[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] 20 years ago I almost died on this river
20 years ago I almost died on this river
20 years ago I almost died on this river I never thought I’d be back but life is
I never thought I’d be back but life is
I never thought I’d be back but life is a funny way of not giving you what you
a funny way of not giving you what you
a funny way of not giving you what you want but giving you what you need
yeah I ran a rapid called scissors that
yeah I ran a rapid called scissors that just went wrong and you know that’ll
just went wrong and you know that’ll
just went wrong and you know that’ll happen out there but like anything when
happen out there but like anything when
happen out there but like anything when you’re in the thick of it you’re just
you’re in the thick of it you’re just
you’re in the thick of it you’re just trying to you just try to you know
trying to you just try to you know
trying to you just try to you know survive my name is Jerry Moffat and that
survive my name is Jerry Moffat and that
survive my name is Jerry Moffat and that was a clip from the ten step a
was a clip from the ten step a
was a clip from the ten step a documentary film I recently finished
documentary film I recently finished
documentary film I recently finished after three years today I want to talk
after three years today I want to talk
after three years today I want to talk to you about the backstory to the film
to you about the backstory to the film
to you about the backstory to the film which is basically summed up by the
which is basically summed up by the
which is basically summed up by the writer Renier Maria Rilke II who said
writer Renier Maria Rilke II who said
writer Renier Maria Rilke II who said the point is to live everything live the
the point is to live everything live the
the point is to live everything live the questions now perhaps she’ll then
questions now perhaps she’ll then
questions now perhaps she’ll then gradually without noticing it live along
gradually without noticing it live along
gradually without noticing it live along some distant day into the answer I’ve
some distant day into the answer I’ve
some distant day into the answer I’ve spent the last three decades based
spent the last three decades based
spent the last three decades based mainly in the Himalayas carving out a
mainly in the Himalayas carving out a
mainly in the Himalayas carving out a professional career in the world of
professional career in the world of
professional career in the world of adventure travel expedition kayaking
adventure travel expedition kayaking
adventure travel expedition kayaking and filmmaking it’s a life that’s taken
and filmmaking it’s a life that’s taken
and filmmaking it’s a life that’s taken me across every continent down hundreds
me across every continent down hundreds
me across every continent down hundreds of rivers and twice to the summit of
of rivers and twice to the summit of
of rivers and twice to the summit of Mount Everest over the years I’ve met
Mount Everest over the years I’ve met
Mount Everest over the years I’ve met thousands of people from all walks of
thousands of people from all walks of
thousands of people from all walks of life but there’s one person who stands
life but there’s one person who stands
life but there’s one person who stands out someone who left a huge
out someone who left a huge
out someone who left a huge impression on me she was the first
impression on me she was the first
impression on me she was the first person I ever met who truly embodied the
person I ever met who truly embodied the
person I ever met who truly embodied the notion of living her question and
notion of living her question and
notion of living her question and although our time together was brief I
although our time together was brief I
although our time together was brief I will never forget her I was 24 years old
will never forget her I was 24 years old
will never forget her I was 24 years old and running a rafting company with my
and running a rafting company with my
and running a rafting company with my friend guy Robbins in gilgit northern
friend guy Robbins in gilgit northern
friend guy Robbins in gilgit northern Pakistan now this is an area where the
Pakistan now this is an area where the
Pakistan now this is an area where the Himalaya the Karakoram the Pamir and the
Himalaya the Karakoram the Pamir and the
Himalaya the Karakoram the Pamir and the Hindu Kush mountain ranges converge it’s
Hindu Kush mountain ranges converge it’s
Hindu Kush mountain ranges converge it’s unimaginably spectacular remote and
unimaginably spectacular remote and
unimaginably spectacular remote and dangerous but with the recent opening of
dangerous but with the recent opening of
dangerous but with the recent opening of the Karakoram highway this was the new
the Karakoram highway this was the new
the Karakoram highway this was the new frontier for Himalayan adventure travel
