tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38385266404871548752024-02-02T07:33:57.975-08:00Alstrin FilmsAdventure FilmmakingAlstrin Filmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13522901795951451228noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3838526640487154875.post-13285190582669629182011-04-02T05:53:00.000-07:002011-04-02T06:03:11.084-07:00Scenes from the Making of MetanoiaBelow is a video showing the making of the movie in a few key locations on the Eiger.<br />We're finishing up the filming here. It's been a great couple weeks of one days being the Eiger and the next sport climbing down in Interlacken. The final days have been perfect weather. Tomorrow Josh is going to solo the Heckmair route while the Cineflex camera documents it.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/21775297?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=255&autoplay=1" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0"></iframe>Alstrin Filmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13522901795951451228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3838526640487154875.post-330156949446057472011-03-28T13:33:00.000-07:002011-03-28T13:48:07.345-07:00The filming continues on The Eiger NordwandWe had a fun day Friday. Loranze fixed ropes for Josh and myself as we all descended down from the West Face to recover the pack Jeff Lowe left twenty years ago. The pack was almost completely buried. Josh spent over two hours digging the pack out. It was way more work than we expected and the pack was much heavier than imagined. Originally we thought Josh would put the pack on and climb out. Upon digging the pack we realized that wouldn't happen. The pack weighed over 80 pounds. His sleeping bag must have filled with water and ice and the entire 80 litre pack was a giant ice cube. Needless to say we had to haul the pack 200 metres up the face. That alone was adventure enough for me. <br /><br />But No...The scene we had to capture was Josh lifting the 80 pound pack into the helicopter. Jeff left his pack below on route because a storm was rolling in and he had to get off the mountain by helicopter before the storm fully arrived. I'm not sure if we captured the exact scene of Jeff stepping onto the heli because as you can see in the video below it was pretty sketchy. After filming this adventure I thought to myself, "Shit....I have to get on the heli the same way" We all made it safely and had the weekend off for sport climbing in Lehn. Gotta love Switzerland!<br /><br />Stay tuned for more adventures from the Swiss Alps<br /><br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/21548239?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ff9933&autoplay=1" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0"></iframe>Alstrin Filmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13522901795951451228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3838526640487154875.post-72021960457420854892011-03-24T12:23:00.000-07:002011-03-24T14:41:10.351-07:00Filming on The Eiger<div>Things are going great here. We've had fantastic weather for the last 5 days. We have one more day of blue bird and we're planning to fly to the summit and do a few more scenes tomorrow. The last three days have been spent on the face around the Hinterstoisser. We've been re-creating scenes in the exact location from the route Jeff Lowe climbed back in 1991. The route looks super crazy. I can't image climbing this thing in the winter by yourself.<br /><br />We were filming Josh Wharton dry tooling some of the pitches and the roof pitch Josh says is around M9. It's not the easiest line up the wall that's for sure. Here's a few more production stills and a short video for you to enjoy. </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOwrR5mfRQPtFl2zqoZxJMSAssWaHBsWhF53oUSLOcAbgMtpVI1dYX8FKl3J5zXClCU7mdpSn4DV3A8lAUCoI_egi1OUsdGqKctpLIJCNz0cHGD5dc3xCCgcQWOvgZIL7viVYft7dRU4/s1600/IMG_0898.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOwrR5mfRQPtFl2zqoZxJMSAssWaHBsWhF53oUSLOcAbgMtpVI1dYX8FKl3J5zXClCU7mdpSn4DV3A8lAUCoI_egi1OUsdGqKctpLIJCNz0cHGD5dc3xCCgcQWOvgZIL7viVYft7dRU4/s400/IMG_0898.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587731060621644898" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhebn2eCew9k5SV-eGamHmyfCVg-quoXKCp8iB1YfMN21DDCEDdMRi0Kx0w2FifHlYVCmxzrnQugEpy63eEGpJWq-JtyBeUkE8aiCLSj6IrLUBNv2hvIpRly_op-Gd3mS7IpseRsX-I99E/s1600/IMG_2044.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhebn2eCew9k5SV-eGamHmyfCVg-quoXKCp8iB1YfMN21DDCEDdMRi0Kx0w2FifHlYVCmxzrnQugEpy63eEGpJWq-JtyBeUkE8aiCLSj6IrLUBNv2hvIpRly_op-Gd3mS7IpseRsX-I99E/s400/IMG_2044.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587731050430309618" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxXtrsNvQTJJ_9VPIg_uAjzSC_gH7hl9Z6DyzIa-XVp-gFuW_Jj-aj1bpPO2Xfc7AFXwHrjuI-hvf9GYwJI4Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Alstrin Filmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13522901795951451228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3838526640487154875.post-1680650387138834562011-03-21T07:45:00.001-07:002011-03-24T14:42:28.530-07:00Filming in Switzerland<div><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>There's a group of us including Jeff Lowe, Greg Lowe, Josh Wharton, Dave Black and myself currently in Switzerland filming on the North Face of the Eiger. Jeff is producing a movie titled "Jeff Lowe's Metanoia." Metanoia is a greek word meaning a fundamental change of thinking: a transformative change of heart.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; ">In the winter of 1991 Jeff spent 9 days by himself climbing a new route on the North Face of the Eiger.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>As Jeff climbed, every choice was tested by his purist ethic. No partner, no help from ropes left by others, no bolts - in mid-winter. Alone and increasingly at risk, climbing among ghosts and relics, and hammered by storms, he slowly transcended the recent chaos that had commandeered his life.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Near the top, out of food, pinned in a shallow limestone cave, and faced with yet another storm, Jeff heard a strange song. It lasted much of the day, and seemed to come from within the mountain. Next morning he emerged from his grotto and continued up. Barely surviving a fall that he actually jumped into, he finished the climb but disregarded the summit just 300 feet distant and 100 feet higher. Instead he accepted a helicopter descent rather than chance an avalanche and incoming storm, while climbing down the west side.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>We are here now to re-enact some key scenes of this story. View his webpage here. <a href="http://www.jefflowemovie.com/">www.jefflowemovie.com</a> Check out the pictures below as we set up fixed ropes on the North Face to film some of the scenes.</p></div><div>
