Hacker Cinema
Valley Uprising
2014 · Film · documentary · 99 min
Part of Reel Rock Collection
Directed by Josh Lowell, Nick Rosen, Peter Mortimer
In the shady campgrounds of Yosemite valley, climbers carved out a counterculture lifestyle of dumpster-diving and wild parties that clashed with the conservative values of the National Park Service. And up on the walls, generation after generation has pushed the limits of climbing, vying amongst each other for supremacy on Yosemite's cliffs. "Valley Uprising" is the riveting, unforgettable tale of this bold rock climbing tradition in Yosemite National Park: half a century of struggle against the laws of gravity -- and the laws of the land.
13 positive3 neutralfrom 16 commenters
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16 comments on Hacker News
I noticed a trend after watching the movie "Valley Uprising". I call it difficultly-gating but there's probably another term for it. The more difficult the endeavor -- the more tight-knit community you will get (although they might be hostile to newcomers who haven't proven themselves yet)
Some other great climbing documentaries:
- Touching The Void (It's an older movie but maybe the most harrowing survival story I've ever heard).
- Meru
- Free Solo
- The Alpinist
- Valley Uprising
Valley Uprising is about the history of rock climbing in Yosemite Valley: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3784160/
I've rewatched it several times and love how they blend archival footage, interviews, and illustration to show the history of rock climbing.
I quite enjoyed this podcast about this time: https://open.spotify.com/episode/69ec4DsblB3utgO1PEkLOh?si=332de4084c074f91
Also can't recommend the documentary Valley Uprising enough.
Some more background here: Yvonne Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia, is one of the "Dirtbags" mentioned in the article - I can't recommend the documentary (the trailer is also in the article) Valley Uprising enough.
I watched a documentary on Fred Beckey and then Valley Uprising. For a group that took a lot of risk, many of them seem to live or have lived till the age of 75. Fred Beckey himself lived till the age of 94. His entire lifestyle is a list of things to not to live long except for the exercise.
Link for the lazy: https://www.thecannachronicles.com/the-dirtbags-of-dope-lake-1976/
This is discussed in the Valley Uprising documentary as well (the whole doc is amazing and definitely worth your time).
"Big River Man" - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0956101/
It follows Martin Strel a Slovenian long distance swimmer as he attempts to swim the 3000+ miles of the Amazon and chronicles his struggles with the sheer effort of the swim, his personal life and alcoholism.
You don't need to have an interest in swimming or sport at all. It's just a really well-made documentary with many layers.
"Valley Uprising" - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3784160/ Rock climbing in Yosemite. The story begins innocently enough but as it proceeds through history of the climbs, it becomes more and more astonishing. Well worth a watch! Again, you don't need to be interesting in climbing at all. A good story is a good story.
Here's my list of 10/10 documentaries:
Biopics and Portraits:
- Kung Fu Elliot (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3228302/?ref_=rt_li_tt)
- Listen to Me Marlon (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4145178/?ref_=rt_li_tt)
- Man on Wire (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1155592/?ref_=rt_li_tt)
- My Winnipeg (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1093842/?ref_=rt_li_tt)
- A Gray State (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6794380/?ref_=rt_li_tt)
- Happy People: A Year in the Taiga (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1683876/?ref_=rt_li_tt)
- Valley Uprising (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3784160/?ref_=rt_li_tt)
- You've Been Trumped (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1943873/?ref_=rt_li_tt)
Environmental:
- Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3302820/?ref_=rt_li_tt)
- The Cove (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1313104/?ref_=rt_li_tt)
- Chasing Coral (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6333054/?ref_=rt_li_tt)
- Virunga (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3455224/?ref_=rt_li_tt)
Crime:
- Cartel Land (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4126304/?ref_=rt_li_tt)
- The Act of Killing (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2375605/?ref_=rt_li_tt)
- The Culture High (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1778338/?ref_=rt_li_tt)
- The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4299972/?ref_=rt_li_tt)
- West of Memphis (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2130321/?ref_=rt_li_tt)
- How to Make Money Selling Drugs (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1276962/?ref_=rt_li_tt)
- The Fear of 13 (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5083702/?ref_=rt_li_tt)
- Brother's Keeper (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103888/?ref_=rt_li_tt)
- Auschwitz: The Nazis and the 'Final Solution' (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0446610/?ref_=rt_li_tt)
Reflecting on Life and Death:
- Given (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4890452/?ref_=rt_li_tt)
- Extremis (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5538078/?ref_=rt_li_tt)
- Touching the Void (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379557/?ref_=rt_li_tt)
- Attention: A Life in Extremes (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2846628/?ref_=rt_li_tt)
Society:
- Israel vs Israel (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1753960/?ref_=rt_li_tt)
- Inside Job (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1645089/?ref_=rt_li_tt)
- The Overnighters (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3263996/?ref_=rt_li_tt)
If you like this, I highly recommend Sunshine Superman http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1322313/
It's a documentary about Carl Boenish and the history of BASE jumping, which is closely related to some of the events and places portrayed in Valley Uprising.
You are right - what Alex did is called "free soloing" which means climbing with nothing attached to the wall. Freeclimbing means you climb while harnessed in so if you fall you (hopefully) don't die. Originally people "aid climbed" the wall where you drill bolts into the wall and hoist yourself up.
This also explains why Alex can climb it so much faster. No ropes to worry about on the way up.
Check out the movie valley uprising on Netflix if you want to learn more.
If you are interested in this or the history of climbing in Yosemite and and El Capitan I highly recommend the documentary "Valley Uprising." Even if you aren't necessarily interested in climbing its a beautiful documentary. It's available on Netflix.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3784160/
There's a great documentary on the climbing culture of Yosemite and its evolution (including the equilibrium-punctuating arrival of Alex Honnold) available at least on Netflix: Valley Uprising.
Worth a watch.
Seconded! Valley Uprising is worth watching (and available on Netflix in loads of countries, not just the US)
I just finished Alex Honnold's book (Alone on the Wall) and it's a fun read. Gives you a bit of backstory to the media frenzy that surrounds him at times.
In terms of videos, the Reel Rock film tour is amazing. They cover some really awesome climbs. And "Meru" is on Amazon Prime Video in a lot of countries (a short version was in Reel Rock one or two years ago).
There's a great documentary on the history of climbing in Yosemite called Valley Uprising that he is in (albeit towards the end). Truly remarkable what they do.
I think HN readers would enjoy 'Valley Uprising', a documentary about the history of Yosemite, particularly around rock climbing with segments about more recent BASE jumping. Dean is a main character, and the film excellently captures the 'true' spirit of the valley, full of adventurers and dreamers.
http://senderfilms.com/productions/details/809/Valley-Uprising