A New High

The last thing you might expect to see in a documentary about homelessness is spectacular images from the 14,400-foot summit of Mount Rainier in Washington state. But A New High offers no ordinary overview of contemporary urban displacement as it tells the story of a special program offered at the Union Gospel Mission, a longtime shelter for the city's homeless men. Run by an ex-Army Ranger named Mike Johnson, the project invites residents of UGM, and from a similar facility for women, to participate in a year of training to climb Mt. Rainier—a daunting task even for experienced mountaineers. Filmmaker Samuel Miron captures various aspects of preparation for the climb, including rappelling off freeway onramps, laboring up stairs, and a trial hike up nearby Mt. Hood. Along the way, a number of participants drop out, driven away by the rigor of the endeavor or succumbing to addiction or other issues. For those who manage to stick with it, however, the climb and the conquest of Rainier become a symbol of enormous personal success and courage. The message of self-empowerment is persuasive in this gorgeous but often harrowing travelogue of a dangerous trek. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh)