I worked very closely with Mike on "Walking With Freedom". I was the guy who edited the web videos ?url? http://www.walkingwithfreedom.com/videos.php?/url? and he sent me all the tapes he shot.

So number one suggestion is to have someone who is keeping all the tapes you shoot. Mike would send me a package every week. I even did some logging for him.

Another tip is to concentrate on the people. The amazing scenery is way more beautiful to you than it appears on tape - it looses its grandeur and awe. But the people who hike the trail are amazing.

Another thing I really insisted on with Mike was that he set the camera down (he didn't carry a tripod with him for obvious reasons) and get shots of himself. The first two or three weeks of tapes had very little of Mike. People watching an adventure/nature/wilderness type of documentary are interested in the person doing the hike. Since you are toting along a tripod this shouldn't be too much of an issue - set the camera up and get in front of it!

I haven't seen the other docs you mention, but I was honored to be a small part of "Walking with Freedom" Made me wish I had been on the journey with him.

Good luck!!

=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)