<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tW9_xmmFDTRiipRlzmhdTUKSmm29d_d_NSlrahxH2JfjqYwuPgmnEyLMXcC0xwfnWNPMJEiXPbe6R0FKhgUzXBVFeAgPmn1CYuYgaE253PgompAJ4P8OkKoX1vWDDnX5a4E25xVj0uk/s1600/IMG_1956.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tW9_xmmFDTRiipRlzmhdTUKSmm29d_d_NSlrahxH2JfjqYwuPgmnEyLMXcC0xwfnWNPMJEiXPbe6R0FKhgUzXBVFeAgPmn1CYuYgaE253PgompAJ4P8OkKoX1vWDDnX5a4E25xVj0uk/s400/IMG_1956.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586545007198788498" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Strong winds made it nearly impossible to be lifted off the summit. A bivy on the summit would not have been fun without a sleeping bag or tent.</span> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tW9_xmmFDTRiipRlzmhdTUKSmm29d_d_NSlrahxH2JfjqYwuPgmnEyLMXcC0xwfnWNPMJEiXPbe6R0FKhgUzXBVFeAgPmn1CYuYgaE253PgompAJ4P8OkKoX1vWDDnX5a4E25xVj0uk/s1600/IMG_1956.jpg"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8xAPCXgK6EOWIHWxP2rrv6B9EoA_1wZeCbYkodQMC8U5Tbr2JLOtTPQJiBDj8CuMj2sI8nE5-2Zltr2_4GCr1BkjcEVAs8O9WLWQRGvp2s8fY8sVNzT0WtSoycYTW91AvbGSCfTYx6k/s1600/IMG_1948.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8xAPCXgK6EOWIHWxP2rrv6B9EoA_1wZeCbYkodQMC8U5Tbr2JLOtTPQJiBDj8CuMj2sI8nE5-2Zltr2_4GCr1BkjcEVAs8O9WLWQRGvp2s8fY8sVNzT0WtSoycYTW91AvbGSCfTYx6k/s400/IMG_1948.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586545002021188466" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Our Bivy on the summit of the Eiger. Yes, it's really that cold</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp47xkIZgp9BI7IlNzkefKU8arlMRmNCUIea16Pn6zlyX50HwXkosq7GDyUHNWJy83WqFilsH12sXRBvjge2HEjaOP1iGn7hN5u1GNnt9SOCMFe5-UuddREfA2U9DN54V4cr7HvxEGdUk/s1600/IMG_1942.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp47xkIZgp9BI7IlNzkefKU8arlMRmNCUIea16Pn6zlyX50HwXkosq7GDyUHNWJy83WqFilsH12sXRBvjge2HEjaOP1iGn7hN5u1GNnt9SOCMFe5-UuddREfA2U9DN54V4cr7HvxEGdUk/s400/IMG_1942.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586545003141491186" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Lorenz about to be lifted from the summit. You really have to trust those helicopter pilots. One mistake and it's </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><em style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Adiós</span></em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> baby!!</span></div></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpEPYue0vbzZe7aml0KUA6Dyx6zkoQCK7h6YD3x62-_3KKQ5IEGf33xY10We42lx9ZA51xVy2YmmeN4G7CheR371AAua5OZZNoxSE3YkL_kW3iFfP-si9D-ZmIx5ISn-oVdQYG05x7ag/s1600/IMG_1928.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpEPYue0vbzZe7aml0KUA6Dyx6zkoQCK7h6YD3x62-_3KKQ5IEGf33xY10We42lx9ZA51xVy2YmmeN4G7CheR371AAua5OZZNoxSE3YkL_kW3iFfP-si9D-ZmIx5ISn-oVdQYG05x7ag/s400/IMG_1928.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586544995597345186" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Our studio in Grindelwald</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHBAhk-LdxHbKNLwZQj3DowyyOFd4YxgoEcZ5JbHPoplbUbSZ8txwcGVlqRMoM76ZPgLRyveHiOMNxpbHV9R7buy-kpRVVcQEU3pGy40dx3YJRnfgxcoT30Yxfaus8Zsr0y06obiID8w/s1600/IMG_1925.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHBAhk-LdxHbKNLwZQj3DowyyOFd4YxgoEcZ5JbHPoplbUbSZ8txwcGVlqRMoM76ZPgLRyveHiOMNxpbHV9R7buy-kpRVVcQEU3pGy40dx3YJRnfgxcoT30Yxfaus8Zsr0y06obiID8w/s400/IMG_1925.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586544994733060258" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Eiger as seen from </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 23px; font-family:Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Kleine Scheideg</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 23px; font-family:Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">g</span></span></div></div><meta charset="utf-8">Alstrin Filmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13522901795951451228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3838526640487154875.post-14668476888786757722010-03-07T06:48:00.000-08:002010-03-07T07:13:00.189-08:00Getting Ready for the tour<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>It's Sunday morning. My wife and I climbed at Shelf Road yesterday in beautiful weather. Got a little bit of sun on our pale faces, I saw a bunch of friends out there and had a great time. I can't wait for spring. It's now back to reality. My tour is all scheduled and last week I bought a 95 Subaru Legacy to drive for the tour. I didn't own a car for the last 6 months so I figured this was as good as time as any to purchase one. <div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I got a "good deal" on this car...or I thought anyway until I drove it home and started finding multiple things wrong with it. No car stereo, suspension is shot, leaks antifreeze, small oil leak, heater doesn't totally work, outside looks like I hit a deer then went into a ditch, inside smells like I've been smoking like a SOB. But for the price I figured it would work for the tour and it's all good. I took it in on Friday to get the oil and the other fluids changed. I was all excited to pick this car up when the mechanic looked at me and asked, "How long have you owned this car." I said, "One week." He then proceeded to ask, "Do you want to know the things that are wrong with this