El Oso and the Volcano

Director

Micah Dudash

Writer

Micah Dudash

Pico de Orizaba is an active, 18,000-foot volcano in Mexico. It’s been climbed. It’s even been skied. But no Mexican has ever snowboarded it.

Javier Pineda’s nickname is “El Oso.” The Bear. His heart is big, his ambitions even bigger. Born in Mexico, Javier moved to Summit County, CO, at age 12. Growing up undocumented and searching for belonging was a struggle — until he got on a snowboard, and it changed his life.

Snowboarding gave Javier confidence, direction, and a love for the outdoors. But it also exposed a hard truth: expense and lack of representation kept people like him from feeling welcome on the slopes. So Javier did something about it. Now a full-time instructor and founder of Oso Outdoors, he is building pathways for other immigrants to experience nature.

But Javier isn’t done yet. In 2024, a new dream took shape: to ride Pico de Orizaba. For him, it’s more than a feat of skill — it’s a chance to inspire others to chase their own dreams, no matter where they come from.

EL OSO Y VOLCÁN follows that journey, from Colorado to Mexico, against a backdrop where identity, access, and inclusivity are more relevant than ever.

Director, El Oso y Volcan; Nature Connection Pitch Participant

Over his 16 years as a filmmaker, Micah has brought commercial and documentary work to life as a passionate director. His first film project was producing a series of documentary stories for a nonprofit operating in Kenya. His early years as a musician and painter give him a unique artistic voice in telling inspiring human stories. Prior to starting Household, he spent five years running his own production company and three years agency-side as a Creative Director. He currently lives in Colorado and enjoys spending time outdoors, fly fishing, and raising two wild kids.

Protagonist, El Oso y Volcan; Nature Connection Pitch Participant

Javier Pineda is a Colorado-based community organizer, immigrant rights leader, and outdoor educator whose life story sits at the intersection of migration, identity, and belonging. Originally from Pátzcuaro, Mexico, he grew up undocumented in the U.S., navigating the shadows of exclusion while forging a deep connection to the mountains that would later define his work.

As co-founder of Mountain Dreamers and founder of MD Oso Outdoors, Javier is reimagining what access to the outdoors looks like, building pathways for immigrant and first-generation communities not only to experience nature, but to claim space within it. His work challenges long-standing barriers across legal systems, economic opportunity, and outdoor culture.