Storytelling Frameworks for Memorable Outdoor Content

A guide for telling outdoor stories for long-form YouTube videos, short-form social content and brand campaigns.

A few weeks ago, I released a short documentary about the Barkley Marathons which is one of the most elusive, chaotic, and strangely heartwarming endurance races in the world. I showed up with no contacts, no subject, and very little sleep. What unfolded was a crash course in what actually makes outdoor storytelling work. As the Barkley Marathons video I made is at 700,000 views and climbing, it seemed people are resonating with it.

It wasn’t the most cinematic film I’ve ever made. I didn’t have access to sweeping drone shots or remote tracking cameras deep in the Tennessee backcountry. We could only shoot in two locations: basecamp and the fire tower. But what the project lacked in technical flexibility, it made up for in emotional access.

The story formed itself through the people I met. A runner who missed the cutoff by two minutes. A husband who went missing for hours. A 3 a.m. return to the yellow gate, captured through mist and rain. And through all of it - kindness, laughter, resilience, and shared vulnerability emerged.

That’s what stuck with me personally.

That’s also what works in content.

So many brands and creatives in the outdoor world chase the shot. But audiences remember the story. The stakes. The emotions. The decisions. The feeling of being there.

Whether you’re building a massive trail running campaign for a gear brand or filming your next YouTube video in the mountains, there are frameworks you can use to anchor your story and help it resonate. This post is a practical guide to doing just that - breaking down proven storytelling structures, short-form tactics, and tips for creating supportive content that turns a single piece into a memorable, shareable, multi-channel campaign.

Let’s dive in :)

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Start With Structure: Frameworks That Hold Emotion

There’s a difference between documentation and storytelling. Documentation tells us what happened but storytelling helps us feel why it mattered. That’s why storytelling frameworks are so important.

Think of them less like formulas and more like scaffolding - something you can drape your creative instincts over. In the outdoor industry, where stories are often built from real-time action, logistical unpredictability, and limited shooting windows, frameworks help you turn scattered clips into something cohesive and moving.

Here are a few that I’ve seen succeed time and time again…