A few weeks back I shared the trailer for the classic adventure film Mountain of Storms, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. What makes this film so special isn't just the subject matter, but the fact that this underground documentary hasn't been widely seen by many people. But that's about to change, and if you're a fan of these kinds of films, you're probably going to want to try to catch it.Mountain of Storms is the documentary that tells the story of five friends who set out from Southern California to drive to South America, surfing and climbing along the way. The team decided to film their exploits, capturing the footage using an old 16mm camera that was pretty high tech for the day. Eventually, they reached Patagonia, where they put up some impressive routes, including the first ascent of Cerro Fitz Roy, one of the most iconic peaks in the region. They also skied on both snow and sand, and spent a month living inside a snow cave. Their tale would go on to inspire generations of climbers and adventurers that followed and continues to leave a lasting impression on the outdoor industry to this day.
Of course, those who know the story of Mountain of Storms also know that the group of five friends included some luminaries from the outdoor and adventure world. That team consisted of Yvon Chouinard, Doug Tompkins, Dick Dorworth, Chris Jones and Lito Tejada-Flores. Chouinard and Tompkins in particularly should be well known, as they are the founders of Patagonia and The North Face respectively. The other three members of the squad are all legendary climbers and skiers in their own right, each leaving their own mark in the history books.
To celebrate the seminal work of adventure filmmaking history, Patagonia is bringing Mountain of Storms to its retail stores for its 50th anniversary. This will be the first time the film has really been seen by a large number of people and it should be quite the experience. To find out if it will be playing in your area, check out this website, which has tour dates and more information. In some cases, the film will be introduced by climber Timmy O'Neill as well, making an already auspicious occasion all the more special.
And just in case you missed the trailer when I posted it a few weeks back, here it is again.
