The Reel Rock Film Tour continues its tour across the UK and is heading to Lancaster (Wed 22 Oct) and Rheged (Thur 23 Oct) later this week. The Lancaster screening will be held at the Grand Theatre on Wed 22 October and Rheged on Thursday 23 October. Tickets are available now at http://www.reelrock.co.uk
This year’s Tour includes the feature-length film VALLEY UPRISING. Seven years in the making by BigUP and Sender Films, it traces the 50 year history of climbing in Yosemite National Park including the epic climbing rivalries, the ground-breaking first ascents and the battles with the park authorities.
VALLEY UPRISING is divided in to 3 parts matching the key generations in Yosemite's climbing history:
THE GOLDEN AGE
In the early days of the 50s and 60s legendary climbers like the dour philosopher Royal Robbins, the boozing rebel Warren Harding and the future business visionary Yvon Chouinard (the founder of Patagonia clothing) set off for Yosemite and dreamt up the previously incomprehensible notion of ascending the massive, cloud-scraping vertical walls.
Set against the backdrop of post-war America, the climbers forged a revolution in climbing and a way of life. They completed many classic first ascents like Half Dome and El Capitan, etching their name into Yosemite's pantheon.
THE STONE MASTERS
During the 70’s one of climbing’s most famous groups emerged – the “Stone Masters”. Inspired by their predecessors but determined to usurp their legacy, they applied their talent to free-climbing, and completed a plethora of impressive ascents.
Valley Uprising profiles the raucous nature of the era, marked by partying and battles with park authorities. And then there was the time a drug-smuggling plane crashed in the valley, creating a contraband gold rush for the usually impoverished local climbers....
THE STONE MONKEYS
With the dawn of a new century, came the emergence of the "Stone Monkeys", a young and modern band of brothers who have taken up the mantle of Yosemite's climbing tribe.
With ground-breaking climbers like Alex Honnold and Dean Potter at the forefront, the Yosemite climbing scene remains a truly astonishing thing to behold and now includes high lines across cliff-tops, and B.A.S.E.-jumping off the massive formations.
For more of a taste of Valley Uprising you can watch the trailer here.
2014 TOUR DATES
2014 Reel Rock Film Tour dates include:
20 October CONWAY HALL, London
21 October CONWAY HALL, London
22 October THE GRAND THEATRE, Lancaster
22 October VICTORIA ROOMS, Bristol
23 October RHEGED CENTRE, Penrith
24 October THE CRESCENT THEATRE, Birmingham
25 October NUFFIELD THEATRE, Southampton
25 October HIGHBALL CLIMBING CENTRE, Norwich
26 October SHEFFIELD CLIMBING WORKS, Sheffield
29 October PENINSULA ARTS THEATRE, Plymouth
30 October PORTOBELLO POP UP CINEMA, London
7 November TRINITY COLLEGE, Dublin
11 November MANCHESTER CLIMBING CENTRE, Manchester
27 November UNIVERSITY OF WALES, Newport City Campus
Further dates are still to be announced (including Newcastle and Killarney later in the year).
For tickets, watch the trailer or find out more about the films head to http://www.reelrock.co.uk
There will be loads of free prize giveaways at the screenings from the Reel Rock Tour partners including The North Face, Five Ten, Clif Bar and Ellis Brigham.
