Outdoor and adventure films — Worth a watch
A categorised list of outdoor and adventure films which I’ve enjoyed watching and would recommend, having viewed each many times over, either for the characters, storyline, scenery or the cinematography, but usually a combination of all four. I’ll edit the list occasionally as I find new films, or to update broken links.
Climbing and mountaineering
Andy Turner arranging ropes during a winter climb in Cairngorms National Park, Scotland
A Line Across The Sky — Primarily a first person POV film of Tommy Caldwell and Alex Honnold enoying what included, I’d imagine, lots of their own type of ‘type-2’ fun as they become the first climbers to traverse the long-coveted (but little attempted) 5km long skyline of the Chaltén/Fitzroy massif in Argentine Patagonia. The relaxed attitude and camaraderie of the two friends I’d imagine completely belies the serious of their situation and the prodigious skills needed for their success.
Cerro Torre — The late, great David Lama solving the puzzle on the vertiginous headwall of Cerro Torre, a striking, ice-encrusted rock spire on the edge of the Southern Patagonian Ice Cap in Los Glaciares National Park, Argentine Patagonia. (See Werner Herzog’s ‘Scream of Stone’ for context). The helicopter shots as Lama and his climbing partner Peter Ortner are on route are sublime. (A separate film, Cumbre’, which documents Marco Pedrini’s solo climb of Cerro Torre in 1985 is also worth a watch).
China Jam — I’ve watched a few films from Belgian brothers Nico and Olivier Favresse and their friends, including Sean Villaneuva O’Driscoll, whose idea of fun is hard, adventurous free climbing on difficult mountains around the world (including Baffin Island, Greenland and Patagonia). In China Jam, Evrard Wendenbaum joins them as they explore the Tien Shan mountains on the Kyrgyz-Chinese border and make a first ascent in deteriorating conditions of the South-East Pillar of Kyzyl Asker (5842m). (See more from the team in Adventures of the Dodo and Vertical Sailing — Greenland).
Cold — The kickstarter to Cory Richard’s career as a National Geographic photographer as he, Simone Moro and Denis Urubko become the first people to climb an 8000m peak in Pakistan in winter.
Cold Haul — A film by big-wall specialist and the self-proclaimed ‘second-best climber in Hull’, this self-shot effort by UK climber Andy Kirkpatrick and fellow alpinist Ian Parnell documents their successful ascent of the Lafaille route on the west face of Aiguille du Dru in winter, high above Chamonix in France. An entertaining film that provides a glimpse into the technicalities of top-grade aid climbing but also visualises the harsh reality of what it takes to look after yourself whilst climbing and sleeping on an alpine wall in winter.
Dawn Wall — The climbing equivalent of a buddy movie as Tommy Caldwell recruits Kevin Jorgensen for his 7-year project to free climb the Dawn Wall, a 1000m-high, hugely technical climbing route on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park in America. Possibly unique as being the only climb to be beamed live to an audience of (perhaps) millions, when the mainstream media took interest and set up camp in Yosemite meadows. (The film by the crew behind the scenes of the Dawn Wall movie is also worth a watch).
Desert Ice — A film directed by Keith Ladzinski which showcases the adventure, excitement, effort and fun involved in two climbers finding and climbing steep ice on the walls of the steep slot canyons in South-West Utah in the USA. (Scott Adamson, one of the main protagonists in Desert Ice and who I believe was a friend of Keith’s, is sadly presumed dead after he went missing in 2016 during an first ascent attempt on the Ogre II in Pakistan, along with climbing partner Kyle Dempster. For a taster of who Kyle himself was as a person, see his self-shot travel-log ‘The Road from Karakol’).
Dirtbag: The Legend of Fred Beckey — Fred Beckey I’m surmising was someone who the people who knew him either really admired, liked, disliked or were hugely frustrated by. A prolific climber and a life-long ‘dirtbag’, all the way to his death in 2017 at age 94 years old, Beckey put up hundreds of first ascents in the North Cascades mountains in Washington state and other mountain regions, documenting these in a number of books he wrote, with a mindset laser-focused on climbing. A fascinating film about someone I’d heard lots about but knew little.
Free Solo — An expertly-shot, multi-award-winning epic (it won categories at both the 2019 Oscars and Emmys) this now well-known film showcases Alex Honnold’s jaw-dropping solo climb of the 2307m high El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. I watched it three times in the first week of its release and it’s such a stunning achievement, especially when you consider Alex’s mental strength, that, given climbing is still a fairly niche activity, it will likely never get Alex the full respect he deserves. View on a big screen if you can.
Higher Ground — A collection of films about climbing and mountain culture by Chris Alstrin and Alex Lavigne which narrates for the viewer a variety of different climbing specialisms, including technical mixed climbing, solo ice climbing and winter alpine climbing. I’ve especially enjoyed returning to the footage of Sean Isaac and Shawn Huisman repeating their first ascent of ‘Cryophobia’, a 225m route graded M8 WI5+ in the Canadian Rockies (with its opening words by Jeff Lowe) and the profile of Vancouver-based photographer, Andrew Querner.
Katabatic: Exploring Antarctica’s Unclimbed Peaks — Sublime storytelling in film by National Geographic photographers Cory Richards and Keith Ladzinski, as they document Mike Libecki and Freddie Wilkinson adventuring and climbing in the Wohlthat Mountain Range of Antarctica.