car?" I thought about it for a second and said, "Yes, give it to me Doc." </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>He looks at his long list he created and says, "First of all you have a blown head gasket, but that's minor compared to the accident that this car was in and what the previous owners did to get it "running" again. You see, they welded a different car to the front of this car. There are two different colors, but that's not the biggest problem. The problem is when they made the cut they didn't cut it straight so it's got a slight curve to it so when they decided to weld the two pieces together it doesn't quite match and they weren't able to get a "good weld" on there". "Is that all" I asked. "No, after repairing the antifreeze leak we noticed there was no thermostat so we replaced the thermostat and now it overheats within minutes of driving". "So, would you recommend me driving this 5000 miles next week", I asked. He looks at me and says, "You'll be lucky to get this home depending on where you live".</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Stoked!!! Not sure what to do. As my temporary fix I have rented a car for the tour which is what I should have done to begin with. I think my wife is going to take the car to the demolition Derby and see if she can take a few laps and try and earn a little bit of our money back from it. My friend Trask mentioned I should take it to "Dragon Mans", which is a shooting range out east of Colorado Springs where you can rent fully automatic 50 caliber machine guns and go to town on targets. My "Subaru" being the target. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>But no worries everyone. I just received my box of goodies from Arcteryx as door prizes for the show. I'm driving to Salt Lake first thing Wed morning in a fresh new rental car, the weather looks great for the drive so there shouldn't be any delays. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Salt Lake show is at Brewvies Cinema at 7:30pm. From there I drive straight to Ashland, Oregon where we will premiere the film at Southern Oregon University. </div><div><a href="http://www.alstrinfilms.com/tour.html">Click here to see the whole tour calendar</a>. I want to personally thank <a href="http://www.arcteryx.com">Arcteryx</a>, <a href="http://www.americanalpineclub.org/">The American Alpine Club</a> and <a href="http://www.accessfund.org/site/c.tmL5KhNWLrH/b.4861253/k.BDBB/Home.htm">the Access Fund</a> for helping support my tour. </div><div>Hope to see you out there.</div><div>chris</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Alstrin Filmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13522901795951451228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3838526640487154875.post-69844310785896377812010-02-12T07:52:00.000-08:002010-02-12T07:53:07.054-08:00The Continuum Project going on TourWe are organizing a small tour to the Northwest for "The Continuum Project" climbing film. See below for our schedule. Please check <a href="http://alstrinfilms.com/">our website</a> for the most recent schedule as we are adding new locations by the day. Are you interested in hosting an event in your town? <a href="mailto:chris@alstrinfilms.com">Please contact us</a>.<br /><br />Spring Tour Schedule<br /><br />Salt Lake City, UT March 10, 2010<br />Ashland, OR March 11, 2010<br />Eugene, OR March 12, 2010<br />Portland, OR March 14, 2010<br />Bend, OR March 15, 2010<br />Leavenworth, WA March 16, 2010<br />Bellingham, WA March 18, 2010<br />Seattle, WA March 19, 2010<br />North Bend, WA March 21, 2010<br />Tacoma, WA March 23, 2010<br /><br /><a href="http://alstrinfilms.com/tour.html">Check out the details for our tour</a>Alstrin Filmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13522901795951451228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3838526640487154875.post-74502920357171725182009-11-23T07:06:00.000-08:002009-11-24T09:48:20.051-08:00The Continuum Project<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Hey All,</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It's that time again. The weather is cooling down and the ice is starting to form. I am super pumped this season to climb ice because I've been trapped in my basement for the last couple months editing my newest film, "The Continuum Project" From what I've been reading in the posts and forums and all that jazz people are pretty psyched to check it out. It ships Nov 27th, just in time for the holiday season so don't be shy. Get that certain someone a nice climbing DVD. He or she will thoroughly enjoy it. You can purchase it at <a href="http://www.alstrinfilms.com/">alstrinfilms.com</a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Be sure to check out <a href="http://www.alpinist.com/">Alpinist.com</a> for 6 exclusive shorts from the Continuum Project.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Win a free copy of the Continuum Project!!! E-mail me an exciting story about the outdoors, whether it's your first experience climbing or an exciting trip to Patagonia, I want to hear about it. The top three stories sent to me I'll send you a free Continuum DVD and post your story on my blog next month. <a href="mailto:chris@alstrinfilms.com">chris@alstrinfilms.com</a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;font-size:10px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre; font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:10px;"><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/lwOdTVKN8Hk&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/lwOdTVKN8Hk&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object></span></span></span></div><div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Book Antiqua"><i><br /></i></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Book Antiqua"><i>The Continuum Project </i>follows some of the world’s best climbing talent around the globe to document bold new routes and daring repeats on ice, rock, and in the alpine. