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Film, TV and Streaming

Valley Uprising

Documentary chronicles lore, legends of Yosemite climbing

In the world of rock climbing, California’s Yosemite National Park has long been a Mecca – a surreal landscape of soaring granite walls that has drawn generations of climbers to drop out of society and ply their passions above the valley floor.

And in Yosemite, perhaps the only things that have flown higher than those famed walls are the audacious ambitions of climbers like Royal Robbins, Jim Bridwell, Dean Potter and Alex Honnold – whose breathtaking feats have repeatedly pushed the sport to new limits.

The storied history of Yosemite climbing is chronicled in a new feature-length documentary from Sender Films. “Valley Uprising” is coming to Durango on Thursday as part of the Reel Rock Tour. The event is being hosted by Backcountry Experience.

“Valley Uprising” traces the evolution of climbing in Yosemite through the rivalries, shenanigans and high-wire accomplishments of the valley’s best-known climbing figures. The result is a compelling compendium: 60 years of climbing lore brimming with archival images, outlaw exploits and incredible physical efforts. From Warren Harding’s hedonistic ways to John Bachar’s pioneering free soloing, the story of Yosemite climbing has always been one of a counterculture that keeps upping the ante of what’s possible.

The film, which was seven years in the making, also represents the most ambitious effort yet by Sender to bring the extreme world of climbing to mainstream audiences. Along with tracing an important chapter in climbing history, Sender strove to get across a broader point about human nature, adventure and freedom, said co-director Nick Rosen.

“Whether or not you are an adventurer or into sports or whatever, I think there’s a real kind of tone of this desire for freedom and adventure that everyone feels,” Rosen said. “I think it actually communicates on a deeper level, which is always our objective.”

Rosen said he and co-director Peter Mortimer, who have churned out a successful series of mostly-short climbing films, were first inspired to make “Valley Uprising” after seeing Stacy Peralta’s documentary on the history of big-wave surfing, “Riding Giants.”

“We were like, ‘let’s do the ‘Riding Giants’ of Yosemite climbing,’” Rosen said. “In some ways, it was the obvious thing for us to do. This is really the foundational origin story in American climbing.”

That desire took the filmmakers down a rabbit hole of lore populated by pirates, vagabonds, philosophers, boozers, purists, ranger-evaders and some of the best climbers the world has ever known.

Through about 50 interviews, extensive research and an exhaustive search through archival images, the filmmakers pieced together the history of three generations of climbers: The golden-era Dharma bums, the Stonemasters and the Stone Monkeys. Each generation came with its own singular pioneers, and each surpassed its predecessor with ever-bolder accomplishments.

From Harding’s 18-month first ascent of The Nose of El Capitan to Lynn Hill’s one-day free ascent of the same route, Rosen said, the story of Yosemite climbing is very much about “standing on the shoulders of giants and building on the accomplishment of the people who came before you.”

Everything about the film is larger than life: the walls, the outrageous characters and the objectives of the climbers. It is by far the biggest challenge Sender has undertaken, but Rosen said it’s something he’s incredibly proud of.

The film’s essence is perhaps best summed up by Chongo Chuck, a dirtbag guru who is revered by climbers in the park.

“Rock climbing, slacklining. Those are paramount,” he says. “There’s only one time that you’re going to be young, and get out there and do things that people wish they would have done once they get too old to do them. Because that’s what life is about, it’s about living it.”

kklingsporn@durangoherald.com

If you go

The Reel Rock Tour screening of “Valley Uprising” will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Smiley Auditorium, 1309 East Third Ave. Tickets are $15. Visit www.reelrocktour.com for more information.



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