(intense music)
(rock music) -
[McGee] What's it gonna be for summer vacation?
Canoeing down the Amazon?
Hang gliding over Acapulco?
Eh, probably a schnook fishing trip
in a swamp outside Toledo.
- Nah, if Renee's, Philip's, and my dad
have all cooked up some big surprise trip for us all,
it's gotta be pretty spectacular, right?
- You mean like that Tulip Festival we went to in Michigan.
- Where's the dip?
Oh, there you are.
(chuckles) Just kidding.
I've only got a few more hours to tease you before you go.
- And I thought she only loved me for my potato chips.
- Oh, why did they have to make it a surprise anyway?
How am I supposed to pack?
(straining)
- [Dad] we'll only be gone a week.
We'll be back before you know it.
- Why can't I go too, daddy?
- Well, maybe in a couple years, honey.
But this trip's for your brother and me,
we need to spend some time together
learning more about each other.
- Dad, I can tell you all you need to know about Nick.
- Hey, Liz.
This is a great remodel job and great food.
- Thanks, Phil, have some more.
- Yeah, I'd love some.
Gotta build up my strength.
I'm gonna need all my stamina spending a week
with three teenagers having fun going you know where
doing you know what.
- My, when you keep a secret,
you really keep a secret, don't you?
(shushes)
- [Phil] Who wants food?
- My dad's too excited.
We must be going to a dentist convention.
- I saw my dad pack his swimsuit.
Must be someplace with a pool.
- It's California, that's where we're going.
- How do you know?
- Well it's gotta be.
Wherever we're going my dad's gonna join us, right?
I haven't seen him much since the divorce,
and he lives in California
and he's been wanting me to visit, right?
It all makes sense.
- That's the same logic they use to prove
that Elvis is still alive.
(chuckles)
- Hey, dad, when are you gonna tell us where we're going?
- Soon.
But I'll give you a hint.
God fills me with strength and protects me wherever I go.
He gives me the surefootedness of a mountain goat
upon the crag.
- We're going to the zoo?
- Here's a hint.
- Happy trails?
- Okay, attention everyone.
The time has finally come for the dads
to reveal the surprise destination.
A drum roll, please.
(drum roll plays)
Nick, Philip, and Renee, pack your bags
and get ready for the time of your life.
California, here we come.
(kids cheer)
- Yes, I knew I was right.
Next stop Beverly Hills.
- Wow, I wonder if we'll meet any movie stars.
- To our courageous kids, Nick and Philip and Renee.
- Courageous?
- May we return stronger and wiser and closer
from this adventure.
- Adventure?
- Having grown and stretched ourselves
as we meet the exciting and thrilling challenge of...
Mountain climbing?
(sighs) These don't look like the Beverly Hills to me.
- Todo, we're not in Indiana anymore.
- How long you usually gotta wear a body cast?
Six or seven months?
- Don't worry, Philip, you're not gonna break anything.
- You're right, I'll probably pass out first.
- Mountain climbing, hmm?
Well, I guess I don't need to worry
about those surfing lessons.
Let's see, what does one wear to scale the heights?
Mm, nope.
Mmhmm, next.
Uh uh, wrong.
Ah, perfect.
Whoa...
- Hi, sweetheart.
- [Renee] Dad!
(groans) Oh, golly, I missed you.
- Oh, I missed you too.
- Let me see.
Let me look at you.
I hardly recognize you.
You've grown, you've really grown.
- Well, that's what teenagers do, Ted.
- Hey, David.
Good to see you. - You too.
- Hey, everybody.
Welcome to Wilderness Excursions with Dad.
I'm your senior guide Brad Gifford,
but you can call me Giff.
This is my co-leader Consuela, Connie for short.
Now the two of us will be your guides
and the six of you make up what we call a Struggle Group.
(chuckles)
- He's got that right.
- Now in the next few days we're gonna teach you
a lot about mountain climbing,
but you're also gonna learn wilderness survival skills.
- Teaching?
Learning?
This is summer.
- Forget teaching and learning.
What about climbing and surviving?
- And you can be sure that by the end of the week,
each of you will have learned something about yourselves.
The woods have a very quiet way of exposing our fears.
They also bring us closer to each other and to God.
- So, we'll be able to move out
as soon as you can pack our supplies into you packs.
All right, let's go.
(straining)
- Philip, what are you doing?
- Struggling with my fear.
- What fear?
- My fear of being crushed under all this stuff.
- How do I pack this thing?
Heavy things first?
Alphabetically?
Maybe I should...
(Renee screams)
- Sorry, Renee.
That's supposed to be in Philip's pack.
- You put a snake in my pack?