Meru — Jimmy Chin, Renan Ozturk and Conrad Anker scale the Shark’s Fin on Meru Central, a 6310m-high peak in the Garhwal Himalaya that vexed multiple parties before them. (Check out their original edit, Return to Meru — originally, I recall, titled Samsara — to see the story-telling value that I’m presuming Jimmy Chin’s wife, Chai Vasarhelyi, a documentary film-maker and director, brought to the film (including the importance of Conrad Anker’s mentorship to the group, Jimmy Chin’s survival of an avalanche plus a focus on Renan Ozturk’s uphill battle following a near fatal fall he suffered whilst working in Wyoming’s Grand Tetons range).
Metanoia — A biopic of the late Jeff Lowe, a hugely talented and driven climber who was highly instrumental in the sport’s development over his 40+ year career.. The film details his life and climbs (including the legendary near miss on the 2500m long north ridge of Latok 1) with a focus on Lowe’s winter solo ascent of the Eiger north face in 1991, his change of approach to life thereafter and the winding down of his climbing career as his body succumbed to the effects of a unknown neurodegenerative disease (which was said to be similar to ALS), which left him in a wheelchair.
Mountain — A visual feast of cinematography from the aforementioned Renan Ozturk, accompanied by words from Wilhelm Dafoe (narrating from Robert McFarlane’s book ‘Mountains of my Mind) played along to orchestral music from Richard Tognetti, which is performed by the Australian Chamber Orchestra. What’s not to like?
Psychovertical — Jen Randall brings to the screen the autobiography of the UK’s Andy Kirkpatrick, a big wall specialist who US Climber magazine once described as a person with a “strange penchant for the long, the cold and the difficult”. The film has Andy describing his upbringing, set against his solo, 12-day ascent of El Capitan’s Reticent Wall. (See also ‘Cold Haul’ above).
Scottish Ice Trip — A film from Petzl documenting their team of world-class climbers, including Martial Dumas and Ueli Steck, who visit Scotland in winter and find out for themselves the challenges of Scottish winter climbing (which aren’t all technical), plus the community’s strict ethics of placing no bolts.
Slovak Direct — I first read about the Slovak Direct route on Denali’s massive, 3,000m-high south face in Steve House’s book ‘Beyond the Mountain’, when he recounted how he, Mark Twight and Scott Backes adopted a cutting-edge, non-stop approach that led them to ascend this highly-technical climbing route in just 60 hours. (The first ascentionists, Blažej Adam, Tono Križo and František Korl pioneered the route in 11 days). The seriousness of their climb was brought to life for me in this film by US climbers Jesse Huey and Mark Westman, which the pair produced to document their fifth ascent of the route in 2010. (Watch also a UK ascent of the Slovak Direct route in this film by Andy Houseman and Nick Bullock).
Splitter — A fine testament to the highly admirable personal qualities of the late Jonny Copp, an American alpinist and skilled photographer / filmmaker who documented three climbing trips to Canada, Patagonia and Pakistan for this DVD that was released by Copp and Ross Holcomb in 2004. Jonny Copp was instrumental in helping me establish some facts for my trekking guidebook to Patagonia and I always looked forward to seeing his photos, writing and footage from his expeditions. Sadly, in 2009, he died along with Micah Dash and film-maker Wade Johnson whilst attempting a first ascent on a remote peak called Mount Edgar in China’s Sichuan Province. (Sender Films has a tribute to the trio in their First Ascent series, including footage from their Chinese expedition. Patagonia also opened their Tin Shed video series, I recall, with a film from Jonny entitled Long Ways)
Sufferfest 1 & 2 — The bubbly and enthusiastic Cedar Wright plus his friend Alex Honnold challenging themselves to suffer on a continuous climbing trip of, first, the California 14,000ft peaks (Sufferfest 1), and then 40 desert towers (Sufferfest 2), in both cases cycling to their objectives in between.
The Asgard Project — Alastair Lee’s film about Leo Houlding and friends, including the late Sean ‘Stanley’ Leary, climbing and base-jumping off Mount Asgard in Baffin Island.
Trail and mountain running
Gert Zangen and Graeme Stewart running off-road in Torridon, Scotland
Courmayeur to Monte Bianco record — Footage of elite mountain runner Marco De Gasperi as he sets a fastest known time on Europe’s highest mountain, climbing from the Italian side in the town of Courmayeur. Short and likely not of interest to many but benefits greatly from the compelling helicopter footage as Marco descends from the summit of the mountain.
Crossing Corsica — A French winemaker, originally from Lille and now based in the Beaujolais region of France, Francois D’Haene is one of ultra running’s elite, the winner of many long-distance trail races such as Ultra Trail Mont Blanc in France (three times), Grand Raid on Réunion island in the Indian Ocean (three times) and Ultra Trail Madeira. This 27-minute documentary narrates how Francois, who is sponsored by the French outdoor brand Salomon, attempts to set the fastest known time on the GR20, a 180km route with 12000m of ascent that follows the spine of the Mediterranean island of Corsica. (See also the same route run by North Face athlete Rory Bosio in the film ‘Running on Empty’)
Crown Traverse — I’ve watched the Crown Traverse many, many times. It’s the story of two American ultra runners, Mike Foote and Mike Wolfe, who, accompanied by photographer Steven Gnam, attempt to run 965km from Montana, USA to Banff in Canada across the ‘Crown of the Continent’ (aka Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks). All shot from an athlete perspective, the film captures perfectly I think the joy of being outside in a remote and beautiful mountain landscape, moving at a comfortable pace under your own steam.
