Midnight Monument" Finds Its Home on Tubi: A Journey Through America's Threatened Landscapes

We're thrilled to announce that our documentary, "Midnight Monument," has finally found its home and is now available to stream for free on Tubi! This film, five years in the making, takes viewers on an unforgettable journey through two of America's most iconic and contested landscapes: Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments.

"Midnight Monument" explores the delicate balance between conservation, cultural heritage, and community needs. Through the lens of six diverse perspectives, we delve into the unifying conversation about protecting the American West for generations to come.

Why Watch "Midnight Monument"?

1. Witness the raw beauty of these threatened public lands

2. Understand the complexities behind the unprecedented reduction of these national monuments

3. Hear from ranchers, Native American leaders, conservationists, and local residents

4. Explore the intersection of politics, religion, and environmental policy in the American West

Our Journey

What began as a quest to capture the beauty of America's wild spaces evolved into a profound exploration of the battle for the soul of our public lands. As we filmed, we discovered ancient stories etched in stone facing an uncertain future, and scientific wonders hanging in the balance.

We realized this wasn't just about land - it was about legacy. These public lands are more than scenic vistas; they're living museums of Earth's history, sacred grounds for indigenous peoples, and vital areas for scientific research.

The Importance of Public Lands

Our public lands are powerful. They shape who we are as a nation and remind us of our place in the grand tapestry of life. In a world of constant change, these wild places offer a rare glimpse into timelessness, whispering ancient secrets to those who listen.

By creating "Midnight Monument," we hope to inspire viewers to appreciate the intrinsic value of these landscapes and understand the urgent need for their protection.

Watch Now on Tubi

We're excited that "Midnight Monument" has finally found its home on Tubi. We invite you to experience the film and join the conversation about the future of America's public lands. Your viewership supports independent documentary filmmaking and helps spread awareness about this critical issue.

Please go check it out on Tubi today and discover why these lands are worth fighting for.

What's Next?

In the coming months, keep an eye out for more content related to "Midnight Monument." We'll be releasing behind-the-scenes footage and memorable moments from the film that didn't make the final cut. These additional materials will provide even more insight into the making of the documentary and the important issues it addresses.

Thank you for your support, and we hope this film moves you as much as making it moved us.

The Traverse Cinema Studio Team

Shitbag // Watch The Film Online

Shitbag" will be officially out in the world.

Due to COVID-19, several of the film festivals and screening opportunities have been canceled to show the film, and so we could not wait any longer to share this story.

"Shitbag" is the inspiring and beautifully filmed short story about the importance of protecting our public lands, wilderness areas, and wild landscapes for improving mental health. .

The pointed name of the film, "Shitbag", refers to an elite group of US Army Snipers during Operation Iraqi Freedom. .

10 things for a 10th Mtn Hut // Packing for Your First Winter Hut Trip

Are you preparing for your first 10th Mtn Winter Hut Trip? It is something that deeply engrained in the core bucket list of Colorado’s backcountry culture. I have several years of backpacking experience through a variety of shoots and assignments, however, it was my girlfriend’s first time not only throwing on a backpacking pack but also spending a night in the backcountry. So it was the perfect opportunity for both of us to do our first hut trip, the “green circle” of the huts, The Shrine Mountain Inn. Below is what we discovered that we’d like to share with you as some trail knowledge of how to prepare and what to expect.

Please keep in mind that we packed with the intention of not using a sled, and for a maximum of 2 nights.

1. Batch Cocktail - In a hydroflask, premake a batch cocktail. While tempting to bring up an entire 750mL of your finest distilled spirit, this is a rookie mistake. Or grab a plastic flash for the wine-os of the world to save the glass weight. - LINK

2. Layers, Layers, Layers - Pretty self explanatory. Thermals, Polartech Shell, Waterproof outerlayer. Avoid cotton at all costs. I’m looking at you, Houstonians in denim.

3. Skins if you have them, snowshoes if you must.- A basic one, but you’ll be trekking across powder fields to access your hut. With a pack between 25-50 lbs depending on how much food you overpacked, do look into renting an AT setup. After having done our first trip with pretty good quality snowshoes, when we do our next trip it will certainly be on split boards with skins.

4. Caltopo or Saved Google Map - Prepare, prepare, prepare. There are NO signs and NO trail markings for accessing the huts from Vail Pass. While I have mountain biked Shrine Pass Rd in the summer to send into the backside of Vail and was decently familiar with the area, it does look completely different in the winter. Along with snowmobile tracks that may cover up your skin trail that you are following. We did this trip in a snowstorm that was dropping about 1ft of fresh snow, and while we were fortunate enough to meet up with a group that was heading to our hut, having the maps downloaded and saved with GPS coordinates and pins, provided that kept that anxiety trail monkey at bay. Here’s where to download the Caltopo map from, BUT if you want to save the map you’ll have the purchase the app. Do this before you get to the trailhead because there isn’t enough service to access + download at the Vail Pass trailhead and you’ll find yourself trekking back down to Copper to download it.

