Efron brothers tackle Glacier for commercial shoot

Hollywood heartthrob Zac Efron and his younger brother, Dylan Efron, paid a visit to Glacier National Park in June to shoot a commercial for Columbia Sportswear, that was released last week. Efron, 29, is best known for his roles in the hit series “High School Musical” and blockbusters “17 Again,” “Baywatch” and the “Lucky One.”

The duo summited the Continental Divide in Glacier, took a dip in Lake McDonald and encountered wildlife during their stay. In the commercial, the brothers are decked head to toe in Columbia gear as they traverse the Big Drift near Logan Pass and hike through wooded hillsides as part of the outdoor company’s “Tested Tough” campaign.

Columbia Falls-based Glacier Adventure Guides provided safety and scouting services during the shoot, and owner Greg Fortin described the famous brothers as “down to earth” guys.

A crew of approximately 25 spent about five days shooting the Efron brothers, Fortin said, mostly on the east side of the park to avoid interrupting bicycle traffic along the Going-to-the-Sun Road on the west side.

“Zac and Dylan were definitely — I wouldn’t call them everyday people — but they were very gracious and kind and friendly,” Fortin said. “I did notice changes — when they first arrived it took a little while to get settled into the Montana lifestyle and they adapted to it really well. It certainly became more or less like having friends in town, which was great because we didn’t really know what to expect either. “We were really respectful of just being normal around everyone.”

The Efrons spent time in Whitefish when they weren’t busy shooting, doing their best to keep a low profile, and also stayed in a cabin near Duck Lake for a couple of nights. When fans did spot Zac Efron out and about, Fortin said the actor was “great” about taking photos. The commercial even features a spot where the elder Efron encounters an apparent park employee who comments that he looks “so much like Zac Efron.”

“I am Zac,” he says with a smile, and shakes her hand.

Fortin said his crew spent six to seven days scouting for locations prior to filming. Columbia was also considering Vancouver Island, but eventually opted to go with Glacier.

“It was really important and took quite a bit of planning to find the spots that we thought they should utilize,” he said.

Filming often began in the late afternoon and didn’t wrap up until 10 p.m., Fortin said.

One of the moments that stood out to Fortin was Efron’s swim in the chilly waters of Lake McDonald.

“Zac stayed in for quite a while … I think they did a good job making Lake McDonald look warmer than it was,” he said.

Part of his team’s role was also to ensure cast and crew safety.

“We’re always concerned about having 25 people out and about in bear country,” he said. “On top of that, we were in snow-covered terrain, especially the Big Drift area.”

Despite the dangers, Fortin said no injuries occurred during filming, and noted that both brothers had at some experience in the outdoors and were in good shape.

“They’re very fit, both of them, Dylan especially — he’s a triathlete,” Fortin said. “They’re not afraid to roll their sleeves up and try something they haven’t done before.”

The biggest challenge of the commercial was adhering to park regulations and finding a balance between preserving the public resource and ensuring the crews got the shots they needed.

“I hope that there is a balance that we can find between advertising and keeping the integrity of the park as it is,” Fortin said.

To view the commercial visit: www.columbia.com or go to www.youtube.com and search for “Efrons Tested Tough.”

Reporter Mackenzie Reiss may be reached at 758-4433 or mreiss@dailyinterlake.com.