frontier for Himalayan adventure travel
frontier for Himalayan adventure travel and there were a few intrepid travelers
and there were a few intrepid travelers
and there were a few intrepid travelers who came through here
who came through here
who came through here on their way to other places the person
on their way to other places the person
on their way to other places the person I want to tell you about is Margaret she
I want to tell you about is Margaret she
I want to tell you about is Margaret she stepped off the bus in gilgit all five
stepped off the bus in gilgit all five
stepped off the bus in gilgit all five feet ten over in Scotland we’d say she
feet ten over in Scotland we’d say she
feet ten over in Scotland we’d say she was a a robust woman now I’d love to
was a a robust woman now I’d love to
was a a robust woman now I’d love to show you a picture of Margaret but at
show you a picture of Margaret but at
show you a picture of Margaret but at the end of our first season we barely
the end of our first season we barely
the end of our first season we barely had enough money for food let alone film
had enough money for food let alone film
had enough money for food let alone film for the camera Margaret’s plan was to
for the camera Margaret’s plan was to
for the camera Margaret’s plan was to travel overland up the Karakoram highway
travel overland up the Karakoram highway
travel overland up the Karakoram highway cross the 16,000 fukken Jura pass and
cross the 16,000 fukken Jura pass and
cross the 16,000 fukken Jura pass and head to kashgar in China from there she
head to kashgar in China from there she
head to kashgar in China from there she planned to cross the Tibetan Plateau to
planned to cross the Tibetan Plateau to
planned to cross the Tibetan Plateau to Lhasa now that’s pretty ambitious but
Lhasa now that’s pretty ambitious but
Lhasa now that’s pretty ambitious but what really put Marder on a pedestal for
what really put Marder on a pedestal for
what really put Marder on a pedestal for us was that she was a 70 year old
us was that she was a 70 year old
us was that she was a 70 year old great-grandmother from Australia she was
great-grandmother from Australia she was
great-grandmother from Australia she was traveling alone and wait for it Margaret
traveling alone and wait for it Margaret
traveling alone and wait for it Margaret only had one arm she told us how she’d
only had one arm she told us how she’d
only had one arm she told us how she’d lost her arm in a horrific bus crash in
lost her arm in a horrific bus crash in
lost her arm in a horrific bus crash in India 20 years ago and she hadn’t been
India 20 years ago and she hadn’t been
India 20 years ago and she hadn’t been back to Asia since but with her husband
back to Asia since but with her husband
back to Asia since but with her husband passed that her children grow
passed that her children grow
passed that her children grow Margaret wanted to see the world again
Margaret wanted to see the world again
Margaret wanted to see the world again and she wasn’t letting anything stop her
and she wasn’t letting anything stop her
and she wasn’t letting anything stop her when she heard that we were raft guides
when she heard that we were raft guides
when she heard that we were raft guides she got all excited told us how she been
she got all excited told us how she been
she got all excited told us how she been in Zimbabwe wanting to go rafting on the
in Zimbabwe wanting to go rafting on the
in Zimbabwe wanting to go rafting on the Zambezi but they wouldn’t take her
Zambezi but they wouldn’t take her
Zambezi but they wouldn’t take her because she only had one arm at which
because she only had one arm at which
because she only had one arm at which point guy and I looked to each other and
point guy and I looked to each other and
point guy and I looked to each other and immediately said Margaret we’ll take
immediately said Margaret we’ll take
immediately said Margaret we’ll take your after but the truth was guy and I
your after but the truth was guy and I
your after but the truth was guy and I were getting ready to close up shop
were getting ready to close up shop
were getting ready to close up shop temperatures in the upper kérékou
temperatures in the upper kérékou
temperatures in the upper kérékou memorizing glaciers were melting and the
memorizing glaciers were melting and the
memorizing glaciers were melting and the rivers were getting enormous but we just
rivers were getting enormous but we just
rivers were getting enormous but we just couldn’t deny Margaret so there we were
couldn’t deny Margaret so there we were
couldn’t deny Margaret so there we were with a very excited 70 year old
with a very excited 70 year old
with a very excited 70 year old great-grandmother holding on to the
great-grandmother holding on to the
great-grandmother holding on to the bowline with one arm at the front of the
bowline with one arm at the front of the