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Book Antiqua; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Book Antiqua">Shot entirely in High Definition, watch as Guy Lacelle, Audrey Gariepy and Mathieu Audibert establish terrifying new ice routes in Norway and Rob Pizem and Mike Anderson crush brawny off-widths and delicate face climbing in Zion. Get on route with Ines Papert and Cory Richards as they blitz Kwangde Shar in Nepal and witness Majka Burhardt and Sarah Watson free the Beckey Route on Elephant’s Perch in the Sawtooths. Discover the rewards and risks of exploration with Jon Walsh and Ian Welsted as they establish a beautiful new mixed line in the remote Icefall Brook range of British Columbia and cool down on the difficult sport routes of Lions Head in Ontario with Sam Elias, Emily Harrington, Leslie Timms and Lauren Lee.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Book Antiqua; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Book Antiqua">Extending the focus of <i>Higher Ground</i>, gain new perspective on the motivations and courage of some of the world’s top climbers through the superb cinematography and innovative approach of <i>The Continuum Project</i>.</p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Book Antiqua', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:12px;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div><br /></div></div>Alstrin Filmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13522901795951451228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3838526640487154875.post-63757515130243456902009-08-17T11:47:00.000-07:002009-08-17T12:06:16.468-07:00Fundraising event in Crested Butte<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, fantasy; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Thanks to all of you who came out and enjoyed the film with us this past weekend. Rocky Kimball contacted me a couple months ago and asked if I'd be willing to show Luxury Liner in Crested Butte as a fundraising event for the Rocky Mountain Field Institute (RMFI). I immediately jumped on board for this. I think more climbers who recreate and climb in Indian Creek need to step forward and do their part for this area. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">For those of you who don't know RMFI began working with the Bureau of Land Management and the Dugout Ranch in 1989 to preserve Indian Creek Canyon and mitigate recreational impacts. In conjunction wit</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">h groups from Outward Bound, Prescott College, Western State College, Colorado College, and Montrose High School, RMFI has built trails to many popular climbing sites and completed major restoration in several side canyons. RMFI has also completed a comprehensive trails and campsite inventory to assist the BLM and the Nature Conservancy in developing a recreational impact mitigation and management strategy for the area.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Saturday night we raised $1000 for RMFI to help with the continued efforts of Indian creek. Jim Donini with the American Alpine Club was there to talk about the trail day they are putting on with RMFI in Sept. So thanks again for everyone who came out to show their support.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, -webkit-fantasy;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8IK1qTXCWGH42q5LKQ26aj9IQvXA52xlwjxv3PGeGFXE9ZoOp4Jkn7a6olcCiUS9-2My7LDwCfZYJpDekS2XKLB8bAvVf4KfByyY0ZFAuHY1JVH9GBPM3riE2ZXXauJLdamdUzT12_g/s400/luxury-liner-sign.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371009006429547586" /></span></span></div>Alstrin Filmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13522901795951451228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3838526640487154875.post-33521661467074724972009-07-26T13:26:00.000-07:002009-07-26T14:15:26.775-07:00Climbing in the Bugaboos<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Woke up at 2:45am, brewed some coffee, loaded our granola bars and started our 3.5 hour approach to the Becky-Chouinard route on South Howser Tower in the Bugaboos Provincial Park located in British Columbia. The goal was to be back before dark. <div><br /></div><div>Whenever you hear the words, "the goal was" you know it didn't go </div><div>as planned. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>Let me start off by saying I finally went on a climbing trip without my video camera. It was a</div><div> shock to hike in somewhere without cords, batteries, laptop and my camera. Laura (my wife) and I decided it was time to take our first vacation together. We opted for the Bugs. I've always wanted to climb in the Bugs, the granite looks bomber and the climbs look amazing.</div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQi30hjIwQB70iFT5Fn-WKPRES2m-1bQZxxj6eFfhjulknRKhkZI5GiS377LcaOnzDIZhNxE8bR_cCvqh5XHrXbCBaVYHhNyNfvOCm94IHHieNBrg-q2x_zqeoCbPBDw3G-hPv58PIReI/s320/DSC07212.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362875049260636226" /><div>We warmed up on the Pigeon Spire, we got our alpine start. Left the boulder camp located</div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uh2mEDA3zC118N4NYA0ibz3rb-En_5dyNxosfAf7uCgIgqeAlvnUsx5BG7e5912lPCYg9j_ZYdbZPkTEtCCEJP-QhcR6eqVn02BUX6Nqg5dhuu6uK5S_emo2jhXaQSwqRJW9zyrgjrA/s320/DSC07247.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362875337924587794" /><div> below the hut around 9:30am. It was a fun outing. The next day we left a little earlier 8:30am to climb the Northeast Ridge of B</div><div>ugaboo Spire. Maybe we got </div><div>off route a little to access the col because the guidebook says to scramble. We roped up for 3 pitches to access the co</div><div>le. The rock was super loose on fifth class climbing. </div><div><br /></div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwE0D4OcOg5oHaOna5jQbr8geX1k_RId9lG26StLlt8ENvIT4XRxQW4QVZYsnIyFpmHQyYijrEgd5WNh1lba31vgip0uPIWn73HYqGjjwzAEkZ7ech7fHatBpA1svhRmK9mksGLyYisI/s320/DSC07271.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362874781342887762" /><div>Once at the base of the route the climbing went super fast. I wish I would have taken the time to read about the traverse from the North to South summit. We did the tr</div><div>averse with a few rappels and some very exposed ridge traverses but made it back to camp just before dark.