Trailer: Berrecloth, Brown and McCaul Search For the Yeti in New Feature Length Film
In 2001, the Kingdom of Bhutan created the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary, a 253-square-mile protected habitat for the migoi, known in the west as the yeti. The sanctuary is also home to pandas, snow leopards and tigers, but the Bhutanese maintain that the refuge was created specifically for the migoi. This exclusive region has long been off-limits to most outsiders, but in April 2019, professional mountain bikers Darren Berrecloth, Casey Brown and Cam McCaul led the first team to ever ride bikes in this hidden corner of the Himalaya. Their eight-day journey in search of the yeti led them through some of the world’s most stunning, high-altitude singletrack while also bringing awareness to a country that bases its GDP on ‘happiness,’ rather than financial indicators.
While most of the world no longer believes in the yeti’s existence, many of Bhutan’s mountain dwellers insist this mysterious ape-like creature still roams the Himalaya’s farthest-flung reaches. Eager to find out for themselves, this ambitious trio embarked on a world-first expedition through a never-before-ridden region in search of the mythological beast. The chase for the yeti began in earnest.
To pursue the yeti, these intrepid riders venture high into the Himalaya, scouring this other-worldly landscape for signs of the elusive creature. Their path is fraught with peril, from precipitous river gorges to the rigors of extreme altitude and physical deprivation. While tackling these obstacles, the crew comes to expect the unexpected, as each day leads from one discovery to another. Will one of these discoveries be the yeti?
Pioneers Darren Berrecloth, Casey Brown and Cam McCaul.
The Tigers' Nest. This monument holds significant meaning for the locals.
Big trips mean you need proper luggage to get your gear there in one piece. This was where the trip started once the team landed in Bhutan.
The team rode through a variety of communities. This scenery was common in the lower elevations.
The Mountains and Valleys are BIG in Bhutan. Just a taste.
If you like culture in your films you will enjoy this scene as we get a local to share stories of the yeti.
What would you think if you saw a bike for the first time later in life?
The crew ran into some snow at high elevations. Put some serious pressure on the trip. No big deal if you're a donkey though.
Two pro's know what to do.
We got lucky on the trip and witnessed a rare ceremony.
Archery in the Himalayans??
Certainly one of the more rewarding times during the trip for the team as they introduced bikes to some locals for the first time.
Ambrose Weingart behind the lens. Delivered another great film!
Chasing the Yeti is NOW available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon and Vimeo Plus!
Link to the film: https://geni.us/ChasingTheYeti
Website: www.chasingtheyeti.co
Instagram updates: @cleverbearsproductions
Directed by Ambrose Weingart
Photos by Margus Riga
Upcoming premieres below for Whistler October 12th and Vancouver October 17th. If you are interested in putting together your own showing reach out to ryan@cleverbearproductions.com for more details.
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Nobody:
Two stoners: we should smoke there
Bearclaw: we should ride there
@ChasingTheYeti (Ryan Berrecloth): Do you have a segment too? I recall seeing you in the Roam video and your riding was right up there, but I don't recall having seen anything from you since.
Ryan had a couple segment after Roam, his last one in "Builder." He's more involved on the production side now.
Kris Holm is a legend and a BC local. So if you're still from there you may want to talk with him someday. Here is the official trailer of Into the Thunder Dragon:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6DMC8_0Xpg
Of altruistic sacrifice, a form of rejection of ego, you need to rethink a thing or two. Singularity with the universe is not for everyone. It is a luxury and many die without ever getting close to it, no matter how hard they try. Just like psychedelics are not for everyone. It is all hard. It is supposed to be hard. And it is all easy and bliss is at the reach of your hand. Or rather at the reach of your thought. Enlightenment is no different from learning to jump or to cheat on taxes.
I wouldn't bother replying except to provide reality check to this idea that, 'the modern sophisticate recognizes Buddhist/Yogi peace/bliss is dated hype that merits no investigation, unless one is a pretentious, self-absorbed escapist'.
You can go about any spirituality, or career, or relationship, or worldview in your pretentious self-absorbed way, or you could go about it any other 7 billion ways you see fit.
Or, just maybe, one might learn some valuable models from cultures who've lived damn hard lives for thousands of years, and yet are most often smiling.
I have spent time with immigrants from many cultures, Pakistan, Kenya, Nigeria, Nepal, India, Iran what not, they tell stories. Films like this paint a greatly distorted picture. We love to cherry pick
My opinion would be that its the first time the locals saw bikes up this route as its quite a mission lol.