Curiosity — The Ultra Trail Mont Blanc (UTMB) is a 170km ultra running race around Mont Blanc, visiting the countries of France, Italy and Switzerland. This film, by Camp 4 Collective on behalf of The North Face. follows three of their athletes (Rory Bosio, Hal Koerner and Timothy Ollson) as they prepare for and run in the 2015 race.
Hardrock 100: The Unknown — Starting and finishing in Silverton, the location of an old mining camp in Colorado, USA, the Hardrock 100 is one of the world’s coveted long-distance races. One hundred miles long, (in case you were in any doubt) the route involves 66,000ft elevation change (33,050ft ascent and descent) and climbs to an altitude of 14,048ft (only 1700ft less than the highest summit in Europe, Mont Blanc). Film-maker Billy Yang’s film ‘The Unknown’ follows the struggles and achievements of Timothy Ollson as he races in the 2016 race. (See also Billy’s Hardrock film from 2017 called ‘The Gathering’ plus other race footage online, including ‘Kissing the Rock’ by Matt Trappe and ‘Pacing the Hardrock’ by Jeff Pelletier).
How to Run 100 miles — An enjoyable film by Brendon Leonard, of Semi-rad.com cleverness, documenting the ups and (admittedly lots of) downs as he and a friend Jayson Sime prepare for their first 100-mile trail race, the Rabbit Run 100 in Colorado.
John Muir Trail | A 359km Collective Adventure — Another record attempt by elite ultra and mountain runner Francois D’Haene, this time accompanied by a group of friends as he aims for the fastest known time on the John Muir Trail, an (as-advertised) 330km-long route in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. (‘The Long Haul’ by Journeyfilm documents a previous run on the John Muir Trail by Hal Koerner and Mike Wolfe).
Nolan’s 14 — I had an ultra running ‘star spot’ in Chamonix this year, when I walked past Joe Grant as he sat in a restaurant. He was eating at the time so I didn’t interrupt (I don’t think I ever would) but if I had done, I’d have congratulated him on his successful completion of Nolan’s 14, a c.100 mile route across 14 14,000ft peaks in Colorado’s Sawatch range (which was named after a Joe Nolan was challenged by Fred Vance in 1991 as to how many peaks he could do in a given distance). Joe (Grant’s) feat was documented in this Black Diamond-sponsored film by US film-maker and photographer, Matt Trappe (whose Instagram stories of UTMB in 2019 I was very impressed with).
Salomon Running TV — A great example of a brand using storytelling as a means of content marketing in a series of long-standing films by South African film-maker Dean Leslie, commissioned by the French outdoor company, Salomon. Episodes I particularly like are;
Down — Tom Owens and Ricky Lightfoot running full-speed downhill in Iceland
The Bob Graham — Ricky Lightfoot on a winter Bob Graham Round in the Lake District
Into Patagonia — Dakota Jones revisiting the delights of Patagonia with a revised frame of mind.
Fast and Light — A profile of Swedish elite trail runner Emilie Forsberg
Summits of my Life — A series of films, produced by Frenchman Sébastien Montaz-Rosset, showcasing the talents of trail running’s finest, Kilian Jornet. Includes Kilian’s speed ascents of the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc and Mount Elbrus (Déjame Vivir), his thoughts about risk in the mountains after tragedy struck on Aiguille d’Argentière when his close friend Stéphane Brosse fell through a cornice (A Fine Line), plus his speed ascents of Mount Everest in 2017 (Path to Everest).
Running Happy — More films produced by Dean Leslie include ‘Running Happy’, following South African runner Ryan Sandes as he circumnavigates Mont Blanc with a group of friends, plus Lessons from the Edge, which documents Ryan and his friend Ryno Griesel as they run 1406km across Nepal on the Great Himalayan Trail. (See also Travailen, following Ryan and Ryno on their Drakensberg Grand Traverse in South Africa).
Unbreakable — A tale of the famous Western States ultra distance race in 2010, documenting the background plus the race of four runners (Hal Koerner, Kilian Jornet, Geoff Roes and Anton Krupicka), who were all undefeated at the time, as they competed against each other (and others) in this 100-mile race across the trails of California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. Expensive to download in 2019 but it’s 105 minutes long and, when I watch it, I’m always happy I paid the price.
We are Savages — The 2019 Skyrunner World Series — Four minutes of high-octane running footage captured during the 2019 Skyrunner World Series, illustrating the athlete’s athletic ability on stunning, complex terrain which is elevated even higher, I’d suggest, by the excellent choice of soundtrack (’Savages’ by Royal Deluxe).
Mountain biking and bikepacking
Donnie Campbell gravel cycling on the Loch Ness 360 route near Inverness, Scotland
Fast Forward — A short introduction to Lael Wilcox, an ultra-endurance adventure cyclist from Anchorage in Alaska who (source: Wikipedia) has ridden over 100,00 miles around the world, holds the women’s record for the 2,745-mile Tour Divide mountain bike race and was the first American to win the 4,200 mile TransAm bike race. Records and ultra distances aside, Lael appears to be someone who simply lives for the joy of riding her bike, often in adventurous locations (an assumption that’s confirmed by my Alaskan friends, Dan Bailey and Amy Sebby, who know Lael well and share her enthusiasm for the outdoors). In 2015, Lael, ahead of her Tour Divide race, cycled to the start line in Banff, Canada from her home town of Anchorage in the USA (adding 2,100 miles to her journey).