bowline with one arm at the front of the raft howling with delight I’m on the
raft howling with delight I’m on the
raft howling with delight I’m on the oars yelling commands at Margaret to
oars yelling commands at Margaret to
oars yelling commands at Margaret to shift from one side of the raft to the
shift from one side of the raft to the
shift from one side of the raft to the other to stop the boat from flipping
other to stop the boat from flipping
other to stop the boat from flipping guys in his kayak trying to maintain
guys in his kayak trying to maintain
guys in his kayak trying to maintain some semblance of safety it was
some semblance of safety it was
some semblance of safety it was completely mad and brilliant
completely mad and brilliant
completely mad and brilliant the next day we put Margo on a bus
the next day we put Margo on a bus
the next day we put Margo on a bus leaving Gilgit for the Kings Europe pass
leaving Gilgit for the Kings Europe pass
leaving Gilgit for the Kings Europe pass and I remember guy running after the bus
and I remember guy running after the bus
and I remember guy running after the bus because Margaret had left her bag by the
because Margaret had left her bag by the
because Margaret had left her bag by the side of the road she just took her bag
side of the road she just took her bag
side of the road she just took her bag laughed waved and disappeared in a cloud
laughed waved and disappeared in a cloud
laughed waved and disappeared in a cloud of dust and diesel up the Karakoram
of dust and diesel up the Karakoram
of dust and diesel up the Karakoram Highway you know Margaret probably had
Highway you know Margaret probably had
Highway you know Margaret probably had no business being where she was or doing
no business being where she was or doing
no business being where she was or doing what she was doing but she wasn’t
what she was doing but she wasn’t
what she was doing but she wasn’t worried she was living her question
worried she was living her question
worried she was living her question willing to accept whatever the universe
willing to accept whatever the universe
willing to accept whatever the universe was serving her that day looking back I
was serving her that day looking back I
was serving her that day looking back I think that Marga and I shared a similar
think that Marga and I shared a similar
think that Marga and I shared a similar sense of freedom because I was in my
sense of freedom because I was in my
sense of freedom because I was in my first act in life and she was entering
first act in life and she was entering
first act in life and she was entering her third
her third
her third it’s the second act it’s messy for most
it’s the second act it’s messy for most
it’s the second act it’s messy for most of us full of expectations big decisions
of us full of expectations big decisions
of us full of expectations big decisions stress darts when I turned 50 a few
stress darts when I turned 50 a few
stress darts when I turned 50 a few years ago I’d become disillusioned with
years ago I’d become disillusioned with
years ago I’d become disillusioned with my career ambivalent about many of my
my career ambivalent about many of my
my career ambivalent about many of my relationships and maybe most importantly
relationships and maybe most importantly
relationships and maybe most importantly I didn’t know what my purpose was in
I didn’t know what my purpose was in
I didn’t know what my purpose was in life to be honest I wanted a reset but I
life to be honest I wanted a reset but I
life to be honest I wanted a reset but I had no idea how to do that so I did
had no idea how to do that so I did
had no idea how to do that so I did something drastic
something drastic
something drastic quit Gaiden drained the bank account and
quit Gaiden drained the bank account and
quit Gaiden drained the bank account and took off midlife crisis brilliant move
took off midlife crisis brilliant move
took off midlife crisis brilliant move depended on who you who you asked oh and
depended on who you who you asked oh and
depended on who you who you asked oh and I decided to take my camera and film
I decided to take my camera and film
I decided to take my camera and film everything along the way I figured
everything along the way I figured
everything along the way I figured whatever happened was going to be magic
whatever happened was going to be magic
whatever happened was going to be magic or tragic I ended up in Delhi but a
or tragic I ended up in Delhi but a
or tragic I ended up in Delhi but a secondhand Royal Enfield motorcycle and
secondhand Royal Enfield motorcycle and
secondhand Royal Enfield motorcycle and set off on a 4,000 mile solo trip across
set off on a 4,000 mile solo trip across
set off on a 4,000 mile solo trip across the land to the Himalayas
the land to the Himalayas
the land to the Himalayas I spent a hundred and eight days
I spent a hundred and eight days