- A rubber snake.
Come on, a little wilderness humor between father and son.
Woo, woo, woo.
(chuckles)
- This is gonna be a long week.
(scoffs) This is gonna be a long adolescents.
- [Nicholas] I'm starting to realize
that camping in the wilderness is gonna be a lot different
than spending the night in a pup tent in our backyard.
For one thing, it's difficult to raid the refrigerator
at 10,000 feet.
- It's very different, you know, honey.
- I know, dad.
- You have to work harder in junior high.
- I know, dad.
- And you gotta choose your friends very carefully.
You know, you can have some fun too.
- Right.
- But not too much fun.
You need to study.
Should I be writing this stuff down for you?
- Dad!
(soft guitar music)
- [Nicholas] One thing is for sure,
dad is having a great time taking pictures.
I guess shutter bugs really thrive in the wild.
(camera clicks)
- [Nicholas] I figure that we'll have to hike through
all these big mountains to get to the small easy
beginner hills that we're gonna climb.
Of course, I could be wrong.
- Well, this is it.
When you get back to Indiana you'll be able to tell them
that you climbed The Giant.
Ta da!
- You've got to be kidding.
- I can't climb that.
I can't even look at that.
- Let's keep pushing on,
we've gotta make camp before nightfall.
(eagle screeches)
Now remember, never put your sleeping bags too close
to the campfire.
And always put your food packs high enough
so the bears won't get them.
- Remember that fella from the town
where we gassed up the Jeep?
- That Piute Indian?
He was quite a character.
- Yeah, he says there's a giant man-eating grizzly
that roams these woods.
The Piute call him the Wild Bear of Giant Mountain.
- Come on, Phil.
He's just having some fun with ya.
If there are any bears at all around here,
there are only small black ones.
- [Phil] I wouldn't be so sure.
- Great, if I don't fall off a mountain
I'll get eaten by a bear.
- Do you know honey, part of growing up
is learning not to believe everything you hear.
Junior high, for example,
you're gonna hear all sorts of stuff.
You gotta learn how to use good judgment.
- (sighs) That is if I live to see junior high.
- [McGee] After eight miles of trails
you work up quite an appetite.
Ick, maybe not.
What I wouldn't give for a pizza.
(sighs)
- What's for dinner, Connie?
- Ah, bueno.
Dehydrated macaroni and cheese.
I hydrated it myself.
- Mm, smells, uh, (sniffs)
really, really hot.
- Thanks.
Can you guys watch the stove for a second?
I gotta go help Giff with something.
- I got it, I got it.
- Okay, let's see what we got here.
Whoa!
Meal time.
Oh, some broiled rattler, huh?
We've got squirrel sausage and poached porcupine, huh?
All in one pot.
- Dad, they're never gonna fall for that.
- My son doesn't like my practical jokes.
- I wonder why.
- Hey, sugarless candy?
- Mmhmm.
- Oh, they're great.
I eat them all the time.
(sighs) Well, I think I'm gonna go use the restroom
or the wilderness room.
(birds chirping)
- I don't know about this Giant Mountain thing.
You risk your life for what?
Just to say you risked your life?
I'm a cartoonist, not a rock climber.
- Nick, I know.
I mean, I'm scared about most things,
but this Giant really scares me.
- Yeah, me too.
I hope our dads know what they're doing.
(low growling)
Did you hear something.
- Yeah, my stomach saying no, please no.
(low growling)
Hey, what if it's the Wild Bear of Giant Mountain?
- If it's a bear, it smells the food
and it probably just wants to investigate.
- Probably?
(screams)
(loud roaring)
- It's not a bear, that's a man!
(laughing)
- No, it's not a giant bear.
It's a giant slipper and this is a giant blanket.
The two of you guys were hysterical.
You should have seen your faces.
(chuckles) Oh, no a bear.
A bear!
Run away!
- Phil, sometimes you are unbearable.
- Unbearable, see, now that's funny.
Unbearable.
Only you can prevent forest fires.
- Hey, you okay?
- No.
- Well, he was just trying to be funny.
- Yeah, I know, but...
He never is.
(solemn music)
(owl hooting)
- [Nicholas] The next morning we all discovered
that sleeping in the cool, fresh air
puts everything in perspective.
- Some life.
When you're not climbing rocks you're sleeping on them.
(scoffs) I'm even dreaming about rocks.
- I think Connie's boiling some for lunch later.
- Morning.
- Boy, you were up early.
- Well, I wanted to catch a few sunrise shots.
Try out my new lens.
- Like my outfit?
(laughs) Climbing is great.
Whoa.
Once you get the hang of it.
- Right, McGee.
