Higher Ground

Located high in the mountains of the Northwestern United States and 25 miles from the nearest town, Mount Horizon High School is a harbor for at-risk teenagers from their troubled pasts. The series focuses on one group of teens, the Cliffhangers, who, with the aid of school counselors and each other, navigate adolescence as they learn to overcome their fears and face their inner demons. Providing them with not only a normal high school education, but also a rigorous schedule of outdoor activities and the tools they need in the aftermath of their abuse, the students work towards gaining confidence to face their personal struggles. While navigating perilous action sequences, friendships, and romantic entanglements, the students (and some teachers) find Mount Horizon's world much safer than their turbulent home lives have been. The students tackle issues such as substance abuse, depression, neglect, sexual, physical and verbal abuse, self-harm, eating disorders, gang violence, learning disabilities, and suicide.