Up in the high country where snow meets starlight and creativity carves its own line through the mountains, pro freeskier, artist and filmmaker Chris Benchetler has dropped the latest episode of his ongoing docuseries Ship of Fools. Released May 27, Episode 16 pays tribute to NBA Hall of Famer and lifelong Deadhead Bill Walton, marking the one-year anniversary of Walton’s passing.
The episode circles back to Benchetler’s 2020 film Fire on the Mountain, a visual journey through alpine terrain shaped by powder, performance and the psychedelic pulse of the Grateful Dead. Walton, who lent his voice and soul to the original film, is remembered here not just as a narrator, but as a kindred spirit whose energy became the backbone of the film’s ethereal tone.
“This week, we honor the passion and spirit of our beloved friend Bill Walton,” Benchetler shared. “His love for the Grateful Dead and our film Fire on the Mountain was undeniable. His narration wasn’t just a contribution—it was a gift that elevated the project to another level.”
Walton’s voice, earthy and philosophical, was a natural fit for a film that blurred the lines between snow sport and spiritual exploration. He didn’t just speak about the music or the mountains—he lived within them. “The Grateful Dead’s music often spoke of transcendence and the journey beyond this life,” Benchetler reflected. “And it feels fitting that Bill, who often spoke in Grateful Dead lyrics, has now joined that eternal jam session in the stars.”
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The late basketball legend, who passed on May 27, 2024, after a fight with cancer, was more than an athlete. He was a man of the woods and the wonder, a soul drawn to the rhythm of life’s great outdoors. With his booming voice and mystical bent, Walton brought a kind of backcountry wisdom to Fire on the Mountain, helping stitch together scenes of skiers and snowboarders dancing through moonlit powder to the timeless groove of the Dead.
“The Grateful Dead’s music often spoke of transcendence and the journey beyond this life. And it feels fitting that Bill, who often spoke in Grateful Dead lyrics, has now joined that eternal jam session in the stars.”
The tribute episode also offers never-before-seen footage and behind-the-scenes reflections, part of the broader narrative arc of Ship of Fools—a series that tracks the making of Benchetler’s upcoming film, Mountains of the Moon. Slated for release in fall 2025, the film promises to push boundaries with surreal nightscapes, otherworldly effects, and the music that ties it all together.
Like everything Benchetler touches, it’s rooted in the backcountry and reaching for the stars. With new episodes airing weekly, Ship of Fools is more than a behind-the-scenes docuseries—it’s a tribute to the creative process, to collaboration, and to the people, like Walton, who bring a little more magic into the wild.
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