GB Enduro 2019 — Lachlan Morton first came to my attention in a film showcasing his involvement in Dirty Kanza, a 200-mile gravel and dirt road race in the Flint Hills region of Kansas, USA. An Australian professional road-racing cyclist, with team EF Education First, Lachlan was given permission to undertake a series of totally different challenges, dipping his toes into the waters of off-road cycling in a series of endeavours which I assume is in partnership with cycling brand, Rapha. GB Enduro saw him in the UK, as he toed the line of the inaugural GB Enduro, a 2,000km self-supported mountain biking race up the length of Great Britain. This was followed up with his involvement in the classic Leadville 100 race in America, followed by a finish in the gruelling Three Peaks Cyclo-Cross race in Yorkshire. The main reason I keep returning to these films is the hugely engaging character of Lachlan himself.
High Altitude Lines — Joey Schusler is an former professional downhill mountain biker racer turned adventure athlete and cinematographer with a list of quality films under his belt. An initial production he was involved in that attracted my attention was a mountain bike trip to the Huayhuash in the Peruvian Andes, as it combines wild camping and mountain biking in a mountain landscape, which is a favourite way for me to spend my time). High Altitude Lines is another in this genre, part of a series of films for Yeti Cycles (one of Joey’s sponsors) labelled the Tribe, and it’s a short film about travelling by bike (sometimes utilising what they term as the “pull and drag” and “over the shoulder” techniques) as they journey for 10 days, fly-fishing in alpine lakes dotted across the San Juan mountains in Colorado, USA.
No Quarter: Unridden Lines Crossing the Purcells — A quality film of a remote and difficult mountain biking adventure in the Purcell mountain range in British Columbia, the westernmost province of Canada. Produced by Max Berkowitz and Kevin Landry (the latter who coined the term ‘The Trail that Never Begins’ to describe the brutal nature of the terrain), the adventurers include Andrew McNab and former Bike magazine Editor-in-Chief Brice Minnigh (who you can learn more about in another film by Joey Schluser about their Trail to Kazbegi).
Patagón — Montanus are two friends from Italy, Francesco D’Alessio and Giorgio Frattale, who produce high-quality films from trips they make as part of their ‘all seasons bikepacking project’. The pair first came to my attention with this film about a bikepacking trip they made to Los Glaciares National Park in Patagonia. It’s an example of outdoor footage that perfectly pushes my buttons as regards to making me want to be at the location on screen, mimicking the activity of the protagonists. A follow-up film the pair released, about their Iceland Divide, invokes similar feelings (although that film is somewhat tempered for me, perhaps controversially, by the fat bikes the pair use. I totally agree fat bikes are often the best tool for the job but, regardless of model, I think they lack aesthetics and, in my opinion, are really quite ugly to look at (‘pot, kettle, black’ I may hear you call). This is totally unlike the superb sketches Francesco and Giorgio produce to accompany the narrative of their trips, which you can view on the Montanus website).
Rainspotting — Directed and edited by the talented Luke Francis, this excellent film is branded content for Pannier.cc and Brothers Cycles (with more than a few references to Ortlieb packs) but I could watch low-key advertising like this every day (as per Rapha), invoking as it does memories of similar trips I’ve experienced away with friends in the Scottish mountains. (See Luke’s earlier film, Beulah, about a trip further north in Scotland to Cape Wrath).
Safety to Nome — After completing the Cairngorms Loop ITT in 2017, I was invited by my friend Dan Bailey to visit his home town of Anchorage and compete in the Susitna 100-mile winter wilderness race. This film, about the Iditarod Trail Invitational (the human equivalent of the Iditarod dog race) filmed and directed by Kenton Gilchrist and Jonathan Hunwick, gives me a tiny hint of the challenges I’d face if I took Dan up on his offer. With cameo performances by Neil Beltchenko and Jay Petervary on the 350-mile version, the film focuses on the leaders in the 1000-mile race to Nome, including a 9-times finisher biking it for the first time. (See also A Thin White Line).
The Frozen Road — Ben Page, describing himself as a “professionally unemployed” film-maker (he’s also brother I believe of elite trail runner Holly Page — such an adventurous family) was in the process of cycling around the world when he captured this footage for his self-shot film illustrating his struggles as he completed his travels of the American continent, cycling in Winter up a frozen landscape to the remote town of Tuktoyakyuk in the Yukon wilderness. Beautifully shot and told, with an interesting behind the scenes interview on Bikepacking.com.
The Ridge — Possibly the most-watched mountain bike film in the world? Scotland creative content agency Cut Media jet-launched their career with this film of trials cyclist Danny MacAskill skilfully navigating parts of the technical and narrow Black Cuillin ridge on the Isle of Skye in the West Highlands of Scotland. The aerial footage of Danny atop the Inaccessible Pinnacle (after carrying his bike up there, sans ropes), is awesome.
