“that trip had a big influence on both Doug and I, It kinda set the course for what we were gonna do later in life. – Yvon Chouinard

The adventure of a lifetime, everyone aspires to take one, but many people rarely commit to such an “impossible” thing, or so they say. With things like Family, jobs and other responsibilities not many people can get away. In 1968 Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins embarked on such an adventure. They Bought an old Ford Econoline van and set out from Ventura California bound for Patagonia. Their goal was to climb the unclimbed peak of Cerro Corcovado, and of course some surfing along the way. Chouinard put it simply when he said: “that trip had a big influence on both Doug and I, It kinda set the course for what we were gonna do later in life. He was very right when he said that considering that he went on to found Patagonia the clothing company, and his company: Chouinard Equipment later became known as Black Diamond. Doug Tompkins went on to found the well known clothing company The North Face.

Corcovado above a sea of clouds.

It was in finding footage from the Chouinard/Tompkins journey that inspired Jeff Johnson, a Climber and Surfer also from Ventura California to set out on a similar journey. Jeff decided to go the route of the sea in place of driving the trip, which eventually led him aboard the Sea Bear, a small boat returning back home to patagonia. The trip was long and taxing. At one point the mast of the Sea Bear snapped forcing an emergency stop at the Island of Rapa Nui (Easter Island). It is here that Jeff met surfing local Makohe, who ended up accompanying him the rest of the way to Patagonia.
This film, Directed by Chris Malloy Fantastically portrays Johnson’s adventure. The beautiful scenery of Patagonia, and Rapa Nui provide a gorgeous back drop for an already inspiring story. I didn’t find myself checking my watch at all during this one, I spent the entire hour and 25 minutes engulfed by everything Chouinard, Tompkins and the rest of the crew were saying. The conservation efforts of Doug tompkins were among the most inspiring elements of the film.

Photo Taken By Jeff Johnson Aboard the Sea Bear

The music blended perfectly with the prominent coastal setting of the film, but it was by no means standard fare for a movie with a mountaineering aspect. Artists such as Jack Johns on and James Mercer painted a very calm and laid back musical backdrop for 180° South.

In the end, Johnson and company’s attempt to summit Cerro Corcavado was foiled by a crumbly snowless summit, but it’s more about the Means to an end, rather than the end it self that defined this adventure. Though he was unable to summit Cerro Corcovado, Chouinard and Tompkins invited Jeff along to make an attempt on Cerro Geezer before he left Patagonia. Cerro Geezer is an unclimbed summit that Chouinard and Tompkins attempted the year before. This time they were successful and the scene closes with a victorious shot of Johnson standing on the summit.

Though it seems that sometimes during this film the surfing outweighs the mountaineering, the adventure as a whole in 180° South is fantastic and very inspiring. I recommend this film to anyone with the spirit of adventure in there hearts.

– Patrick

For more info on the Conservation efforts mentioned in this film, check out the following sites
sinrepresas.com
conservacionpatagonica.org