What is 24 Hours with REAL Cowboys about?
This MadLadTV episode documents a spontaneous 24-hour backcountry journey in southern Utah, where filmmakers trade vehicles and comfort for pack mules, cowboy knowledge, and a night under the stars — with no roads, no trailers, and no easy exit.
Some adventures don’t start with a plan.
They start when someone says, “You wanna come?”
After spending a week filming Trail Hero at Sand Hollow State Park, Graham Ladd and Ethan Kaiser were preparing to leave southern Utah when their friend Casey Lofthouse extended an unexpected invitation: join him, his crew, and a string of pack mules for an overnight trip deep into the backcountry outside La Verkin, Utah.
Within hours, the rules changed.
When filmmaking meets real backcountry logistics
Gear was weighed. Camera bags were stripped down. Mule panniers were balanced with precision — because when you travel by pack mule, every pound matters. Unsurprisingly, camera gear quickly became the heaviest load.
This wouldn’t be a traditional production:
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No lighting kits
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Minimal food
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One primary camera
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One drone
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No cell service
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No certainty about how long the ride would take
This is where outdoor filmmaking becomes something else entirely — not content creation for comfort, but documentation of real experience.
A landscape layered with history
The route dropped off Center Street and descended into Confluence Park, where the Virgin River, La Verkin Creek, and Ash Creek meet. The land itself became part of the story.
Along the way, Casey shared history tied directly to the terrain:
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Mormon settlers who once camped along the Virgin River corridor
👉 Learn more about the Domínguez–Escalante expedition and early exploration of the Southwest
These weren’t facts delivered on camera for effect — they were stories passed down by people who still move through this land the same way their predecessors did.
Trust, animals, and earned experience
As daylight faded, the group rode narrow trails, crossed rocky terrain, and climbed into open country — trusting the mules, the land, and the people leading the way.
The mules weren’t props.
They were working animals — calm, deliberate, and intelligent — navigating terrain that punishes carelessness.
Nothing here was staged. Nothing was rushed.
A night without walls
Camp was simple:
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No tents
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No walls
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No separation from the night sky
Firelight replaced screens. Conversation replaced noise. Stars replaced schedules.
Morning arrived early with chores, repacking, and the quiet rhythm of moving camp — followed by a reminder that the backcountry always gets the last word when Ethan took an unexpected fall from a mule, earning both bruises and a story that will outlast the soreness.
Why this story matters
This episode of MadLadTV isn’t about pretending to be cowboys.
It’s about stepping briefly into a life built on:
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Experience
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Responsibility
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Trust — in people, animals, and land
For MadLad Films, stories like this define what great marketing videos and brand storytelling should be: real, grounded, and earned. Whether documenting adventure, culture, or conservation, the goal of outdoor filmmaking isn’t to manufacture moments — it’s to recognize them when they happen.
Because beyond the pavement, beyond the gear lists, and beyond the algorithms, there is still a world that doesn’t care if you’re ready.
🎬 Watch the full episode on MadLadTV:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djKgbsDdn1s
🔗 Explore more real-world adventure storytelling:
👉 Tennessee’s Lost Atomic Bomb Trail
📩 Looking to tell an authentic story through cinematic outdoor filmmaking or marketing videos?
👉 Contact MadLad Films