Adventure Travel

Tag: Documentary

Documentary » On Chile’s National Route 7, the Carretera Austral, into the heart of Patagonia

Deutsche Welle (DW) Documentary via YouTube »

A trip along Chile’s National Route 7, the Carretera Austral, takes us into the stunning wilderness of Patagonia – a place that many German emigrants chose as their new home almost a century ago.

The Carretera Austral is straddled by mountain ranges, primeval forests, fjords, volcanoes and a huge ice field. It has taken decades to carve its way through the almost impassable terrain – even now a lot of traffic is forced to take a detour across the border into Argentina. The military dictator Augusto Pinochet made the construction of the road a national priority in the 1970s, sending thousands of soldiers to the region to work under the most adverse conditions. One of the last surviving members of Pinochet’s junta, former military police chief Rodolfo Stange, talks about the road’s strategic importance for the regime.

German marine biologist Vreni Häussermann tells us about a catastrophe in one of the Patagonian fjords – an event that underlines how economic expansion along the route has adversely affected the natural environment in southern Chile. On our journey we meet descendants of German emigrants who found a new home in Patagonia’s remote vastness after the First World War. An insight into the past and present of this unique region.

‘The Great Alone’ documentary

This multi award-winning documentary explores the comeback of Lance Mackey, champion dog musher, in one of the most unforgiving regions of the world.

The Great Alone explores Mackey’s troubled youth, family history, how he overcame adversity and setbacks, and how second chances shaped him into a one of the great sled dog racers.

The Great Alone:

The Great Alone is a feature length documentary shot in the arctic wilderness of Alaska that captures the inspiring comeback story of champion sled dog racer, Lance Mackey. From his sunniest days as a boy by his famous father’s side to cancer’s attempt to unseat him, The Great Alone pulls viewers along every mile of Lance’s emotional journey to become one of the greatest sled dog racers of all time.

Awards:
Grand Jury Award – Seattle International Film Festival
Grand Jury Award – Banff Mountain Film Festival
Grand Jury Award – La Costal Film Festival
Audience Award – Flixx Film Festival
Audience Award – Homer Documentary Film Festival
Best Exploration & Adventure Film – Banff Mountain Film Festival
Best Score – Flixx Film Festival
Best Sports Documentary – Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival

Currently on Netflix.

‘The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young’

The Barkley isn’t easy. But then that’s the point. It’s not your average ultra marathon. From the sign-up process to the completion of the course. The vast majority who attempt it never reach the finish line.

The race was conceived by Lazarus Lake (Gary Cantell) and Raw Dog (Karl Henn) as a mocking homage to a 1977 prison escape. The course, which changes every year, always traverses a tunnel under the prison.

You can view the madness on Netflix (and probably elsewhere).

Barkley Marathons Movie:

A famous prison escape sparks the idea for a cult-like race that has seen only 10 finishers in its first 25 years. This award-winning, oddly inspiring, and wildly funny documentary reveals the sports world’s most guarded secret.

Theatrical Trailer for the documentary Dirtbag: The Legend of Fred Beckey

Presented by PATAGONIA

Official Theatrical Trailer for the feature documentary DIRTBAG: THE LEGEND OF FRED BECKEY.

Hailed as one of the most influential climbers of all time, Fred Beckey is the original American “Dirtbag”–one who abandons societal norms and material comforts in pursuit of a nomadic mountaineering lifestyle.

This rebel athlete’s lifetime of accomplishments set the bar for the entire sport. He shattered records with an unparalleled string of superhuman first ascents, bushwhacking trails and pioneering direct routes thought previously impassable.

Beckey burned bridges, eschewed fame and thrived as a loner so that his only obligation would remain conquering the next summit. He kept meticulous personal journals where he mused on everything from arcane geology to his romantic life, to the myriad sunrises he witnessed from vantages not seen by anyone else on Earth. An environmentalist before there was such a term, Beckey’s legacy includes 13 essential books that act as blueprints for new generations. He is still defiantly climbing today at age 94.