Tracing the Divide

While it doesn't carry the heart pounding intensity of the film Free Solo, Tracing the Divide still highlights the drive a select few have to push themselves beyond their limits.

The best friends at the heart of this film are engaging, inspiring and fun the watch as they tackle this 2400 mile trek and all the challenges and emotions that come along with it. Add to that the interviews of both men, separately, and it is a fun ride.

Beyond that, the scenery of the continental divide is breathtaking and captured beautifully.

I really enjoyed this film and it reinforces my belief that some people, in the best way, are just crazy. LOL.

I felt like I was on this trip with the guys. What a wonderful journey from Canada to Mexico. I really enjoyed seeing and listening to the highs and lows of Chris and Chris as they worked through their mid-life journey together. The scenery and music were amazing in this film and the people they met along the way, although not in the film, was inspiring to know that there is such a community that supports travelers in this way. This is not a trip that I would sign up for, but I am thankful that I was able to see it through their eyes and that they were willing to share their thoughts and feelings along the way.

Friends since childhood, a couple of middle-aged guys named Chris follow through on an epic bucket list item--riding the Continental Divide, from Canada to Mexico, on mountain bikes. Beautifully photographed, both by drone and up and close and personally by the director/editor, this film slowly unspools into much more than a glorious travelogue, which it certainly is.

These are not actors, or over-produced reality show contestants, desperate to get followers-- they are husbands and fathers hoping to test their physical limits and discover something about their character while seeing the country in a unique way.

Mission accomplished. They push themselves hard, and face myriad obstacles along the way-- weather, muddy paths, a wipeout injury and... punctured bear spray canister anyone? Chris and Chris's friendship comes across as solid and dependable, and despite a little occasional friction, they have some charming moments together along the way, including a memorable candy debate (Twizzlers vs. Mike & Ikes). One minor issue on the sightseeing front is that we don't really get to see/interact with local characters on-camera when they pit-stop in towns during their arduous, 24-day trek.

The film is bookend-ed with verite footage and interviews with their families, giving us a sense of just how profound an experience this would be, if we were thusly inspired, and decided to pedal over 2,000 miles.

Some stories find you right when you need them most.

Tracing the Divide found me exactly two months to the day of being laid off - still sitting in the tension of what's next. What I didn't expect was to see my own journey reflected so clearly on screen.

The film follows two lifelong friends cycling the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. Their physical journey mirrored the inner journey I've been navigating - knocked off course, uncertain of what lies ahead. And yet, this film reminded me that being stuck isn't the same as being stopped.

Visually, the film is stunning - but its deepest beauty lies in how it captures the quiet, vulnerable moments of what it means to keep moving forward when the path isn't clear. Sometimes the muddy muck isn't a detour - it's part of the journey. A place to pause, reflect, and gather strength before moving forward again.

This story found me exactly when I needed it - reminding me that the most important journey isn't the one we take with our feet, but the one we take with our hearts.

Right from the start I was so interested in the two characters and their journey. As I watched I loved the way the characters became more and more vulnerable each and everyday with the various challenges they faced. The playfulness of becoming a kid again laughing and joking and being able to enjoy nature living in the now. As a society we are so connected to our phones and the digital age we forget how to enjoy life. Having a family of my own I get lost and forget about the important things in life. This movie helped me want to reconnect with family and friends. The cinematography was simply breathtaking. Really enjoyed it from start to finish.