Even after Giff and Connie's lesson
with all the ropes and stuff,
I still don't think I'm cut out
to hang off the side of mountains.
I've been sitting here since dawn
wondering how I'm gonna tell everybody that.
- Come on, Nick.
You gotta give it a chance before you hang up your boots.
- [Dad] Come on, Nick.
Get your pack, we're moving out.
- It was nice knowing you, McGee.
- They don't call me King of the Forest for nothing.
(adventurous music)
(yelping)
Oof.
Okay, maybe Prince of the Forest.
- [Nicholas] All morning we spent learning the basics.
Like how to safely go over the side of a cliff.
In my mind, safety and cliff don't belong
in the same sentence.
- [Philip] Tell me, again,
why are we putting ourselves through this?
- I don't know.
All I keep thinking about is that kids' book
I used to read to my little sister.
Do you know The Little Engine That Could?
Only this time I keep saying I think I can't,
I think I can't, I think I can't.
- Okay, everybody, the only way out of here
is up and over.
So, this is where we're gonna put to the test
everything that we've learned so far about climbing.
- I think we made wrong turn somewhere.
- (scoffs) Yeah, back in Eastville.
- All right, kids, watch me.
- Okay, now remember what we practiced.
Halfway up, lean back on your ropes
so you have confidence you're secure.
Take your time and always check your footholds.
- Well that doesn't look so hard.
- I heard he was raised by a pack of mountain goats.
- Okay, who's gonna go first?
Nick?
- Nah, I don't think so.
- Why don't you go ahead, son.
Give it a shot.
- Come on, let's go.
(soft music)
- You can do it, son.
- Okay, Nick, let's go.
(yelps)
(straining)
- You're doing great, son.
(yelps)
(gasps)
- Come on, Nick.
You're okay, just a little loose rock.
Find your footholds.
- [McGee] Come on, Nick.
You can do it.
- Rope.
- [McGee] Hold on, help's on the way.
- Hey, Nick, I'm right here, pal.
Nothing to worry about.
Happens all the time.
All right, now just listen to me
and we'll get down together, okay?
- Okay.
- Just lean back on your rope.
Atta boy.
- Like this?
- Yep, there you go.
All right, come on.
That's it.
Thatta boy.
Yes sir.
All right, well done.
You're okay.
- Nick, not a bad try first time out.
All right.
Next time--
- Forget it!
There's not gonna be a next time.
(sighs) I'm not going back.
- Well, nobody's gonna make you.
That's your decision.
I just want you to have all the facts before you decide.
- What facts?
- Well, as scary as it looks,
all the equipment makes climbing very safe.
- Okay, great.
Why bother with all this just to climb up some dumb rock?
- Believe it or not, climbing is fun, Nick.
It can give you a great sense of accomplishment.
It's challenging.
You make great friends.
- So far you could say the same thing about baseball.
(chuckles)
- Okay, how about this?
Climbing reminds us how much we need God's help.
He'll take us up any mountain, maybe a step at a time,
but he'll get us there.
Remember, He made all this.
What better place to learn that, huh?
I mean, look around.
(bird screeching)
Come on, let's go.
(upbeat music)
♪ When good King David was small ♪
♪ He had a big man to slay
♪ No he just couldn't give in
♪ Whatever the odds that day
♪ No matter how tough the fight would get ♪
♪ He had to press on
♪ He just couldn't quit
♪ He had to run the race
♪ He had to keep the pace
♪ Step by step, one step at a time ♪
♪ Step by step, never looking behind ♪
♪ There's no where to go but up and over the hill ♪
♪ Just step by step
♪ Step by step, through the danger zone ♪
♪ Step by step, but you're never alone ♪
♪ There's no where to go but up and over the hill ♪
♪ Just step by step
♪ When you wanna give up
♪ 'Cause you feel you can't cope ♪
♪ Know that this trial you face ♪
♪ Helps build patience and hope ♪
♪ No matter how tough the fight may get ♪
♪ You gotta press on
♪ You just can't quit
♪ You gotta run the race
♪ You gotta keep the pace
♪ Step by step, one step at a time ♪
♪ Step by step, never looking behind ♪
♪ There's no where to but up and over the hill ♪
♪ Just step by step
♪ Step by step, through the danger zone ♪
♪ Step by step, but you're never alone ♪
♪ There's no where to go but up and over the hill ♪
♪ Just step by step
- Thanks for showing me all the ropes, literally.
- (chuckles) Yeah, you did great.
- [McGee] After a few days in the woods,
you come to appreciate the soothing sounds of the forest.
(yelling)
(birds calling)
(screams)
(low growling)
- Come on, cut it out, you guys.
