The Catskill Mountains have long been a proving ground for East Coast skiers. A new documentary, Queen of the Catskills, tells that story through one woman’s deeply personal journey into the backcountry.
The film centers on Julie McGuire, a South Bronx high school English teacher who turns to the mountains after a series of traumatic events disrupt her life. What begins as a search for healing becomes a multi-year quest: McGuire aims to become the first woman to backcountry ski all 33 of the Catskills’ highest peaks — entirely alone.
The documentary is directed by Jamie Kennard, who followed McGuire for over three years to capture her journey. Kennard brings the film to the region this month with screenings in Hunter, NY; North Adams, MA; and Rosendale, NY.
From social media to mountains
“I am a backcountry skier myself, and I keep a pulse on what’s happening in the region,” Kennard said. “Back in 2022, I noticed through social media that Julie was starting to ski the high peaks. Though I didn’t know her personally, we struck up an online friendship, and I reached out about documenting her journey.”
Initially, Kennard was drawn to the physical challenge rather than McGuire’s personal story. “I just wanted to make a film about a woman backcountry skiing in the Catskills,” he said. “I know from my own experience that it’s a very difficult thing.”
Trauma, healing, and the mountains
Over time, the deeper motivations behind McGuire’s quest emerged. During early interviews, she chose to share her experiences with domestic abuse and the challenges she faced as a young adult.
“At the very end of the interview, I asked if there was anything I hadn’t asked her about,” Kennard said. “She paused and then decided on her own to share some stories. That opened it up to telling a different version of the film.”
“She wasn’t as much of a skier growing up,” Kennard said. “Some of the traumatic experiences she went through really pushed her to get back outside and embrace what she could accomplish in the outdoors.”
A solo journey
McGuire’s goal — skiing 33 peaks alone — is physically grueling and emotionally isolating. Kennard filmed several of the peaks but often kept his distance to preserve the solitude.
“She’s very methodical, driven, and thoughtful,” he said. “She’s just a powerhouse out there. Sometimes there are two or three feet of snow and nobody’s broken trail. She’s quietly driven, embracing the hard work.”
Some excursions lasted eight, nine, or even twelve hours. “To watch her come back and see that smile on her face — you can really see what it means to her,” Kennard said.
Community and inspiration
Though the journey is solitary, McGuire has inspired other skiers. “She was not only the first woman — she was only the third person ever to do it,” Kennard said. McGuire is now pursuing the 100 highest peaks in the Catskills, and Kennard says she may already be halfway there.
Filming in winter brought hazards: heavy snow, equipment malfunctions, and long treks far from roads. “If your skis or snowshoes fail five or six miles out, that can become dangerous,” Kennard said.
Kennard said he hopes audiences leave inspired. “Julie took a really tough part of her life and turned it into something she’s passionate about. She’s inspired a lot of people — not just to backcountry ski, but to get outside and see what the mountains can do for us.”
Image: Julie McGuire, the Bronx high school teacher who became the first woman to backcountry ski all 33 Catskills high peaks alone. (Credit: QueenofTheCatskillsmovie.com)