Public Invited To Take a 'Walk in the Clouds'

Date: September 13, 2010
Contact: Amy Vanderbilt, 406 888-5838
Contact: Wade Muehlhof, 406 888-7895

WEST GLACIER, MONT. – President Barack Obama recently proclaimed September 2010 as National Wilderness Month and invited all Americans to visit and enjoy our wilderness areas, to learn about their vast history and to aid in the protection of our precious national treasures. In honor of National Wilderness Month, officials with Glacier National Park and the Glacier National Park Fund are pleased to announce the release of a new short film about wilderness values called Walk in the Clouds. The Glacier National Park Fund served as the film's Executive Producer.

As part of National Wilderness Month, the public is invited to a premiere showing of Walk in the Clouds on Friday, September 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the Lucerne Room at the Many Glacier Hotel.

Walk in the Cloudsis a short story about wilderness. It is narrated by wilderness proponent and actor/director Robert Redford, who portrays a fictional character, The Ranger, who speaks about the park he so dearly loves. The Ranger calls on the viewer to witness and experience Glacier National Park.

The 10-minute High Definition film was donated to Glacier National Park by film maker Doug McMains. McMains photographed, wrote, produced and directed the film. In addition to being a film maker, McMains has also been a seasonal National Park Service employee at Glacier for the past two summers. McMains says he was inspired to create the story by his many ventures into the park's backcountry when he was not working. "I felt a bit like Pavlov's dogs," said McMains, "Lacing up my hiking boots was the bell and experiencing Glacier's wilderness was the reward. I got a charge of adrenalin every time the boots came out."

President Obama stated in his proclamation of National Wilderness Month that, "For centuries, the American spirit of exploration and discovery has led us to experience the majesty of our Nation's wilderness. From raging rivers to serene prairies, from mountain peaks slicing the skyline to forests teeming with life, our Nation's landscapes have provided wonder, inspiration, and strength to all Americans. Many sites continue to hold historical, cultural, and religious significance for Indian tribes, the original stewards of this continent. We must continue to preserve and protect these scenic places and the life that inhabits them so they may be rediscovered and appreciated by generations to come."

Glacier Superintendent Chas Cartwright said, "Walk in the Clouds is a great invitation for people to personally experience what is so special about wild areas like Glacier National Park."

"Walk in the Clouds is not licensed for commercial use and will not be available for sale, but is now showing in the St. Mary Visitor Center movie theater/auditorium, " added Cartwright.

A trailer is available at https://www.facebook.com/GlacierNationalPark and https://youtube.com/glaciernps.  

- NPS -