"3 Miles An Hour" – Documentary Profiles Legendary Backcountry Outfitter, "Smoke" Elser, 11/22, PBS Stations

According to Arnold "Smoke" Elser, three miles an hour – the speed of a horse – is the best way to see and savor a life well-lived. The retired backcountry outfitter’s vision of wilderness has always included people, and a new documentary from MontanaPBS takes viewers into the Bob Marshall Wilderness to share Elser’s history, passion and connection to the outdoors.

"3 Miles An Hour" premieres at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22 on MontanaPBS.

In 1955 Elser made his first trip out West. The young man from Ohio took his love of the outdoors and turned it into a career. After arriving in Montana, the previous generation’s outfitters, Tom Edwards and Howard Copenhaver, taught him the art of packing and how to work with horses and mules. More than just practical skills, they taught him a wilderness ethic.

After 50 years in the business, Elser has led more than 700 trips and guided thousands of guests through the Bob Marshall Wilderness in western Montana. Now in his late 70s, Elser is making fewer trips into the Bob, so it’s time to share some of his experiences and the history he learned in the backcountry.

In interviews, fellow outfitters, backcountry horsemen, longtime guests who have become fast friends, family members and Forest Service district rangers all reflect on their experiences with Elser and the changes in wilderness management that he’s both witnessed and helped bring about.

Full Story: http://news.umt.edu/2011/11/110911smke.aspx