Hike Slow: A Film by Clara and Rosalie Haizlett

Hike Slow is the story of two sisters and their attempt to find a deeper, more reverent connection to the natural world and to one another. It's a light hearted, educational film that chronicles their journey to Montana's Centennial Valley, where they spent two weeks as artists-in-residence at the Taft-Nicholson Environmental Humanities Center. The short documentary focuses on themes of slowing down in nature, cultivating creativity, and deepening bonds with loved ones.

About the film

We often experience nature as tourists, armed with a bucket list and a camera. With the mountains as our backdrop and adrenaline in our veins, we hike to the summit, snap the photo at the top and barrel back down the mountain. But that’s just one way to experience nature.

On a trip to Montana’s Centennial Valley, West Virginia sisters Clara and Rosalie Haizlett tried a different approach. For fourteen days, they traced the streams and the ridges of the valley. Their pace was slow, inching across the wetlands with a notebook and pencil, watercolor paints, and a backpack full of field guides. This is the story of what they discovered.

About the director

Clara Haizlett is a freelance journalist and emerging filmmaker from Bethany, West Virginia. She has produced work for outlets like PBS, the Smithsonian, and NPR member stations in West Virginia and Virginia. Clara gravitates towards stories that revolve around people, the natural world and the relationship that exists between them.

Learn more about Clara

Press

Check out this Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article about our film!

Read the article