Little known fact — I pitched an idea to Red Bull about Danny skills biking in the Cuillin mountains (visualising him atop the Cioch, a’la Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery in the film ‘Highlander’). They responded by saying “Thanks, but we think he’s up there filming at the moment”.The Road from Karakol — A travelogue I’ve watched multiple times, self-shot by top-class US alpinist, Kyle Dempster, as he cycled old Soviet roads across the rough countryside of Kyrgyzstan on a voyage of adventure and discovery, climbing as many peaks as he could on the way. A highly poignant watch, given Kyle’s untimely death at aged 33 in 2016 in the big mountains of the Karakorum, Pakistan.
Wild Horses: The Silk Road Mountain Race documentary — The film of the inaugural Silk Road Mountain Race in 2018 a c.1700km self-supported bikepacking race that starts and finishes near Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan (crossing twelve mountain passes above 3500m in between). Narrated by race organiser Nelson Trees, who originated the idea for the race with the late Mike Hall, the storyline focuses on the front runners, a group of ultra-endurance cyclists, including Jay Petervary, at the time a Salsa-sponsored cyclist, as they battle inclement weather, the harsh mountain landscape plus sleep deprivation as they relentlessly pedal their way to the finish.
Surfing
Daniel Media on a wave in the Canary Islands, Spain
Arctic Swell: Surfing the Ends of the Earth — Chris Burkard’s first cold water surfing movie, I believe, as he narrates his experiences as a photographer and those of professional surfers Patrick Millin, Brett Barley and Chadd Konig on a winter trip surfing in the Lofoten Islands in Arctic Norway. See also Chris’ other films, Russia: The Outpost, Cradle of Storms and Under an Arctic Sky (the latter of which I appreciate most of all from a photography perspective, rather than pure surfing, as they challenge themselves to photograph a surfer under the northern lights. I do recall though that the team was slightly pipped at the post online by Norwegian photographers Emil Sollie and Mats Grimsæth, who shot Mick Fanning surfing under the northern lights in this footage published by Red Bull in their ‘Chasing the Shot’ feature).
Coldwater Journal — Footage from US film-maker and director Ben Weiland, whose skills grace many of the films in this list (indeed, many of the clips appear to be top-quality footage from the cutting room floor). It illustrates his and his friend’s adventures seeking out cold waves with snow-covered landscapes across Ireland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Aleutian Islands, Russia, and more.
Dark Side of the Lens — Irish surf photographer Mickey Smith narrates this beautifully-shot and engaging biographical short film that shares his views and approach to surf photography after a challenge from an energy drink company for the submission of films that explored and celebrated ‘no half measures’. It quickly became a Vimeo staff pick.
Earth — Ben Weiland again, this time utilising the local knowledge of Elli Thor Magnusson, Heidar Logi and Tanner Gudauskas, plus the assistance of a local farmer, to head in with a week’s supplies to a little known surf break at a remote undisclosed location (presumably in Iceland), which they accessed by ski mobile (and a tractor).
Fortune Wild and Tipping Barrels — Two films in one, directed by Ben Gulliver, from a remote surf adventure on the Haida Gwaii islands off the north-west coast of Canada. I prefer the second. (See also another of Ben’s films, The SeaWolf).
Freezing — A Cold Water Surf Trip — I didn’t quite know how to take this when I first watched it, as it’s unlike anything else on this list. But I watched it again, understanding that the protagonists are deliberately not taking themselves too seriously, and I really enjoyed it.
Race against Time — Ben Weiland, along with photographer Elli Thor Magnusson, document professional surfer Brett Barley and others hunting for waves on the remote coastlines in Iceland, using the local weather forecasts to gauge where to go, when (and how), risking lots of effort for little return. When it does pay off though, as Ben says, it’s all worth it.
Surf Alaska — Surf Alaska introduces us to a ex-fishing boat called M/V Milo, owned by captain Mike McCune and photographer Scott Dickerson, which they offer up through their company Ocean Swell Adventures as a vehicle entirely customised for exploratory surf trips in the remote coastline of Alaska. (For more footage utilising the Milo, see Comfortably Numb and Searching the Shumagin islands — Alaska Surf Discovery).
NB. I’m drawn to cold water surfing footage because I like the cold, plus the raw landscapes and the expedition-style nature of the trips they undertake really appeal to me. It’s also easier for me to compare in my head what conditions the cinematographers are facing, given my experiences of a Scottish winter (i.e. cold and wet). There are however some other surfing documentaries I’ve watched and enjoyed;
The Malloy Brothers — Chris, Dan and Keith Malloy are three brothers who are most known for surfing and making films, with an attraction for being ‘off the beaten path’ and paying back to the communities they’ve gained from. Working for Patagonia Inc, they have also been involved in innovations around the environmentally friendliness of the company’s surf range. (I appreciate this isn’t a surfing film, if we’re being specific, but it’s all related)
Teahupoo: Inside The Monster — Glorious footage from one of the world’s most famous surf spots, the amazing, powerful wave off the shore of the village of Teahupoo in Tahiti, French Polynesia. Lots of emphasis on photographers, the risks of the wave and its excessive traffic. In French but with English subtitles.
(See also Groundswell and Peninsula Mitre in the Environmentalism and activism category below).
Environmentalism and activism
A rather bare section of Mer de Glace near Chamonix, the largest glacier in France
Chasing Ice — James Balog is a hugely passionate conservation photographer from America whose life’s focus has been to help influence change by visualising the impact of humanity on the environment. This semi-biographical film, from 2012, focuses on Jim as he gathers footage and data from multiple cutting-edge (at the time) time-lapse cameras across Alaska, Iceland and Greenland and uses it helps to illustrate the impact that humanity is having on the earth. An engaging film about a subject that continues to trouble the world (but seemingly not enough of us), it features footage of a huge calving of ice off the Jakobshavn Glacier in Greenland.
