From Peaks to Premiere
How Two Prairie Climbers Became Filmmakers
Story and photos by Ray and Jackie Hope, for the 2025 Gazette
The Alpine Club of Canada changed our lives.
Before we ever touched an ice tool or filmed a documentary, we were two people approaching 50, feeling the pull to do something different, something bold. We didn’t know it yet, but the ACC—especially the Manitoba and St. Boniface sections—would be the spark, the structure, and the community that would set our next decade in motion.
The turning point came during a trip to Japan. One beautiful afternoon, standing on a summit in the Yatsugatake Mountains, something shifted. Maybe it was the altitude, or the quiet beauty of that moment, but we came home to Winnipeg having made a decision: we were going to climb.
We joined the local sections of the ACC (Manitoba and St. Boniface) and immediately found ourselves surrounded by inspiration and support. These two prairie-based sections became our foundation, offering mentorship, training, and a welcoming community that turned our curiosity into commitment.
We dove headfirst into climbing: ice, rock, and alpine. From the exhilaration of swinging ice tools into the St. Boniface section’s 60-foot ice tower, to climbing rock in northwestern Ontario, we explored everything our local community had to offer and beyond. We attended multiple General Mountaineering Camps (GMCs) and were awed by the scale of the mountains—and the experience of the people around us.
Soon, we began leading trips of our own. We weren’t elite athletes, but we brought energy, organization, and a love for sharing wild places with others. We also brought cameras.
That’s when a second transformation began.
We started Midlife Mountaineer, a video production company, to tell stories of people embracing adventure later in life—often after years of setting dreams aside. Our first short film, Prairie Ice Farmers, captured the passion and grit behind Manitoba’s unique ice climbing scene. To our amazement, it was selected by the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival (VIMFF), and later by Hory a Mesto in Bratislava, Slovakia. We traveled to both festivals, realizing we’d found a second love: filmmaking. (Prairie Ice Farmers is available to watch on midlifemountaineer.com/pif).
That led us to Midlife Mavericks, a four-part documentary series being released this summer on Bell Fibe TV1. It tells the stories of people who reignite old dreams in midlife—through adventure, creativity, and resilience. The first episode follows our own journey, from that mountaintop in Japan to the Canadian Rockies to international film festivals.
The Manitoba and St. Boniface sections were there from the beginning—and they remain central to our story. From mountain summits to community screenings, this incredible group of people helped turn a midlife pivot into something lasting and meaningful.
We’ve come to believe that some of life’s greatest summits aren’t always mountains—they’re moments of transformation. And just like in climbing, those moments are best reached with a community around you.
Regional ACC Sections are the Alpine Club of Canada’s strength. Membership in an ACC Section enables members to participate in numerous summer and winter mountaineering, rock climbing, and skiing activities, coordinated by experienced amateur leaders in their local area. The majority of activities offered by sections are either free or are offered on a break-even basis to their members. Through ACC Section trips you’ll learn all the basics you need to travel safely in the mountains, while meeting new friends to enjoy your experiences with.
Tell us your story!
We are always seeking great articles and stories from members and regional sections. Drop us an email and pitch your ACC story – we’d love to hear from you! Reach out to our editorial team at [email protected]
