Patagonia and its climbing are legendary, but why? What is it really like down there, on Cerro Torre and Fitz Roy? This short film gives a more powerful and more intimate sense of the beauty, challenges, and fearful conditions than any that’s been made so far. It was masterfully assembled into a compelling narrative by the Dirtbag Diaries’ Fitz Cahall from 10 years worth of video shot by climber and photographer Mikey Schaefer, who, in addition to be a great guy (I speak from personal experience), is a warm and sincere guide to the steep granite walls and jet-force winds of the tip of South America.

The movie follows Schaefer as he attempts to be the first person to put up first ascents on each of the seven skyline peaks of Fitz Roy, but this is no hero film. Rather, it’s an open-hearted look at a normal guy recognizing the potential for serendipity. His first first ascent, for example, came by accident.

“The weather was kind of bad, and we’re like, oh, we’ll go up this thing and we’ll just climb up six pitches and then we’ll come down. I did one more pitch and there was definitely nowhere to rappel so we ended up going to the top.”

ADVERTISEMENT

The quest to do all seven wasn’t driven by a hunger for glory, or by vainglory, but by a desire to see more.

“If I go and do seven first ascents here, the amount of terrain I’m going to get to know is going to be amazing,” Schaefer says.

I strongly recommend you set aside 18 minutes to watch FORCE. It’s one of the most visceral, honest, and true adventure films I’ve seen in years – you’ll go on a wild journey, learn a lot, and come away inspired.