In August 2013, a group of seven climbers—five Americans and two Burmese—embarked on an expedition to the farthest reaches of northern Myanmar with the goal of making the first ascent of Gamlang Razi, Southeast Asia’s disputed highest peak. All told, the climbers traveled over 270 miles on foot through some of the harshest terrain on the planet, braving extreme heat and moisture, as well as the gambit of jungle creatures. Despite these challenges, they were rewarded with rare access to one of the most remote and untouched corners of this planet, living with villagers along the trail that had never before seen westerners. In fact, there have been less than a handful of westerners in history to have ever been to this part of the world, and only one western climbing expedition in history has been to these mountains.

Although making a first ascent of Gamlang Razi was their primary goal, they soon discovered that the actual peak was far less significant than the experiences they were having with the people with whom they were traveling, the villagers they lived and interacted with, and the country of Myanmar in general.

As a country that is just recently awaking from over 50 years of military rule and relative isolation, they were offered a rare glimpse into a culture unaffected by the rapid pace of globalization throughout the rest of the world. This film is not just a recounting of a mountaineering expedition, it’s a film about a people and a country that are on the brink of rapid change, and what this might entail for the future of this country and its people.

Original music by: Chris Child/Kodomo