It's not gonna work.
Amateurs.
If you guys think I'm gonna fall for that, you...
(stammering)
A bear.
(growling)
Candy.
Do you want some candy.
Have some candy.
More?
Good, good for your teeth.
There ya go.
Here, take my pack.
Denim.
Here you go.
Yum.
(gasps)
(stammering)
(growling)
(blows whistle)
Bear!
A bear!
(whistle chirping)
It's a bear.
(whistle chirping)
Bear!
Bear, bear!
Bear!
It's the Wild Bear of Giant Mountain.
He attacked me.
- All right, Phil, we've heard that one before.
No, he really did.
Right in the woods, just over that ridge.
I was getting firewood and there was this giant grizzly.
He must have been 10 feet tall.
- You gotta get it right, Phil.
The Wild Bear of Giant Mountain is supposed to be
a black bear.
- It was him.
Look, he ate my fanny pack.
- Maybe it was Yogi Bear, Phil.
Didn't he eat the Ranger's pack once?
- You guys, you gotta believe me.
I mean, he was huge and brown.
He wanted my sugarless candy.
- Well there you go.
At least you have the satisfaction of knowing
that you're promoting good dental hygiene
among the local bear population, Phil.
- Hey, listen up everybody.
Instead of us all sleeping around the fire,
we're gonna do something different tonight.
After dinner, we're gonna lead everyone out
to their own camping spot for the night.
And that'll give you a little time alone together
and the chance to get to know each other a little better.
Some honest time.
Now, don't be afraid to open up with each other, all right?
Connie and I will be back to pick you up about 7:30 a.m.
- What about the wild bear?
- Phil, even if there was a bear, he's long gone.
Now let's concentrate on some honest time with Philip.
(scoffs)
- Nobody believes me.
They don't believe me.
- [Nicholas] Okay, so I conquered one small practice hill.
But the Giant is still waiting for us.
And no matter what anyone says,
a 1,000 foot cliff is still a 1,000 foot cliff.
- You know those ropes they have in gym class?
- Yeah.
- Did I ever tell you about the time I was in junior high
and I raced my best friend Jared to the top?
- No.
Did you win?
- Well, sort of.
I'd never climbed the ropes before,
but somehow I beat him to the top.
The trouble was when I got up there and looked down
and realized how far up I was, I panicked.
I didn't know whether to slide or jump or what.
- So what did you do?
- I remembered what one of the first guys
who climbed Mt. Everest said.
He would never look down before he looked up first.
So I looked up and I prayed for help.
And then I was able to climb down.
Hand over hand, one inch at a time.
Ever since, whenever I start to look down, I look up first.
- Yeah, but every time I look up all I see is the Giant.
(sighs)
- Well, pal, don't worry.
I'll love you whether or not
you climb another rock in your life.
- I've got the rocks figured out.
It's the mountains I'm worried about.
(both chuckle)
- Bears don't like water, do they?
- Heh, not unless they're into water skiing.
- Oh, not you too.
You believe me, don't ya?
- I don't know, dad.
I mean, every time I figure you'd say gotcha
and start laughing at me.
- Well, I guess we're gonna have to do something
about that, huh?
I really did see a bear.
Really.
- Yeah, it's a place to worry ya.
Hey listen, honey.
Don't start wearing makeup too soon.
You know, I mean, once you start with that stuff,
you never go back.
And, oh, dating.
I know you're a teenager now,
but there will be no dating until you're 18.
- Dad!
- Oh, 17?
- Tomorrow, Nick, you're gonna choose
whether you face the Giant or not.
Next week when you're back home,
you'll have some other decisions to make.
Every decision takes courage.
And you know where to find that courage, right?
- Just look up.
(soft music)
It was really cool to spend time with dad,
but as reassuring as he is,
he can't get my mind off the Giant.
It just keeps staring back at me like a bad dream.
(chiming)
(howling)
(straining)
(light music)
(dramatic music)
(upbeat music)
(clinks)
(chuckles)
(rumbling)
(growls)
(yells)
(roars)
- Whoa.
(yelps)
(birds chirping)
- 7:15, oh no.
I better get ready.
I wonder where dad went.
- Now, let's see.
Don't ride with anybody who hasn't had their license
for at least two years.
(stammering)
- Daddy, please stop.
- Yeah, I know, honey.
I'm going awfully fast.
But, I just, I'm not with you for very much time
and I have so much I want you to remember.
- Daddy, daddy, I'll always remember this
as the best vacation I ever had.
And I'll remember that you love me a whole lot.
- With all my heart.
- But just because I'm a teenager now
doesn't mean that I'll forget everything
you taught me while I was growing up.