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>We thought we hadn't had enough adventure yet and we really wanted a long day so we decided to climb the Becky-Chouinard route on S. Howser Tower. We took a rest day to figure a few things out and try to get some local beta from Sean Isaac who was in the cabin guiding.</div><div><br /></div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImsL7vH0CM7hZwCdWoytAPpr4suvVD6_WjQIn2ZGDLBVPTlgshJRduuivbm-xgB1UvjxVhosrfxY0B00XVLt7lLH0SK7v7-ZwrrlKG81Wcjr4OSavCbzjpyLUhsslYldV8BT4feIveLM/s320/DSC07319.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362879594852150898" /><div>As I mentioned earlier we were up by 2:45 and out of camp by 3:30am. We were doing very well getting</div>to the base and scrambling to the first pitch of the climb. There was a party ahead of us but by a few pitches and they motored on ahead pretty fast. We only saw the<img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh042vkltS4lTwVayWMQoB14hX8-z5vUO8ZUmrjG_jkGItkPb8C_ag7FMr-XC7yFMC8g1OBF0AepRLeFAH1tkrxWqtUU6uetS30KXQQ_8DwWu1UPT3iossvkP1vrIEHfUTJYu43yHpEXoo/s320/DSC07325.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362879895736241762" />m one other time throughout the day. The first ten pitches went very good. We were keeping a good pace and looking at our watch we knew we were going to be back at camp just afte<div>r dark....or so we thought. </div><div><br /></div><div>Towards the upper pitches I decided to not read the topo description as closely and got off route on almost every pitch. We both started loosing</div><div> steam a little and next thing we knew we were a pitch from the summit and it was 9:45pm. Damn I thought. This sucks. Here we are with no extra clothing and we're about to spend the night on the summit of the South Howser Tower. I'm sure many people have done this but for me it was a very humbling experience. I've never been benighted on anything. To me this meant I failed. I didn't complete this route in a day and that was my goal.</div><div>This time was different though. I was up there with my wife. This is the first time I am doing a big climb without one of my regular "dude" climbing partners. I realized I had a lot more fun climbing the route with her. Sure, I would be at camp by now if I climbed it with a friend but now we get to experience the bivy together. I can't explain it much more but once I came to terms of being benighted I started laughing. We both started laughing once we decided to sleep on this exposed ledge with rocks digging into our hips and kidneys all night. Did we sleep? Not really. Did we freeze? Hell yeah we did. But we also made it down safely in the morning and in the end that's the success of the trip. You always want to come home from a trip.</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5DIFk0MWFgZyZoPfR4IWoZIKbivJb5T1Mh9wwlHgNlHE_aoy6f-slsP6cPHn5G6Qjc-NiLb6isECuHN2iM222ZX2nm_xNsc8EDVTST8OjgkJb-AIbuDgt1N42hdLeDkCH07vyICaMT0Q/s320/DSC07331.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362880056404619826" />Alstrin Filmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13522901795951451228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3838526640487154875.post-10548700707204592592009-07-15T14:41:00.000-07:002009-07-16T11:51:11.170-07:00Sport Climbing in Lions Head, OntarioThat's right. You heard it. Call me a sell out I don't care. I spent 8 days filming sport climbing and guess what. It was fun. It was walk up and steal the low hanging fruit sort of thing compared to my typical alpine, ice, and big wall filming. The crew was awesome. I headed up there with climbers; Sam Elias, Lauren Lee and Emily Harrington and of course accompanied by the man himself Keith Ladzinski as still photographer. We were the full on media circus. It was great. Actually the best part about shooting with Keith is his sense of humor. Here we are two fellows; Keith shooting stills and myself shooting video hanging from ropes at times and just talking smack the whole day. Thanks for those great rappell shots off Lions Head Terry!!<div><br /></div><div>Talk about easy access. The approach is a mellow 20 minutes on pretty flat trails. You come up to the edge of the cliff and either rappell in to shoot or just hang out on top and shoot down on the climbers. </div><div><br /></div><div>This trip really allowed me to get pretty dialed with my Letus Ultimate setup. I purchased a lens adaptor for my camera last year and haven't had a whole lot of opportunity to really shoot with it in the field because it adds a lot of weight to the setup. Because of the short approach and easy stances on the cliff I was able to use multiple lenses and zoom into these climbers at really cool and wild angles. </div><div><br /></div><div>All of us concluded that the local climbing scene at Lions Head is the best. The people are the most psyched about climbing and they are all there to climb and push their friends to the next hardest grade. I have never been to a crag and experienced this type of warm welcome as a visitor. You guys are all the Bomb!!! </div><div><br /></div><div>I recommend anyone thinking about climbing here to buy your plane ticket, gas up your car, or stick your thumb out, stop making excuses and get up there to climb. You will not regret it. Soon to follow a new short about the area but until then you can probably find photos by looking at any of the athletes blogs. <a href="http://bookofsamuel.com">Sam Elias</a> or <a href="http://laurenleeclimbing.com">Lauren Lee</a> </div><div><br /></div>Alstrin Filmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13522901795951451228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3838526640487154875.post-10219060664496727432009-06-19T11:58:00.000-07:002009-06-19T12:32:37.019-07:00It's been so long<div style="text-align: left;">I apologize for the long long time of no blog entries. Those of you who know me understand completely I'm sure.