Behind the Scenes: Surviving 14 Days at Army Mountain Warfare School

The Making of 'Gods of the Hills'

• 🎥 The feature-length film 'Gods of the Hills' documents the US Army Mountain Warfare School in Jericho, Vermont, over a full 14-day cycle.
• 🏔️ Producer Jake Gabbard spent the entire duration of the training, a first for him, to capture the soldiers' journey from arrival to graduation.
• ❄️ The shoot required meticulous planning, including waiting for sufficient snow conditions, which delayed the production by a year.

Army Mountain Warfare School Training

• 🌲 The school, established in 1983, trains military personnel from various branches and international students to become military mountaineers.
• ⛰️ Soldiers learn to traverse mountains safely and survive in cold climates, with the primary goal of escorting troops through mountainous terrain to objectives.
• 🗺️ This training is crucial for operations in regions like Afghanistan, where mountainous terrain is common and logistically challenging for conventional fighting.

Production Challenges and Gear

• 📸 Filming in extreme conditions involved protecting gear from blizzards and heavy snow, with the Panasonic Lumix S1H proving to be a durable workhorse.
• 🥶 Jake Gabbard initially underestimated the conditions, but was issued the Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS), similar to the soldiers', to survive.
• 🧗 To capture essential shots, Gabbard had to learn recoiling and ascending techniques, often positioning himself in precarious spots on cliff faces.

Key Characters and Their Journeys

• 😂 Staff Sergeant Nicholas Honeyut, from Texas, provided humor and a relatable perspective on the intense cold and challenges, becoming a standout character.
• 📉 Honeyut ultimately failed the critical knot test on his second attempt by a narrow margin, leading to his dismissal from the course.
• 💔 The film also follows Lieutenant Iser, who was medically evacuated due to an inability to regulate body temperature and exhaustion, and Sergeant Norton, who persevered as the sole woman in the course after Iser's departure.

The Knot Test and Dismissals

• ⚠️ The knot test is a crucial halfway point, with a significant attrition rate, determining soldiers' readiness for mountain operations.
• 😥 Honeyut's failure, despite initial confidence, highlighted the immense pressure and the unforgiving standards of the school.
• 🚧 Another student, Greer, faced dismissal during a rope systems test due to an alleged misunderstanding about pre-tied anchors, leading to a tense confrontation.

Humor Amidst High Stakes

• 😄 Despite the life-or-death stakes and grueling physical demands, humor and camaraderie were prevalent among the soldiers.
• 🎭 This humor served as a coping mechanism, allowing soldiers to de-stress and bond, transforming the harsh environment into an adventure.
• 🗣️ Joking about the challenges, like the potential cancellation of the final 'mountain walk,' showcased their resilience and ability to not take themselves too seriously.

The Culminating Event and Its Cancellation

• 🌨️ The planned culminating exercise, the 'mountain walk' at Smuggler's Notch, was canceled due to severe weather and avalanche risk.
• 😟 While disappointing for the students, the cancellation was a necessary safety measure, underscoring the extreme danger of the conditions.
• 📸 The cancellation meant Jake Gabbard, despite being equipped with an avalanche transceiver, did not capture the final major event, but safety was prioritized.

Personal Impact of the Shoot

• 💪 Jake Gabbard experienced profound physical and emotional impacts, losing eight pounds in 14 days due to the intense physical demands.
• 🏆 He felt a sense of accomplishment for completing the challenging shoot and capturing a compelling story, transitioning from civilian hiking gear to military-grade equipment.
• 💧 The extreme cold led to issues with hydration and gear freezing, requiring soldiers and the film crew to develop strategies to stay hydrated and functional.