The film follows a trek of 600 km lasting one month, by siw young New Zealanders codemned for acts of violence. They are led by Graeme Dingle, an educationalist and well known mountaineer, who is carrying out an experiment in view of a radical prison reform. It is an attempt to restore the self eteem of the young criminals through a sports activity in a natural and often hostile environment. Dingle gives the zoung people a chance to learn how to control their inner feelings and sense of frustration and to gain confidence in society and life.