In The NoCo

Three skiers made the first-ever crossing of Colorado in 1978. A new documentary retraces their journey

By In The NoCo,

Published September 12, 2025 at 5:35 AM MDT

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Three men stand in front of a low-slung blue and orange tent in the snow, with Colorado mountains in the background. Several pairs of cross-country skis and poles are sticking out of the snow around them. One of the men is holding a sign that reads "Day 23."

In 1978, three men from Boulder set out a journey to make the first-ever crossing of Colorado on skis.

The three amateur skiers – Alex Drummond, John King, and Peter Vanderwall – carved a continuous line across the state, covering 490 miles of rugged, snowy backcountry from Durango to northeast of Fort Collins.

A new documentary, Moving Line, tells the story of their remarkable trek.

Ahead of an appearance at the Breckenridge Film Festival next week, director Cameron Wyatt joined Erin O’Toole to talk about their journey, and the lasting impact it had on Colorado's outdoor recreation community.

Moving Line will also be shown in Salida on Sept. 13. Find screenings at the film’s website.

Three men ski in a gently winding line across a vast white snow field, with the deep blue sky above. The photograph is in the documentary "Moving Line," about three men from Boulder who skied across Colorado in 1978.

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In The NoCo

KUNC's In The NoCo is a daily slice of stories, news, people and issues. It's a window to the communities along the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The show brings context and insight to the stories of the day, often elevating unheard voices in the process. And because life in Northern Colorado is a balance of work and play, we celebrate the lighter side of things here, too.

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Erin O'Toole

As the host of KUNC’s news program and podcast In The NoCo, I work closely with our producers and reporters to bring context and diverse perspectives to the important issues of the day. Northern Colorado is such a diverse and growing region, brimming with history, culture, music, education, civic engagement, and amazing outdoor recreation. I love finding the stories and voices that reflect what makes NoCo such an extraordinary place to live.

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Brad Turner

Brad Turner is an executive producer in KUNC's newsroom. He manages the podcast team that makes In The NoCo, which also airs weekdays in Morning Edition and All Things Considered. His work as a podcaster and journalist has appeared on NPR's Weekend Edition, NPR Music, the PBS Newshour, Colorado Public Radio, MTV Online, the Denver Post, Boulder's Daily Camera, and the Longmont Times-Call.

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