You don't have to start telling me all of the don'ts,
because you spent 10 years teaching me all the right do's.
- It's just, it's so hard, honey.
I'm so far away.
I just wanna be with ya.
I wanna protect you.
- I know, I miss you too.
But the things you taught come back to me
and it's like you're still there.
Almost.
(solemn music)
- If those guys don't believe me,
I'll just have to show them a thing or two.
Wait till I pull out my old crazed moose routine.
- Dad, stop.
We're all tired of your jokes.
- Philip, they didn't believe me
when I was almost eaten by a bear.
- Were you?
- Guess I cried wolf one too many times, huh?
Is there anything I can say to make you believe me?
- Like you said, be honest.
(sighs)
- Okay.
I was really scared to even move a muscle.
I was thinking what it would be like
to never see you or your mother or your sister ever again.
I was thinking that there's so many things
that I still wanna tell you.
And how ironic it would be for Mr. Practical Joker
to get eaten by a mythical bear.
- So you really do love us?
- Oh yeah, pal.
More than you'll ever know.
- It's not like dad to be late.
I better go find him before Giff gets here.
Dad?
Dad!
Where are you?
- [Dad] Help!
- Dad?
- Good morning.
Time to head back, guys.
David?
Nick?
Hello?
- [Dad] Help!
- Dad!
- Help!
Help!
- Dad!
- Nick, I need help.
- I'm going to get some help.
- I can't hold on much longer.
Nick, nick, I'm slipping.
- No time, kid.
You gotta get a rope to him now.
- Me?
But...
- [Dad] Nick.
- Okay.
Hold on, dad.
(dramatic music)
Please, God.
I need that courage now.
Dad, I'll be right there, just hold on, okay?
- Careful.
(courageous music)
(teething shattering)
- Okay, kid.
Steady, find the cracks.
- Almost there, dad.
- Ow.
Hurry, son.
- You got it, hold it steady.
Whoa.
- Dad, tie this around your waist.
- Slip it in there.
- Slide it under.
And up over here.
You're gonna be okay, dad.
You're gonna be all right.
- I just wanted to get one last shot from the edge
and it just suddenly gave way.
(both screaming)
- All right, dad, see if you can give me some help
and pull us up.
(panting)
- I think my arm is broken.
(both straining)
(groans)
- We're gonna be okay, dad.
- That's the Giant?
And Nick, you repelled off that to save dad?
- Well, I didn't know it was the Giant at the time.
- Oh, he was a hero just the same.
- Oh absolutely.
- Every time we look at the pictures from the trip
I'm always amazed.
We all climbed a mountain.
- [Jamie] What's that stuff?
- Oh, broiled rattle snake, some squirrel sausage
and poached porcupine.
- Like father like son.
- Hey, I'm not gonna fall for that old trick.
We learned that one in Junior Raccoons.
- Don't worry, Philip.
It just takes a little time.
- Speaking of food,
I think all of us deserve some more cookies.
- [Phil] Sounds good to me.
- Mm, the next time we hit the Giant, bag the macaroni.
We're taking chocolate chipsters.
- Nah, I don't think
I'm gonna be climbing the Giant again, McGee.
- What?
You ready for Everest?
- Nah, but I have a feeling that there will be
plenty of giants right here every day.
Now I know I can face them.
See, courage isn't something you find in the wilderness,
it's always here with you.
God helps you find it.
Here's one for the road.
Watch the crumbs.
(dings)
Wait.
- I've got an idea.
Next year how about Scuba Adventures with Mom?
Cowabunga!
Nicholas, get me out of here!
Someone help!
(gurgling)
- McGee.
♪ Step by step, one step at a time ♪
♪ Step by step, never looking behind ♪
♪ There's no where to go but up and over the hill ♪
♪ Just step by step ♪
♪ Step by step, through the danger zone ♪
♪ Step by step, but you're never alone ♪
♪ There's no where to go but up and over the hill ♪
♪ Just step by step ♪
♪ Step by step ♪
♪ Step by step, one step at a time ♪
♪ Step by step, never looking behind ♪
♪ There's no where to go but up and over the hill ♪
♪ Just step by step
♪ Step by step, through the danger zone ♪
♪ Step by step, but you're never alone ♪
♪ There's no where to go but up and over the hill ♪
♪ Just step by step ♪
♪ Step by step, one step at a time ♪
♪ Step by step, never looking behind ♪
♪ There's no where to go but up and over the hill ♪
♪ Just step by step ♪
♪ Step by step, through the danger zone ♪
♪ Step by step, but you're never alone ♪
♪ There's no where to go but up and over the hill ♪
♪ Just step by step ♪♪