A Life Outside: American Mountain Guides (2026)

He conquered the mountains, then showed us the way

Directed by Mat Hames1h 27mDocumentary

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.

Year
2026
Country
US
Language
English
Release date
17 January 2026
TMDB
10.0 (1)
CineVerse
— (0)

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Paul Petzoldt
Paul Petzoldt
Glenn Exum
Glenn Exum
Himself
J
Jessica Baker
Herself
B
Brenton Reagan
M
Morgan McGlashon

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