I spent a hundred and eight days revisiting the people and places that
revisiting the people and places that
revisiting the people and places that had shaped my life it was an amazing
had shaped my life it was an amazing
had shaped my life it was an amazing adventure and I came home inspired and
adventure and I came home inspired and
adventure and I came home inspired and hopeful but still seeking answers little
hopeful but still seeking answers little
hopeful but still seeking answers little did I know the universe had more plans
did I know the universe had more plans
did I know the universe had more plans for me and that my adventure was really
for me and that my adventure was really
for me and that my adventure was really just beginning I’ve been home about a
just beginning I’ve been home about a
just beginning I’ve been home about a week when I shattered my leg in a freak
week when I shattered my leg in a freak
week when I shattered my leg in a freak skiing accident surgeon said I was lucky
skiing accident surgeon said I was lucky
skiing accident surgeon said I was lucky to keep it and after five operations I
to keep it and after five operations I
to keep it and after five operations I had four plates 24 screws a skin graft
had four plates 24 screws a skin graft
had four plates 24 screws a skin graft and I was looking at a long and
and I was looking at a long and
and I was looking at a long and challenging road to recovery four months
challenging road to recovery four months
challenging road to recovery four months into my rehab a series of devastating
into my rehab a series of devastating
into my rehab a series of devastating earthquake
earthquake
earthquake rocked Nepal and many of the people in
rocked Nepal and many of the people in
rocked Nepal and many of the people in place he’s had visited five months
place he’s had visited five months
place he’s had visited five months earlier were completely shattered I was
earlier were completely shattered I was
earlier were completely shattered I was just learning how to walk again but I
just learning how to walk again but I
just learning how to walk again but I knew I needed to go out and help and I
knew I needed to go out and help and I
knew I needed to go out and help and I have to tell you it was heartbreaking
how do we make sense of life when
how do we make sense of life when tragedy strikes us well when I was in
tragedy strikes us well when I was in
tragedy strikes us well when I was in hospital I woke from surgery and
hospital I woke from surgery and
hospital I woke from surgery and somebody had placed a plaque by the head
somebody had placed a plaque by the head
somebody had placed a plaque by the head of my bed that simply said life is 10%
of my bed that simply said life is 10%
of my bed that simply said life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you
what happens to you and 90% how you
what happens to you and 90% how you react to it and those words had a
react to it and those words had a
react to it and those words had a profound effect on me for you to
profound effect on me for you to
profound effect on me for you to understand what I decided to do next you
understand what I decided to do next you
understand what I decided to do next you need to know that a river has always run
need to know that a river has always run
need to know that a river has always run through my life rivers will be my home
through my life rivers will be my home
through my life rivers will be my home and my escape since I was a wee boy and
and my escape since I was a wee boy and
and my escape since I was a wee boy and the place that I needed to go after
the place that I needed to go after
the place that I needed to go after healing from my injury and experiencing
healing from my injury and experiencing
healing from my injury and experiencing the devastation in Nepal was a river but
the devastation in Nepal was a river but
the devastation in Nepal was a river but not just any river I was drawn back to
not just any river I was drawn back to
not just any river I was drawn back to run a very specific River one more time
run a very specific River one more time
run a very specific River one more time the river I almost died on 20 years ago
the river I almost died on 20 years ago
the river I almost died on 20 years ago the Grand Canyon of the Stikine
I know I’m not here to conquer the river
I know I’m not here to conquer the river but I am here to live a question in the
but I am here to live a question in the
but I am here to live a question in the crucible of this Canyon
crucible of this Canyon
crucible of this Canyon [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] that like anything when you’re in the
that like anything when you’re in the
that like anything when you’re in the thick of it you’re just trying to
thick of it you’re just trying to
thick of it you’re just trying to survive
[Applause]
[Applause] there you go Jarrod nice
