ancient stories

It is no accident that ultrarunning is one of the only sports where women are just as likely as men to cross the finish line first. Doctors say it’s because of their ability to endure and their high threshold for pain. Rebecca believes it’s also an ancient strength passed down to us through the sacrifice and tenacity of the women who came before us. This global endurance helps us get through the struggles of our lives and continue on

When Rebecca and many others are running these long races in the mountains, they feel the strength of the communities who have been living in these peaks and passes for centuries. That’s why it’s important that we not only see these gorgeous places, but also understand their history, language and culture.  We want viewers to see first hand how the women in these mountains have held their families and culture together for generations.

The rapid changes in virtual reality technology and it’s accessibility make that possible. People in India can now be transported to the Sierra Nevada where they will learn the creation story of Lake Tahoe from Melba, the last Washoe Native American woman to fluently speak the thousand-year-old language. People in Tahoe will learn about the Himalayas through Thenlis, the first female Ladakhi mountain guide. Her family has been passing through these 20,000-foot peaks for a millennium.

In the future, Rebecca believes this is how history will be taught and shared and she wants Women of the Mountain to be at the forefront of this technology. That’s why this virtual reality exhibition will accompany the film and play a key role in the distribution.