Guide to Being a Grandpa

Where the road ends in Cooke City, Montana, 48-year-old Joey Weamer navigates life as a rookie backcountry ski guide while embracing his role as a grandfather to his young granddaughters.

Synopsis 

In the isolated town of Cooke City, Montana, 48-year-old Joey Weamer, a young grandfather and a rookie ski guide, is learning how to navigate through a new chapter of his life. Once a headstrong skier with dreams of going pro, his plans were abruptly changed by young fatherhood at 19, pushing him into a path of odd jobs and strained relationships as he watched his friends ski the Mountain West, while he stayed home changing diapers.

Years later, after witnessing a fatal avalanche accident where he was a part of the rescue, Joey was called toward guiding with a newfound outlook on outdoor sports and a greater appreciation for the fragility of life. In joining Park County Search and Rescue and training to be a backcountry ski guide at 48, he started this career later than most, but with the determination to educate and mentor nonetheless.

During his first season as a full-time guide a near-fatal snowmobile malfunction changes the trajectory of Joey’s life again. Now, recovered and healed 6-months after fully severing his femur, he is back in the backcountry, educating the next generation of skiers, his family, and himself as he becomes a better father and present grandfather amidst the snow-covered backdrop of Cooke City. At its core, Guide to Being a Grandpa tells a rural Montana family story about resilience, aging, and the quiet courage it takes to start over, in more ways than one, when the world tells you it’s too late.

Credits

Directed by Mitch Milbauer

Producer Kaiden Hancock | Director of Photography Mitch Milbauer

Lead Editor Olivia Gorham | Asst. Editor Drew Raccioppa