A New High

In the heart of downtown Seattle lies the Union Gospel Mission. Here, 18 men and a handful of women from a shelter across town have joined a year-long program that will lead them on a road to recovery—from homelessness, from addiction, from failure. Run by ex-Army Ranger and UGM Special Projects Director Mike Johnson, the program will rehabilitate the group through what promises to be "a new high"—climbing Mount Rainier. The training will be tough—steep staircases, rappelling off of freeway on-ramps, and a practice climb up Mount Hood to separate the wheat from the chaff. Some will find power in the program while others will sadly fall by the wayside, either through exhaustion, relapse, or disease. But all will be worth it when they reach the summit some 14,400 feet into the heavens. Beautifully shot and constructed, this inspiring documentary is not a paean to the mountain that towers over Washington, but an unwavering examination of what drives humans to improve their lives, even when their future looks bleakest. As Johnson and his crew make their final steps to the peak, he will have given this group an opportunity to go from the lowest points in their existence to the top of the world. (Seattle International Film Festival)