5. Food to Share - Bring something carb dense for yourself or to share, but bring something to share as a peace offering with the group. We opt’ed with the age old

6. Nalgene Bottles - For Eggs, tomato sauce, salad dressings, or anything that might come in a glass bottle or could easily spill inside of your pack. Think ounces and that you have in carry out everything you carry-in. LINK

7. Toilet Paper - Avoid a crappy time in your thermals on your trip. While some huts very much have all of the comforts of home, someone might have had too much Annie’s Chili and used all of the TP before your hut master restocks your spot.

8. An Extroverted Sense of Self - The lightest but arguably something that of great importance is preparing yourself to meet, interact, drink, and potentially sleep next to told strangers. Huts = Backcountry Hostiles, so be prepared to chat more about weather and political views.

9. Games - Cards, Cards against Humanity, Exploding Kittens, or even Backcountry Bocca if the snow hasn’t stacked yet. Low weight, could help reduce the boring short talk with the awkward Texas tourist couple that won’t stop about legal weed or “oh gosh, the elevation….”, and could bring others you don’t share the same values with into the fold.

10. End of the Trail Surprise - Nothing keeps the spirits high by planning ahead of whenever you reach the destination or your car at either end of your trip, leave something like some dank snacks or a few cold barley pops quickly accessible.

Honestly, the Shrine Mountain Inn was safe and softer than I would have imagined. While this was our first hut trip, I didn’t know that “Shrine Mountain Inn” consisted of really three individual huts all tucked nicely about 300 to 800 feet apart; Chuck, Jay’s and Walters. These 3 huts had gas heat, running water, propane grills bedding, a SAUNA, in cell service, firewood, and frequent snowmobile traffic on the Shrine Pass Road so you never felt too far away from reality. After all the approach is 2.7 miles from the Vail pass parking lot on i70.

While the huts literally had, and felt like, the comforts of home in every way (bathtub included) the beauty of the hut trip is the people. You are staying with 10 - 12 complete strangers that in the course of an evening and a couple of whiskey infused libations helps to restore one’s faith in humanity that there is a tribe of people that deeply love the outdoors and dependent on the seeing the stars for what makes them feel most human.

None the less, if you are looking for a quick, suffer-less time in the backcountry to make some new friends or a trip to do with your parents or in-laws to get them into the backcountry with a cushy experience, then this huts are nothing short of an incredible experience.

For Hut Booking Info - LINK

How to Eat Chili Mac | 040718

It’s 230am in the Denver international Airport parking lot. I awake from a less than satisfying sleep  in the front seat of the work truck with a brief moment of clarity about the next shoot for our public lands documentary.

The thoughts of but It sounds crazy but in about an hr I’ll meet up with our cinematographer for the film, Alex at 330am for a 5am flight to STL, drive 2.5 hours to Southern Illinois, to a rendezvous point through unlabeled  national forest back roads that we have no maps to, to walk 2 miles into the wilderness to meet up with a potential character that I’ve only talked to on the phone once, who was introduced to me a by person that I’ve only met once to follow through the wilderness for the next 4 days and 3 nights. This would be Aaron Wolf of Adventures Accessed

All this sounds insane, and it most likely is. However nervous or worried isn’t at all about how I felt going into shooting this scene. I feels comforting, like meeting up with an old good friend, however here, it’s just someone that I haven’t met yet. It’s alot like most backpacking trips without the cameras, that you need to get out of comfort zone to move forward. To learn a new perspective, or have an experience that might change your outlook on the world.

While we can’t disclose what happens over the next 3 days, we can talk about that there is a shared bond of people who loved the outdoors. Our conversations when the cameras weren’t rolling was about the benefits of 65L over 70L bags, tent design, the do’s and don’ts hook-up stories while solo-adventuring, and the best way to Chili Mac out of the bag.

There is a bond between people who love the outdoors. Who look for the greenest spot on a map to explore on the weekends and order maps to explore untracked parts of these areas. Exploring the outdoors, or new stories, keeps us grounded, our perspectives more wide about life, and no matter the miles, we always come back out at the trailhead feeling more present then when we left.

As we head into Spring of 2018 and the first character shoot of On Strange Soil in the can with our tents sitting our packs covered in snowmelt (see photos below) we look forward to our next shoot to continue discovering the powerful and transformational voices of those who are working to protect our public lands.