Dylan Moron, a photographer and filmmaker passionate about outdoor adventure and a Pyrenex down jacket enthusiast for years, tells us through his film « Up & Down », released on Sunday 19 May 2021, about his epic 3,000 km hike crossing New Zealand via the Te Araroa Trail.
He tells us about his adventure and the reasons why he wanted to make this film.
« In October 2018, I decided to pursue my dreams and travel across New Zealand. However, shortly after my arrival, I came across a very interesting article about the Te Araroa Trail : the longest hike in New Zealand. From that moment on, I had just one goal in mind: to make my very first adventure documentary. And so it was for this reason that I embarked on a 3,000 km adventure across an entire country. Beyond the beauty of New Zealand's landscapes, this journey allowed me to meet inspiring people from all different backgrounds who shared their personal experiences and inner journeys with me. »
Through this film, Dylan Moron wants to send a powerful message to everyone who hesitates to live their own adventure, and he reminds us just how beautiful nature is, as well as the place of humanity within it.
« The main goal of this documentary is to inspire people to live their own adventure, to explore and discover the beauty that nature has to offer us. But I also want to encourage people to step outside their comfort zone by challenging themselves, because we are all capable of achieving incredible things regardless of our age, gender or background. That is why I chose to interview 6 hikers from different walks of life so that everyone can identify with one of them. I did not want to make a film about my own personal adventure — the goal was to interview different people so that they could share their personal experiences and what they had learnt, because everyone lives their adventure at their own pace and in their own way.
In all honesty, before embarking on this journey, I was thinking above all about the incredible landscapes I would be able to see and capture along the way. In the end, what truly shaped this experience was all the people I was able to meet — they left a deep mark on my adventure and made it unique! Today, when I think back to the Te Araroa Trail, I think first of the faces of the people I met, even before the beauty of the landscapes. That says a great deal about how present that human dimension truly is.»
During this 3,000 km journey, Dylan Moron was equipped with several down jackets, jackets and a Pyrenex natural French down sleeping bag to make the most of his adventure under the most optimal conditions possible in terms of warmth, lightness and comfort.
As shown in this photo taken at 1,925 m altitude, at Stag Saddle, in the Two Thumb Range (the highest point on Te Araroa), Dylan was wearing the Montardo down jacket from the 18-19 collection. This year, 20-21, new mountain down jackets are available, designed for mountaineering and hiking.
Nights are cool at altitude and Dylan had asked us to suggest the ideal sleeping bag for the entire duration of his trip to New Zealand. He therefore set off with a Népal 800 sleeping bag to make the most of his bivouacs and overnight stays, both indoors and outdoors. This Népal 800 sleeping bag allowed him to cope with the low temperatures during bivouacs. Filled with 100% natural French down, this sleeping bag enables you to face relatively cold nights (lower comfort limit temperature of -3.6°C) without the slightest apprehension.
Find all of Dylan Moron's adventures on his Instagram account
