Guardians of the Snake
By Visit Jackson Hole A Conversation with Jackson Hole Filmmaker Jon “JK” Klaczkiewicz
The valley's most devoted stewards are the people whose lives are rooted in its wild places.
That's the idea behind Guardians of the Snake, Visit Jackson Hole's latest film. It's a tribute to the guide community, told almost entirely in their own words. We sat down with director and producer Jon "JK" Klaczkiewicz, a Jackson filmmaker for 28 years, to talk about the film and what he hopes it leaves behind.
You’ve been making films in Jackson for nearly three decades. How did you get your start?
I moved here in ’98 and started working with Teton Gravity Research, doing filming, editing, and producing. I eventually became the supervising producer there and worked a couple of different tours with them. I also made branded content in the outdoor space. Most recently, I started Fish Camp to focus on impact-driven conservation storytelling. It’s been mostly action sports for 28 years, and now I’m focusing more on conservation.
What prompted the shift?
Well, I’m still making adventure content, but the outdoors has been such a special place for me over the course of my career. I came to a stage [of life] where I wanted to speak to the risks some of the ecosystems that supported my journey are going through, and tell the stories of the people and organizations working to help the places we love.
I hope people see that we want folks to get outside and have moments of awe in nature that inspire them to be stewards of it.
Why the guide community?
Jackson is such an incredible place to live that a lot of people want to visit. When Visit Jackson Hole first talked with me about community-led storytelling, I started thinking about the guides. There’s so much digital media now, Instagram and YouTube and all of it. What struck me about the guides is how analog they are. They’re spending eight hours a day in a boat with clients, having a direct human experience, teaching people about this resource and why it’s so incredible. Hopefully that instills a sense of stewardship visitors can take home, and maybe locals find a deeper level of it too.
For me, Guardians was about paying homage to a community of guides who are incredible human beings, sharing this resource in a responsible way day after day.
What stood out to you while making it?
I love asking people questions and getting to know them. We got to go out on the river with Tom Montgomery, who’s been guiding for 49 years. Getting to know people’s stories and perspectives is always the most fulfilling part of any project.
We showcased as many guides as we could, but it’s a fraction of the overall community. What I saw, thematically, was how much everyone cares. Yes, it’s their job, but their livelihoods depend on a healthy resource. Everyone shared that sentiment, and it was cool to see that unified front.
How did their expertise shape the final film?
The entire film is made up of their quotes. We spent time on the water and had conversations, so it’s a direct representation of their anecdotes and their feelings. I just hope I did a good job representing them.
What do you hope viewers take away?
Respect for the human side of the guiding community, and respect for the place we live. There’s a lot of pressure on Jackson because it’s such a good place. I hope people leave inspired to be stewards of the places they care about.
And what are your hopes for the film itself?
I hope more people see it. I hope they understand that we love this place, we love the ecosystem, and that comes with responsibility. We all want to recreate, and there’s a responsible way to do it. These guides are the epitome of who’s doing it that way.