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>Lots of changes in the passed year but I won't bore you with that stuff: </div><div><br /></div><div>For starters HG Productions is now doing business as Alstrin Films. Check out the new website. <a href="http://www.alstrinfilms.com">alstrinfilms.com</a> We will keep this websit</div><div>e updated with the newest trips and video teasers.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Speaking of trips. I just got back from Namibia. Where the hell is Namibia you ask? That's the same question I asked when Majka Burhardt asked me to come along and film the expedition. Namibia is located just north of South Africa. </div><div><br /></div><div>We spent three and a half weeks driving and climbing. More driving than climbing but that's the way things go sometimes. It was a very successful trip though. Our team consisted of Majka Burhardt, Kate Rutherford and Peter Doucette. The media circus on this trip consisted of Gabe Rogel - photographer and myself. You can view lots </div><div>more photos on <a href="http://www.rogelphoto.com">Gabe's website</a>. Click on recent trips - Namibia. </div><div><br /></div><div>I flew into Windhoek, Namibia after 36 hours of traveling. I </div><div>immediately picked up my rental truck and started driving for 5 hours to our first climbing destination - Spitzkopp. Did I forget to mention I almost drove off the road twice by falling asleep at the wheel? Spitzkopp is an established climbing destination consisting mostly of bolted slab climbing. I met the crew, it was my first time meeting Kate and Gabe.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I'm not going to go too much into detail about the trip because it will be posted on Patagonia's Tinshed website in the fall. Look for it. I'll have a nice new trailer to watch on there as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>I will say it was one of my better trips I have been on in a</div><div>while. I saw some amazing animals most of us only see in the zoo and spectacular scenery the type we see on National Geographic. I was able to film a first ascent climb on the highest peak in Namibia and walked by a tree full of African Killer bees and lived to tell about it. Ahhh yeah, but now I'm home and enjoying the garden, which by the way is doing good thanks for asking. In the mean time check out a very short clip of the climb they put up.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz9A7DMmCDlAeWjqQiH3VABBhmQNS9CUMg4wrWEHa9COtiP1WHYY0UFNhXy_olZcvzkn44BMBQtfp7VxdE6xQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqPMbPVPj00holP6tPZwbtIdZV7aPCsmkgaOU8tN_LC6Wk-FKHIbJRGjdoKI2UfdvLpIyt2GAxjltY18OOk7a9YUsuYYXYCb0U4pxkgEum7shioGvw4oAIaW6zw16ygm-vzL0bReUK-U/s320/IMG_0169.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349122973807827442" /><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfct0fYmKwi_kyiTwOM5nANRQdCLVxyxtDpzl2zQ_siJJQrlHHsH4FaTjC3iLguzgMA_vkrP0jNhzBMzZQt_d-kQasp3n34kOphAHfUsE_FcRDWCK8ySzWPFNHjASELmRr9_bBM55QPw/s320/IMG_0159.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349122550134280034" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1KIAYpbJMhqBp0NGiifvIYCdWEBYJxi8_VPz8x2h1E3PztWdmdMRMi1pHEhSNdpdOh0s-Jo6khmXoBlwVdvu7vDnY1YIOiobVgBKkGQ8QjLuVsybs3QT9F8jaWAuZArYszq14MEixUY/s320/IMG_0306.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349122177993108914" /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div>Alstrin Filmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13522901795951451228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3838526640487154875.post-35490273821971138752008-02-24T09:01:00.000-08:002008-02-25T08:41:40.211-08:00Blown Away in NorwayI just came back from an ice climbing trip in Norway.<span style=""> </span>After two week there with Guy Lacelle, Mathieu Audibert, Chris Alstrin and Alex Lavigne, I realize that what I’ve heard about this country was true…..it is the ice climbing paradise and an amazing place to discover.<span style=""> </span>The 4.5 millions inhabitants of Norway are spread out around the country giving each of them a lot of space to enjoy the beautiful gifts from the nature around them.<span style=""> </span>The colorful wooden houses of the villages along the fjords surrounded by rocky faces is very unique to the place.<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style=""><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYrTPXdA48YK3DnYz6zgDFCCKUbOPEOoVPaIjlYcvi2m_uBr9zE0r1EjR-UgdRDOeWJZ6TMpDo2OsHVYbBUKuoBcu0dkZqGGwJGMQYiKFgRBUGedyAaYCNBLGCv1nlg88U0SDwjG8i_4/s320/Eidfjord-Scenic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170612135815847762" border="0" /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Eidfjord (photo: Audrey Gariepy)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><!--StartFragment--> </p><p class="MsoNormal">We ran into the first crux of the trip right at the airport.<span style=""> </span>How are we going to fit the five of us and all our gear in that tiny Ford Focus “Station Wagon”?<span style=""> </span>Strapping most of our gear to the roof, I still can’t believe that we managed a way to fit it all!<span style=""> </span>So, we hit the road along the mountain passes singing songs from the “Dixie Chicks” and being as comfortable as you would on a hanging belay in the spindrifts!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><!--StartFragment--> </p><p class="MsoNormal">When we arrived there, we just couldn’t believe what we were seeing.<span style=""> </span>None of us have ever seen so much ice in such a small area.<span style=""> </span>We could barely talk, just looking at each other with a big smile on our face.<span style=""> </span>Where are we going to start?<span style=""> </span>The potential was endless but a particular wall got our attention over the other stuff.<span style=""> </span>All these long and steep ice lines right next to each other, we got to climb them all.