as Self
- Paul Petzold as Self
Crew
- Mat Hames · Director
- Laura Utt · Producer
- Sean McQueeney · Editor