I know I’ll never run this river again
I know I’ll never run this river again and time and age will soon put it beyond
and time and age will soon put it beyond
and time and age will soon put it beyond my reach
my reach
my reach [Music]
coming back to everything I have but
coming back to everything I have but it’s in those moments on the thin red
it’s in those moments on the thin red
it’s in those moments on the thin red line that everything unnecessary burns
line that everything unnecessary burns
line that everything unnecessary burns away all that’s left in you is what you
away all that’s left in you is what you
away all that’s left in you is what you really care about what you want to live
really care about what you want to live
really care about what you want to live for
returning to the Stikine after 20 years
returning to the Stikine after 20 years was definitely risky but I remember
was definitely risky but I remember
was definitely risky but I remember Margaret’s traveling and I understand
Margaret’s traveling and I understand
Margaret’s traveling and I understand now it really didn’t matter if anyone
now it really didn’t matter if anyone
now it really didn’t matter if anyone else understood her reasons for going
else understood her reasons for going
else understood her reasons for going and it didn’t matter if anyone
and it didn’t matter if anyone
and it didn’t matter if anyone understood why I needed to go back
understood why I needed to go back
understood why I needed to go back I knew we all have our Stu Keens in life
I knew we all have our Stu Keens in life
I knew we all have our Stu Keens in life things we know we want to do but we’re
things we know we want to do but we’re
things we know we want to do but we’re afraid to do them because we’re afraid
afraid to do them because we’re afraid
afraid to do them because we’re afraid of how things might turn out were
of how things might turn out were
of how things might turn out were actually taught to fear making mistakes
actually taught to fear making mistakes
actually taught to fear making mistakes at 53 years old I’ll tell you this
at 53 years old I’ll tell you this
at 53 years old I’ll tell you this whatever experience I have has come from
whatever experience I have has come from
whatever experience I have has come from making mistakes and I’ve made a lot of
making mistakes and I’ve made a lot of
making mistakes and I’ve made a lot of mistakes the truth is you can’t connect
mistakes the truth is you can’t connect
mistakes the truth is you can’t connect the dots and life going forward you can
the dots and life going forward you can
the dots and life going forward you can only connect the dots looking backwards
only connect the dots looking backwards
only connect the dots looking backwards trusting that everything we go through
trusting that everything we go through
trusting that everything we go through in life will make sense someday I
in life will make sense someday I
in life will make sense someday I started this journey with a lot of
started this journey with a lot of
started this journey with a lot of expectations and seeking a lot of
expectations and seeking a lot of
expectations and seeking a lot of answers I’m still on the journey but
answers I’m still on the journey but
answers I’m still on the journey but I’ve stopped expecting I’m just
I’ve stopped expecting I’m just
I’ve stopped expecting I’m just experiencing and is really key so wisely
experiencing and is really key so wisely
experiencing and is really key so wisely predicted I find myself inspired instead
predicted I find myself inspired instead
predicted I find myself inspired instead of disillusioned in love instead of
of disillusioned in love instead of
of disillusioned in love instead of ambivalent and clear about my purpose I
ambivalent and clear about my purpose I
ambivalent and clear about my purpose I don’t know what happened to my old
don’t know what happened to my old
don’t know what happened to my old friend Margaret but I do know this
friend Margaret but I do know this
friend Margaret but I do know this Margaret was living her question and
Margaret was living her question and
Margaret was living her question and after 30 years she’s finally taught me
after 30 years she’s finally taught me
after 30 years she’s finally taught me to just live mine and all that filming I
to just live mine and all that filming I
to just live mine and all that filming I did along the way well like everything
did along the way well like everything
did along the way well like everything in life it made sense in the end and
in life it made sense in the end and
in life it made sense in the end and became my first feature documentary the
became my first feature documentary the
became my first feature documentary the tenth step thank you
tenth step thank you
tenth step thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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