Let's get high! Touching the Void, Valley Uprising, Free Solo

Do you want to get high? Then try these three documentaries about climbing.

Touching the Void (2003) After emerging from the Bytowne Cinema in 2003 I was in a daze. I really needed to talk to someone about this film. It had a major impact on me.

Touching the Void is the true story of Joe Simpson and Simon Yates who in the mid 80s were the first to reach the top of Siula Grande (a Peruvian mountain). Joe breaks his leg on the descent and Simon must lower him bit by bit down the mountain. A snow storm blows in and Joe slips off a ledge and is dangling on the side of the mountain unable to pull himself up. Simon is braced in the snow on the side the mountain, holding his friend by a rope unable to pull him up. They can't hear each other because of the storm. They are both going to freeze to death. Simon cuts the rope.

The film is narrated by the men themselves and the whole event is re-enacted with actors. So you know they both live. It doesn't make any of it less riveting. I was glued to my seat. Catch it on DVD or Amazon streaming. 

Valley Uprising is a fascinating history of rock climbing in Yosemite Park. It takes us from the 1950s to 2014. It's a history lesson and an exploration of the hippie geek climbing culture that existed among those illegally living in the park whose focus revolved (and continues to revolve) around climbing two major rock faces, Half Dome and El Captain. These are massive rock walls and the early climbers spent years trying to get to the top. Like surfing culture, climbing culture is for a select set of odd and interesting characters. One climber basically lived off the condiments of the concession stand for years while evading park rangers - this is crazy dedication to climbing. By the end of this documentary, climbing has been taken to the ultimate level - free climbing: no ropes, no clips, nothing. We meet a young climber, Alex Honnold, who successfully free climbs Half Dome - a truly amazing death defying feat. Catch it on Netflix.


Free Solo Remember Alex Honnold I just told you about, well this young man is back and after studying El Captain for a decade (and when I mean study, I mean each and every foot hold and crack written down in a notebook and memorized, each position, and where to go next). To understand the magnitude of what Alex is undertaking you should really watch Valley Uprising first - it isn't essential viewing, but it really gives you a dizzying perspective. My fourteen year old daughter (who is currently binge watching Friends) watched glued with me. In other words, this is captivating viewing for almost anyone.
This documentary is nominated for an Oscar. It was made knowing that Alex, could at any time, fall to his death and that would be that. His possible death is openly discussed by everyone. If he were to die, he would be following in the footsteps of hundreds of climbers before him. And now Alex has a girlfriend and for the first time in his life seems to be getting injured when she is around.
There are certain sections of El Cap (as the climbers call it) that are super difficult to climb - like the Boulder Problem. As I watched this, even knowing that Alex doesn't die, my palms became moist. It's completely bananas and I couldn't look away. Catch it at your favourite rep cinema or on streaming services soon.