Glacier Exit — “We went to Alaska for adventure. Then we witnessed the glaciers melting” is the opening line in this film by Raphael Rogers, Kristin Gerhart and Paul Rennick. A Vimeo staff pick, it depicts the trio’s footage of a trip onto the Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park near Seward, Alaska, with a narration of the story behind the glacier’s increasingly quick decline by Rick Brown, an experienced local guide and ex-professional firefighter.
Groundswell — An environmental film with a surfing angle. Or perhaps the other way around. Regardless, a story well told, from director Chris Malloy, with the support of Patagonia.com, which uses the voice of scientists, surfers and indigenous people to illustrate the challenges faced by the Heiltsuk community from the threat of ‘big oil’ companies who wish to transport their wares using over-sized tankers which they’d sail through the pristine landscape of the Great Bear Forest in British Columbia. Interesting characters, beautiful landscape and a glorious panning shot of the protagonists playing in the surf, at 08:00 minutes in, with an accompanying soundtrack that I return to again and again.
Jumbo Wild — In 2015, Patagonia.com also supported Sweetgrass Productions, who produced this film about a year-round ski resort that was being proposed for the Jumbo Valley in British Columbia’s Purcell Range (a region beautiful enough that the developers claimed that people would “come from around the world” to enjoy the view from the top of their gondolas. They were met however with strong opposition, by and on behalf of the local Kutenai indigenous people plus on behalf of the Grizzly bear. In 2020, the company (Glacier Resorts Ltd) announced they had relinquished all their development rights and interests for their Jumbo Glacier Resorts project.
The Cove — Each year, in a small bay in Taiji in Japan, an untold number of dolphins are corralled in the water, either to be butchered in the surf or captured and sold around the world to zoos or theme parks. Ric O’Barry, a dolphin trainer for the television series ‘Flipper’ in the 1960s turned animal rights activist, featured in this film from Louis Psihoyos and the Ocean Preservation Society to highlight the Japanese practice, defying intimidation from the town (which employs security) and employing anti-surveillance techniques in their quest to visualise the plight of the dolphins.
The Grind: Whaling in the Faroe Islands — Does this belong here in a list of activism films? I’m not sure, given the focus of the narrative. But it’s long frustrated me that many an outdoor photographer will happily extol the virtues of the Faroe Islands without any mention (and by their actions, I’m assuming acceptance) of the butchery that exists in the islanders’ annual ‘grind’, where the islanders kill pilot whales en masse for food, ostensibly in the name of tradition. Admittedly, I do struggle with my application of such a broad critical brush when, other than in short online clips I’ve seen of the whales with gaping neck wounds, lolling about in seas stained red with blood — and passionate commentary from the conservation activist group Sea Shepherd about the barbarity of it — I really don’t know much about why the activity is taking place or its difference to what would be classed as acceptable activity in an indoor slaughterhouse. (A long-time vegetarian, I’ve no concerns about people eating meat, as long as the animal is kept and killed humanely). With that in mind, I felt it was hard to continue to criticise (which I do wish to, as least as regards to certain aspects) without knowing more. (See also The Island and the Whales).
Travel and exploration
Alexis Basso trekking across the rocky boulder field en route to Col de la Portette and Refuge de Platé near Passy Plaine-Joux, France
180 Degrees South — A tale to invoke wanderlust, in a film following US photographer Jeff Johnson to the foot of South America, the inspiration for his journey being another, undertaken in 1968, by his friend Yvon Chouinard (Patagonia.com founder), Doug Tompkins (North Face founder), Richard Dorworth and Lito Tejada-Flores, when they travelled 10,000km by van all the way from Ventura, California to El Chalten in Argentine Patagonia, skiing and surfing along the way (as well as making the third ascent of Cerro Fitz Roy). Johnson’s own method of travel, in 2010, was to join a sailboat, with an enforced break at Easter Island to repair a broken mast, before he continued to south by boat and road to visit Doug Tompkins’ home in Chile, where Doug and Yvon (along with Timmy O’Neill and a friend Johnson met on the way) joined Jeff at the end of his trip for an attempt on the 2300m-high peak of Volcán Corcovado, aka Cerro Corcovado).
Aerial adventure: Winter flying in Alaska — A short film by my friend Dan Bailey, who uses his little yellow Cessna 120 airplane to explore the mountainous regions close to his home town of Anchorage in Alaska.
In the Shadow of the Condor — The Corcovado region of Chile also features in this film from Michael Brown of Serac Films, who, along with conservationist Pablo Sandor of the Ayacara Foundation, plus two mountain guides, undertook an expedition to visit a pristine alpine lake high up in a “monumental granite conglomerate” of mountains in Chile’s Los Lagos region that they’d seen from air, but which wasn’t on any map, and then to undertake a challenging whitewater kayak to return home. Notable footage includes them pitching their tents on the deck of their boat early in the expedition, as the steep-sided temperate forest comes down all the way to the sea and there was nowhere for them to camp on land and, later, navigating steep, Yosemite-style cliffs, sans ropes, as they climb up the at-times vertical jungle that’s affixed to the rock to aid their ascent. Team dynamics also come into play but overall, it’s the stunning scenery that stands out, with a spectacular view from a bivvy at their high point.
