The Weight We Carry

People experiencing homelessness need food and shelter, not rock climbing. But when a mountain guide resolves to give back to his community by doing what he knows best, the results are surprising.This film shares the journeys of four men who are working their way out of homelessness and poverty, weaving their stories through a summer of rock climbing and hiking adventures that culminates in a four-day backpacking trip along the rugged coastline of Vancouver Island, Canada. Lending their voices and their stories to the often-maligned and misunderstood experience of homelessness, the men share their experiences of poverty and loss and their hopes for the future. Learning to navigate new terrain in this place of transition, where the rocky coastal rainforest meets the ocean, memories of sleeping rough morph into the joys of camping, camaraderie, and experiencing challenge by choice. The film explores trauma and mental health, community and acceptance, and the healing power of spending time in nature.