The Film

A Life Outside: American Mountain Guides is a 90-minute documentary that pays tribute to Wyoming’s pioneering mountain guides by exploring the high-stakes world of American mountain guiding and its deep roots in the legacy of Paul Petzoldt—legendary mountaineer, founder of both the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and North America’s oldest guide service, Exum.

The film weaves the story of a modern climb gone wrong with the remarkable life of Petzoldt (1908–99), a pioneer who scaled K2, set records on the Matterhorn, trained soldiers to fight Nazis in the Alps, and defined adventure itself. 

Set in the rugged peaks of the Tetons and the Alps, the 90-minute film follows those who face deadly risks every time they rope up, not for their own glory, but to get their clients back safely to the parking lot.

This documentary is a Wyoming PBS production directed by Mat Hames of Alpheus Media.

The Filmmaker

Mat Hames is an acclaimed filmmaker known for exploring history and memory, with his work featured on Independent Lens, Amazon Prime, AppleTV, HBO, SundanceTV, Netflix, and Kanopy. Knighted by King Albert II of Belgium for Last Best Hope, his WWII film on the Belgian Resistance, Hames has earned numerous accolades, including an Emmy nomination for Fossil Country and an IDA nomination for When I Rise, which premiered at SXSW. Other notable works include What Was Ours (Independent Lens), A State of Mind, The Art of Home, and Fighting Goliath. 

Snapshots, Behind-the-Scenes, and Archival Images from the Film

Funding for this Film was Provided in Part by

WY PBS is proud to share stories of adventure and discovery that bring our state's treasures to light. Through films like A Life Outside, we connect viewers with the wild places and remarkable experiences that make Wyoming unique. To help us continue bringing these stories to your screen, please consider supporting WY PBS.