(Interesting fact — Doug Tompkins I’ve referred to in 180º South was primarily responsible for the creation of Parque Nacional Corcovado).
Into the Wild — A biographical feature film summarising the life of Christopher Johnson McCandless, an enigmatic character first brought to people’s attention by US author Jon Krakauer (who wrote about the Everest 1996 disaster). Beautifully shot, with a soundtrack that includes songs by Eddie Vedder from the band Pearl Jam, the scenes towards the end I found especially poignant, as we follow McCandless as he battles with the harshness of life in the Alaskan bush, which, ultimately, was the root cause of his untimely death in 1992, aged 24.
Losing Sight of Shore — A documentary film illustrating the challenges that four females (who dubbed themselves the Coxless Pairs) overcame when they rowed more than 8,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean over a period of nine months in 2017.
Maidentrip — I faintly remember the media clamour at the time when a 14-year old Dutch girl, Laura Dekker, announced that she wanted to sail around the world alone. Her parents were called irresponsible and the case made its way to the Dutch courts. Eventually, she set off on her voyage and we see the results of her adventures in this film, directed by Jillian Schlesinger, that illustrates her endeavours. (Note - I don’t think the film is currently available online).
Peninsula Mitre — Another film from Patagonia (the region) and one which I was in two minds as to whether list here, or in a surfing category that’s still to come. (My rationale being the objective of the trip was surfing but there’s a distinct lack of waves). This doesn’t detract in any way from the story (I’d say it adds to it), as we follow two brothers, Julián Azulay and Joaquín Azulay and their friends as they explore the rugged coastline at the south-eastern tip of Tierra del Fuego in southern Chile, dealing with challenges as they explore for waves and meet interesting local characters and learn about the history of the region on their way.
Sea and whitewater kayaking
Mark Mulrain and Dave Martin on the River Orchy in Scotland
Chasing Niagara — World-class professional kayaker Rafa Ortiz’s dream to kayak Niagara Falls is documented in this film supported by Red Bull (Rafa’s sponsor) as he works his way up to the skills, courage and decisions required to navigate himself into a position where he can safely kayak over Niagara Falls and plunge 170ft into the famous white waters on the border of the USA and Canada. The documentary follows Rafa and his friends as they train towards the big event, including paddling the ‘steepest navigable section of whitewater in the world’ in the Rio Santo Domingo, a river that winds its way through the mountains of Guatemala and southern Mexico, and the 100-foot high Sahalie Falls in Canada. (During the film, they seek advice from Tyler Bradt, who, in 2009, completed the highest kayak descent on a river, dropping a remarkable 189ft off Palouse Falls in Washington state, USA).
Into the Tsangpo Gorge — I first learnt about the Tsangpo Gorge in Ian Baker’s book ‘The Heart of the World: A Journey to the Last Secret Place’ which was published in 2006. As is often the case, when I find something I’m interested in, I go into full-on research mode to find out more and I discovered this film, from 2002, which follows seven kayakers as they attempt to descend the ‘Everest of Rivers’ in the so-called Tibetan Autonomous Region of China, a thin strip of tumultuous white water at the foot of a gorge, over 19,000ft deep (three times deeper than the Grand Canyon), which is reported to descend 9,000ft in 150 miles.
Kayaking the Aleutians — An award-winning film by Justine Curvengen (see ‘Into the Sea’ below), documenting a hugely-committing 2500km trip between Alaska and Russia following the archipelago of the wild and remote Aleutian Islands (‘the birthplace of the winds’) with Sarah Outen, a fairly novice paddler who was on a journey of her own to circumnavigate the world under her own steam.
Solo — Lost at Sea — A documentary about the tragic end to the life of Andrew Macaulay, a hugely experienced Australian sea kayaker who went missing and was presumed drowned in 2007 just 56km off the New Zealand coast after paddling nearly 1600km across the Tasman Sea. I first learnt about Andrew in Justine Curvengen’s ‘This is the Sea’ series (see below, the Antarctica expedition is in series 3) and his sheer enthusiasm during that adventure stuck in my mind as someone I wanted to learn more about and see more from. The radio call which opens the film, of Andrew’s initially garbled message calling for a rescue, is especially haunting. Like many other athletes who push the boundaries of their sport, Andrew died early in his life, single-minded enough it appears to continue to squeeze the envelope of what is possible in his sport, whilst at the same time battling personal demons about the pain whilst doing so of leaving loved ones behind.
This is the Sea — A series of sea kayaking and adventure films from Justine Curgenven, an expedition sea kayaker and film-maker who has documented many of her trips and presented them across her ‘This is the Sea’ series, which she’s interspersed with quality footage from other sea kayakers. Episodes I’ve watched often include Justine and Hadas Feldman’s paddle up the Pacific coast of Kamchatka (which included teaching a Russian soldier how to kayak, after the authorities forced them to take him along), Justine’s circumnavigation of Isla Grande in Tierra del Fuego with Barry Shaw and an excellent film from Andrew Macaulay, Laurie Geoghegan and Stuart Trueman documenting their sea kayaking expedition to Antarctica.
