Entrenched in nostalgia, HIGH COUNTRY tells a timeless American story of how a community of conscientious and forward-thinking young people, disguised as ski bums and hippies, happened upon a ramshackle mining town on the fringe of society and worked to conserve and protect it for years to come.

Hidden amidst the high peaks of the Rocky Mountains, Crested Butte, Colorado has always been a place defined by its people. During the 1960s and 70s, this lawless frontier town provided a hide-out, an escape, and ultimately a paradise for the wandering souls who stumbled upon it. Driven by stewardship over greed, this progressive group found themselves with a blank canvas of a town in which they would create a world of their own. Since that time, Crested Butte has continued to grapple with how best to walk the line between growth and conservation – a challenge faced by small towns across America today.

Crested Butte is a unique example of a place that, in the face of economic pressures, has managed to maintain its strong sense of character. The goal of this film is to share the story of one town, in the hopes of inspiring community amongst others.

It’s a film about how if you don’t take care of a place you risk losing it forever.