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQy_OazdSVbUl3WIKrZiUiyGLnnhnHkCaNAJVREFn4v-uMMBxnwO7I9cGl9gJ8fuUjzlC2hC8j_ecF3xCbLijkL8JnrW2EqhttmWpCQY3ertoavIfWbVp7AtV7TYQ3ThI4jXkEJwiYmo/s320/Norway-wall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170612140110815074" border="0" /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Voringfossen Wall, Eidfjord (photo: Audrey Gariepy)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><!--StartFragment--> </p><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5bcQ0Zx4o4LGFIKi8rvcSX-ZVBJQpOY25UFGSJdjK5WK4Wk1ltjhPYD9Ks5LRCrmrTuE5VzIezc3wDR-bZYtF5NJUj2xRn-dT_OQei9eQCZiKlQuVVRfxmIFOzia4ogiciwKM3JwQpzA/s320/photo-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170714819893960562" border="0" /></div><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal">Three days later, we had climbed 5 of them.<span style=""> </span>They were all great.<span style=""> </span>The routes ranged from 250 to 325 metres in length.<span style=""> </span>The most impressive one was the furthest right with a first pitch of WI6+R, which Guy led like it was grade 4.<span style=""> </span>After we were done with what we wanted to climb on this wall, the weather warmed up and the first pitch of the route fell down.<span style=""> </span>It made us realize about how lucky we were to get the chance to climb those beautiful routes in good conditions.<span style=""> </span>Guy was saying that the numerous years of ice climbing taught him that when you want to climb an ice route, you’re better to do it right now and never wait the next day…..it happened to be true for us in that case.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><!--StartFragment--> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJAPAYCqULCh302X7IZUwkq2gS60EozinRl7FbZx55pwGMk03pED-1tje8ri2Bf6MAkH3FOxAXXy2NYKZf0T9oEomdsWri5MIPD4092gTpLx4ZeDQxivyPjZqMO6fE39cQVsg2sNfwMA/s1600-h/photo-4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJAPAYCqULCh302X7IZUwkq2gS60EozinRl7FbZx55pwGMk03pED-1tje8ri2Bf6MAkH3FOxAXXy2NYKZf0T9oEomdsWri5MIPD4092gTpLx4ZeDQxivyPjZqMO6fE39cQVsg2sNfwMA/s400/photo-4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170727421328007074" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Audrey on Voringsfossen Wall, Eidfjord. (photo: Chris Alstrin)</span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Since the conditions deteriorated on this wall we decided to take a day off to drive around to find something else.<span style=""> </span>In that day only, I’ve seen more waterfall than I have ever seen in all my life.<span style=""> </span>The only problem was that most of them were melting down or weren’t touching the ground anymore……or maybe they never did.<span style=""> </span>Anyway, we had to wait to the end of the day to find this perfect frozen yellow line in this narrow valley in Hjolmo.<span style=""> </span>The line was so nice, that even the river to wade through, the little unfrozen waterfall to hike through, the boulder field covered with snow that we would have to cross didn’t discourage us.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAH59e2Y6aHHRUT4sMfwhzL6DRSzu7KSb1dF6H60NVaVhJ-Uv3XgXwElUDo92ktEpssPJ0sMl2hdx4vZbh6NarbjKwnkxgB1OVpix2pGskZA9p3XR7JhXlAX7qzGJBo0gD5Co6mswKGR8/s1600-h/thermophobia.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAH59e2Y6aHHRUT4sMfwhzL6DRSzu7KSb1dF6H60NVaVhJ-Uv3XgXwElUDo92ktEpssPJ0sMl2hdx4vZbh6NarbjKwnkxgB1OVpix2pGskZA9p3XR7JhXlAX7qzGJBo0gD5Co6mswKGR8/s400/thermophobia.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170733812239343538" border="0" /></a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" > The perfect waterfall in Hjolmo. (photo: Guy Lacelle)</span><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><!--StartFragment--> </p><p class="MsoNormal">The next day, we started the approach very early.<span style=""> </span>Crossing the river with freezing water up to our knees and then we managed to go through all the cruxes of the approach.<span style=""> </span>After three hours, we finally made it to the base of 300 metres with a sustained 170 metres of steeeeeppppp ice up to WI6.<span style=""> </span>The day was a little too warm and we climbed the route in a total whiteout.<span style=""> </span>We couldn’t see much around us, but we could hear a lot of big chunks of ice falling in the little cirque surrounding us.<span style=""> </span>It was like climbing in a shotgun field.<span style=""> </span>I remember thinking that it was safer on the route than I will be on the descent back to the car.<span style=""> </span>Even though all that made me feel a little nervous, I couldn’t help to enjoy the climb so much.<span style=""> </span>The line was just so straight and constantly steep.<span style=""> </span>One of the best I’ve climbed for sure.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeAqnd4OX_NV_5ENfZhB_9LAt_1Brev_OODBiF0_3AoQKx2_AYUi9wPkoEAnFrXrwSbl6B5Lneom8dG4wjERTJ2GHbEA9uIrFhI6Dm9jyKF5zk2JaHtqZ9tAiwS5D62ihiRh1l3ylGAag/s1600-h/photo-5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeAqnd4OX_NV_5ENfZhB_9LAt_1Brev_OODBiF0_3AoQKx2_AYUi9wPkoEAnFrXrwSbl6B5Lneom8dG4wjERTJ2GHbEA9uIrFhI6Dm9jyKF5zk2JaHtqZ9tAiwS5D62ihiRh1l3ylGAag/s320/photo-5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170951064570077122" border="0" /></a></p> <!--EndFragment--> <!--EndFragment--> <!--EndFragment--> <!--EndFragment--> <!--EndFragment--> <!