There’s also the following kayaking films I’ve not seen but which I would like to, as I’d like to find out more about their journey and the people involved;
Kadoma — A film from professional kayaker Ben Stookesberry about his and Chris Korbulik’s ill-fated expedition with South African adventurer Hendri Coetzee to make the first descent of the Lukuga River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Tragically, during their trip, Coetzee was snatched silently from his boat by a crocodile, right next to Stookeberry and Korbulik and presumed dead. The film is said to focus more on the trip itself and the three kayaker’s interaction with each other as well as the local communities they pass by.
Walled In — Another film by Ben Stookesberry that’s hard to get a hold of in the UK, Anecdoted by Ben as having taken eight days exploration for just 4 minutes of kayaking, it documents their adventurous journey to attempt the first descent of Marble Fork of the Kaweah river in Sequoia National Park in California. The trailer alone for this film is what makes me want to see it.
Photography and film-making behind the scenes
A tribute to discomfort — A monologue from from US photographer Cory Richards, the first American to climb an 8000m peak in Winter, about how his life has shaped his photography.
Aberration — A piece by Alexander Lavigne for Outdoor Research on the relationship between climber Graeme Zimmerman and photographer Forrest Woodward.
Behind the Scenes of the Dawn Wall film — What it took to photograph Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgensen on the Dawn Wall, their epic free climb up an apparently featureless wall on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.
Bielmann: Straight Up the Man — A profile of Brian Bielmann, a surf photographer based in the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii.
Canon 5DS/R Field Test — Mikey Schaefer on a shoot for DP Review helping them to showcase the Canon 5DS/R camera body.
Christian Pondella’s Dream Project — A feature on US photographer Christian Pondella, who documented Will Gadd’s project in Greenland, Beneath the Ice.
Climbing Ice — A Smugmug sponsored film following Tim Kemple of Camp4Collective as he photographed three different ice formations in Iceland. (See also ‘The Making of ‘Climbing Ice’, Extended Behind The Scenes’).
Cory Richards vs. The Polar Bear — A short but engaging piece of footage from Franz Josef Land, illustrating National Geographic photographer Cory Richards as he attempts to capture footage of a polar bear.
Deep North — Corey Rich, a leading US adventure photographer, was the instigator for this film which documents a team of US climbers, including Tommy Caldwell and the late Hayden Kennedy, travelling to Bettles in northern Alaska where they ski in to attempt an unclimbed route on a remote mountain. (For more from Corey, see Sur Argentina, A Visual Odyssey, shooting the late David Lama in Avaatara in Lebanon, plus David before that in Argentine Patagonia)
Elinchrom: Spirit Falls — Michael Clark showcasing Elinchrom’s ELB1200 strobe set, shooting Red Bull kayaker Rafa Ortiz on Spirit Falls in Washington State in the United States. (See also What’s in my bag with the gear Michael used for the shoot, plus Michael’s Fujifilm GFX 100 launch images).
Elinchrom: Dakine Mountain Biking Shoot with Paris Gore — Excellent behind the scenes footage of Paris Gore, as he lights images for a commercial shoot for the outdoor brand, Dakine.
Exposure: Nikon D500 release — Keith Ladzinski in action in the Verdon Gorge in France, advertising Nikon’s D500 camera body.
Frozen Titans / The Making of — Bryan Smith and others from Reel Water Productions on the challenges they had filming Will Gadd climbing the frozen Helmcken Falls in British Columbia.
Making of Locked In — Reel Water Productions again, describing the creativity behind the filming of Ben Stookesberry and friends on a descent of the remote and technical Beriman Gorge in Papau New Guinea.
Making of Nikon D600 release movie — Brothers Florian and Salomon Schulz show us how they made the press movie for the release of the Nikon D600 camera body.
Making North of Known — Reel Water Productions in their element, capturing Gavin McLurg and Dave Turner as they paraglide 700km across the Alaska Range.
Nikon — How of Why — Corey Rich again, who I’d say is a master of the behind scenes video, with this release of Why, showcasing Nikon’s D4 camera body. (See more of Corey’s work in the The Making of DEDICATED, about the D4S, and Be Inspired, for the launch of the D5).
Photo Vagabond — A Tribe Story — A video portrait of Dan Milner, mountain bike photographer.
Photographing downhill mountain biking — Behind the scenes with Aaron Anderson, a commercial photographer from Colorado, US, on a mountain biking shoot with Elinchrom strobes.
Poumaka | Mud, Sweat and Expletives — Keith Ladzinski again, with Andy Mann, documenting Mike Libecki and Angie Payne on a first ascent of Poumaka, a highly vegetated rock tower in French Polynesia.
Riding Thrones | The journey behind the GOT inspired shoot — Lorenz Holder, twice a winner of Red Bull’s Illume award, photographing BMX at locations made famous by HBO’s popular Game of Thrones series.
Seakaypes — Behind the scenes again with Michael Clark, this time on a sea kayaking trip in the Johnson Strait on the north-east coast of Vancouver Island with two friends (including Tony Hoare, a graceful human being whom I met whilst shooting for the Patagonian Expedition Race).
The Crevasse — French photographer Tristan Shu’s showcase of Elinchrom’s ELB-400 strobe pack, shooting Fabian Bodet playing above a crevasses in the French Alps. (See Tristan also Flash a Wingsuit Flyer, with Guillaume Galvani and Maxime Chiron, plus go Into the Void in Turkey showcasing the ELB 1200).
The Shot — Behind the scenes with Krystle Wright, a ‘Canon Master,’ as she lights a kayaker descending a waterfall using speedlights on a drone.