Mary Schäffer Warren (1861-1939) was 43 years old and recently widowed when she bucked Victorian-era conventions and reinvented herself as a mountain explorer, writer, and photographer. Over a century later, Meghan J. Ward — an outdoor writer, historian and Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS) — encounters Mary’s remarkable story. Captivated by the mystery of this woman she can’t meet in person, Meghan embarks on a journey of archival research and backcountry adventures to better understand Mary’s legacy and motivations. She invites photographer/RCGS Fellow Natalie Gillis and travel writer Jane Marshall on a six-day hiking and paddling expedition to retrace the final leg of Mary’s famous 1908 expedition to Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park, Alberta. Delving into a landscape that connects adventurers across time, the modern-day team compares past to present, reflects on Mary’s legacy, and discovers that sometimes we must look back to blaze a better trail forward. Honourable Mention & Best Mountain Culture Short Film - Whistler Mountain Film Festival. Official Selections 2025: VIMFF, Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival, Ottawa Outdoor Film Festival, EHO Mountain Film Festival. Official Selections 2024: BANFF, Kendal Mountain Festival, SOAR Film Fest.