Half way to Mountainfilm

I’ve been on the road for nearly three weeks now. About half way through my trip today I’m in Joshua Tree National Park. On a long road tour of the west I’m visiting several wild and scenic places to meet and connect with people like me, and perhaps you, who are dedicated to leading an active lifestyle. And even though I’m heading back toward home the journey is far from...

The Nomad, a film by Skip Armstrong

The latest adventure web series from Forge Motion Pictures explores the depths of the human soul. The crew that delivered last year’s award-winning mountain film Cold now follows the lives of individuals who have discovered the joy and passion that comes from pressing the boundaries of athletic ability against the most primal of the natural elements. Directed by Skip Armstrong Of...

Point of Origin

  “We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.” ~T.S. Eliot author of “The Wasteland” This morning I ate cereal on same breakfast table where I used to do my homework. The Joy Trip has brought back to where it all began for me at my mom and dad’s house in South Central Los...

The Camp 4 Experience

I rolled into Yosemite Valley late in the afternoon on a Monday in May. Three weeks before the Memorial Day Weekend rush the national park seemed almost vacant. Bluebird skies and warm temperatures made for great camping weather. And even though a friend offered me a bed for the night I headed over to Camp 4. Not far from the park exit Camp 4 is a uniquely Yosemite experience. Made...

Expedition Denali the Journey Begins

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” ~ Chinese philosopher Laozi (c 604 bc – c 531 bc) Our journey to the highest peak in North America technically began months ago. Over the past several weeks a flurry of emails and text messages across the Internet pulled together a cadre of disassociated adventurers to share a common dream. And over a weekend in May...

5Point Inspired Slack Life

I woke up this morning nowhere I expected to be. After a 3-hour joy trip from Carbondale, Colorado I found myself in Moab, Utah. I’d originally planned to camp by the river on the edge of town. Instead I wound up having to pick between sleeping on a cozy couch or way up high in a tree slung with nets. Those are your choices when you crash at the Monkey Den. The 5Point Film Festival...

5Point Adventures from the heart

Overcoming adversity is a common theme among adventure films. To beat the odds and triumph in the face of certain doom is the universal thread that runs like a current through the exciting stories that captivate audiences year after year. And on the second night of programming at the 2012 5Point Film Festival a subtle variation on that theme makes a compelling swift to explore not just...

The 5Point Dream

A film festival of excellent quality is far more than the sum of its movies. The cultural experience that draws audiences to witness a spectacle of fun and adventure is a unique opportunity to exceed the mere goal of entertainment. The fifth annual  5Point Film Festival has built a community where aspiring explorers can watch reality unfold in film through stories that first began...

We’re Not Broke!

Despite all indications to the contrary, a new film wants you to disregard a common misconception. “We’re Not Broke” by Vicky Bruce and Hayes explores the arcane and all too confusing world of multi-national tax regulations to reveal a surprising fact. The most profitable corporations in the United States contribute almost nothing to the Internal Revenue Service. And although...

Road Tripper App for iPad/iPhone

Marion, Iowa I just pulled over for a food break and an email check. Google maps tells me I’m 155 miles into the first leg of this westward road trip to the 5Point Film Festival and beyond. Culver’s restaurants are a good alternative to your typical fast food, just as much fat, maybe more, but everything is fresh. The “Butter Burger” will do you in and if like...

The 5Point to Telluride Tour

Tomorrow I’m heading west on a tour of adventure. Starting off at the 5Point Film Festival in Carbondale, Colorado I’ll make a big loop across the Rockies and over to Sierras. I’ll make stops in Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Los Angeles, Joshua Tree, the Grand Canyon, Moab and back to Colorado for the Mountain Film Festival in Telluride. Along the way I’ll connect with dozens of...

Bringing “Happy”

The evening got off to a rocky start. But typical of down home Wisconsin no one was so unkind as to mention it. I was nervous and it showed. The Forum at the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery was packed to capacity. Sadly we had to turn a few people away. The audience was eager for me for me to get on with it and introduce the show they came to see, a screening of Roko Belic’s...