Photo: James Q Martin
As the world’s population grows at an astounding rate, so too does the pressure to protect our wild places for future generations. Case in point, the rugged plains and mountains of Patagonia, Chile, a region threatened by a sharply increasing demand for hydro electric power plants, factories, and commercial use property.
Earlier this year, I got wind of a film that presents trail running community — as well as other outdoor-loving communities around the world — with the opportunity to make real contributions to Conservacion Patagonica, an organization responsible for establishing innovative conservation policies in the Aysén region of Chile. The film? Mile for Mile.
Mile For Mile is a production by the ever-innovative Patagonia. Through the eyes of accomplished ultra runners and brand ambassadors, the film aims to raise awareness for recently commissioned Patagonia Park.
“In Mile for Mile, Krissy Moehl, Luke Nelson, and Jeff Browning run 106 miles through the newly opened Patagonia Park in Chile to celebrate and highlight Conservacion Patagonica’s efforts to re-wild and protect this vast landscape,” explains Alison Kelman, Communications Director for Conservacion Patagonica. “When complete, the park will protect over 640,000 acres of grasslands, glaciated peaks, and lenga forest in a region that is constantly threatened by damming, mining, and logging companies.”
In addition to the protection of this area, Conservacion Patagonica is setting out to construct over 50 miles of new trail, providing easy community access to this pristine natural environment; Patagonia has committed to matching the donations received from the public dollar for dollar.
Intrigued by the message that the film delivers, along with wanting to understand more about how the film was produced, I caught up with the man tasked with telling this story, Flagstaff-based photographer and filmmaker James Q Martin. When we finally talked, Q, as Martin is widely known within the outdoor adventure sports community, could be heard packing for a trip to the Grand Canyon, the sounds of duffel bag zips being opened and piles of clanging climbing gear being meticulously packed emanating in the background.
Q has photographed adventure sports endeavors and wild places for over 25 years. And in doing so, he has been behind the lens of some for the most provocative climbing and environmental photos known to the community. It was only fitting that he began our interview by explaining how his deep love for the region in question originated after a trip to Patagonia in 2000. He went on by explaining that it wasn’t until 2009, however, that he felt compelled to make a difference. This change of heart happened when reading an article written by Kris Tompkins, co-founder of Conservacion Patagoninca and wife of renowned environmental activist Douglas Tompkins, about the potential destruction of the Baker and Pascua River systems due to the construction of hydroelectric dams. There and then an almost instinctive decision was made, a pledge to using his photography skills to become an advocate for all things environmental that affect this region of South America.
Screenshot: James Q Martin
Now fast forward to 2013. At an annual trade show, Q was approached by Moehl and Nelson with the idea to tap into the ultra running community to support conservation efforts in Patagonia. The original film project was to be called Ice to Ocean and supported the Patagonia Sin Represas (Patagonia Without Dams) movement mounted by the local community to curb the construction of dams. However, after a change in government policy in early 2014, many of the dam projects were canceled, leaving no real reason for Patagonia to back this kind of awareness project. And so the new project was born maintaining the emphasis of using running and Patagonia’s athletes as the tool to bringing awareness to the efforts of Conservacion Patagonica and their new park.
“I’d never worked with any of them before,” says Q in reference to these athletes.
“They’re extremely humbling,” Q continues, “and probably the most gracious people that I have ever worked with in 20 years of working with adventure athletes. They came into it without a sense of selfishness but a real awareness. Luke connected more to the landscape through the extreme weather and conditions. Jeff was like the comedian, light-hearted and easy going. Krissy was the quite sufferer, she just put her head down and went.”
I mused that following three world class athletes through a remote part of Patagonia could not have been an easy task.
Screenshot: James Q Martin
“General logistics was our biggest challenge,” Q explains. “Moving a 10-person crew around, being able to keep up with the athletes, making sure there was a balance between the filming preparation and allowing [the athletes] to do what they needed to do in order to prepare. Schedules were thrown out the door, we had to become reactionary and sensitive to the on-goings of the park. And, to add to the challenge, we had to scurry to process the day’s shoot before the power was cut to the park at midnight. On the plus side, it meant we could at least get some sleep.”
As my call with Q came to an end, I was left thinking that it’s one thing to be inspired by the stories of those who create thought provoking work, but it’s another thing, and even more notable, to learn about the ongoing efforts of others whose sole purpose in life is to encourage people to think laterally and find ways to make a difference to the world around us.
In the film, when asked about what he hopes the film will achieve, Q responds to these thoughts of mine: “What I hope this film does is to inspire people to protect things in their own back yard and act on a local level, protecting the places they love.”
Screenshot: James Q Martin
To find out more and support the Mile For Mile campaign, head on over to Patagonia.com. And for more from photographer and filmmaker James Q Martin, head on over to his website.
James Hallett is a South African surfer, trail runner and all round outdoor adventure enthusiast. He is the proprietor of Go Trail Media, a niche agency rooted in communicating all things trail and ultra running, along with the founder and tour director of the annual Trails In Motion international trail and ultra running film tour.