--EndFragment--><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" > Eidfjord (photo: Audrey Gariepy)</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsY92_Xa2ns7H025_vmGV0bU_AluGsGstBi_8KebhpUehbFlJs9hZPCXo0JTsDmdxohISfXKdOFia8gLvNWuIVKhXPF_XvdMy_95tFVoxK0h0ZP_85CWS_Y2wLvb9M1ats7sXhJ6DyQ8/s1600-h/photo-6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsY92_Xa2ns7H025_vmGV0bU_AluGsGstBi_8KebhpUehbFlJs9hZPCXo0JTsDmdxohISfXKdOFia8gLvNWuIVKhXPF_XvdMy_95tFVoxK0h0ZP_85CWS_Y2wLvb9M1ats7sXhJ6DyQ8/s320/photo-6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170951068865044434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Road between Eidfjord and Gol (photo: Audrey Gariepy)</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I’ve been very impressed about the potential of ice climbing in Norway. The waterfalls are everywhere….the only problem is you need a few cold days in a row to have them frozen!!! I was happy to go to the most popular places like Hemsedal and Rjukan to do some classic climbs like Hydnefossen and Lipton. But I enjoyed a lot more to go exploring around and find other nice lines that I’ve never heard about. Maybe they were first ascents? Maybe not? But one thing for sure is that our little group have been pretty lucky to climb them. <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">-Audrey Gariepy</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17EG-j8cw3yIo3iLfwyIbwjtR6BqzzdGOaOMkynpXkls_src7cmqvcsxDUUTR5NLKdL3O7wzAUH8SiS6ZBn8Vp0Iik0t4PL6voPCJZjG7hrs16RIuH0x7eLaho_amzX22aEyeEXN25x4/s1600-h/photo-7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17EG-j8cw3yIo3iLfwyIbwjtR6BqzzdGOaOMkynpXkls_src7cmqvcsxDUUTR5NLKdL3O7wzAUH8SiS6ZBn8Vp0Iik0t4PL6voPCJZjG7hrs16RIuH0x7eLaho_amzX22aEyeEXN25x4/s400/photo-7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170953104679542754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Guy climbing close to Eifjord (photo: Alex Lavigne)<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgokXsDcoAkRi0aosYBAL42-2QjxlHO48CnxQIkaim0mMWJ6pts2ucsMbRNgCy84x4MJJYinivDmwsjVlAnqM-iLkvaA8QmAKkvGMehgYTjtBUAKCbi8v-4jZOncakWA8tOlI1pfdSgQU/s1600-h/group-photo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgokXsDcoAkRi0aosYBAL42-2QjxlHO48CnxQIkaim0mMWJ6pts2ucsMbRNgCy84x4MJJYinivDmwsjVlAnqM-iLkvaA8QmAKkvGMehgYTjtBUAKCbi8v-4jZOncakWA8tOlI1pfdSgQU/s400/group-photo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170954857026199554" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Group (photo: Alex Lavigne)</span><br /></div></div></div>Alstrin Filmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13522901795951451228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3838526640487154875.post-64893647763931977062008-02-09T08:44:00.000-08:002008-02-24T09:01:36.724-08:00Higher Ground US TourCheck out our US tour dates. <div><br /><div>Bend, OR Feb 19</div><div>Eugene, OR Feb 20</div><div>Seattle, WA Feb 21</div><div>Tacoma, WA Feb 23</div><div>Walla Walla, WA Feb 26</div><div>Berkeley, CA Feb 27 </div><div><br /></div><div>http://www.hg-productions.com/tour.php</div></div>Alstrin Filmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13522901795951451228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3838526640487154875.post-10197896327091581832008-02-09T08:22:00.000-08:002008-02-19T08:29:06.154-08:00Ice climbing in Norway<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5CKcJS5lGzGv_rm6Y_eaJ7LTUlBHP131NoBVv8CFEqVGJDpcoT21dREZyhDDUVAKrZ7QOZMLixwAYA_yI5vX-8D4TMSZKAWtnOfV7T6SA0yFpZtLayUb50muxuhyxohZIILCVO2OTlA/s320/100_3745.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165021875102850882" /><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Nhq9VLIepPpJKBPuCZpCxdV8luT6SO-2NY1r0so-rmvbWm_naPLigWSYxc5C_W4_Ix0nBz1RXBzTPW7MIV5o4BWLLRf7F2kkFkgT6a8PzppAZuRts8GdcHik9louTZD_ivk-kH4MHs4/s320/100_3740.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165021870807883570" /><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3mofBQ1QnRcFpjX78SqaRxTLLMLwo-bWAwoKGgPceDl9vVQdTGYPHheQj7fmNT8lCvflaw3lFUDiZJu5uwQJuaHWfAof02EC5Ja-1zVTeAL2va8LA5AlrBniAwYSdV-eyIrhk2MhoaU/s320/100_3650.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165018782726397730" /><div> </div>Alstrin Filmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13522901795951451228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3838526640487154875.post-87466028491903169782008-02-04T06:39:00.000-08:002008-02-25T08:39:24.510-08:00NorwayAlex and myself have been in Norway the last week with Guy, Audrey, and Matthieu. We arrived here on Feb 28 in the hopes to find big ice routes and film these climbers in their element. We met one of Guy's friend Marius at the airport. Marius is great he's giving us beta as to places to go and where the ice might be the best. We spent the first 5 days in Hemsedal. We climbed in Gol the first day to "warm up" and check out the local sport crag. Audrey on-sights the competition mixed route from their last ice festival and Guy climbs a really cool looking mixed line with a difficult ice finish. <div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The next few days we checked out a few ice routes. I was able to climb Seltunfossen 200m WI4+/5 with Guy, Matthieu, and Audrey and had a blast. The next day we hiked up to Hydnefossen 160m WI6. Audrey and Matthieu climbed the route while Guy soloed next to them. He fixed a rope for me to film him and got some great footage. I'll post a few clips here in the next day or two. <br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We were very comfortable in our cabin but the host kicked us out as he had reserved it for other people after us. So this made us leave this area and find some new ice. We drove to Eidfjord to see if there was any ice formed. The next morning we drove back up the canyon to see what was available. The first climb we saw looked pretty cool. A route high up that wasn't touching so it would make for a great mixed climb. We continued up the valley. I don't know how to explain what the next few miles had in store for us. We were kids in the candy shop. Every corner we turned and every tunnel we came out of opened a new face of ice. We're not talking short little ice climbs here. The majority of climbs we saw were at least 200m. One wall we scoped had 6 climbs in a row all classic routes and all around 250m. <br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Needless to say we will be staying in Eidfjord for the rest of our trip. Hopefully conditions will stay cold.<br /></div><div>-chris</div>Alstrin Filmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13522901795951451228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3838526640487154875.post-50056072201603509772008-01-21T10:46:00.000-08:002008-01-21T10:55:27.290-08:00<div>Watch 19 year old Ben Schmitt redpoint Devil's Road a 5.13b at the Damage Wall, Shelf Road, CO. Music by Mat the Alien.</div><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyp9xN7SC7S1lVSg12v2YZtqPByEGOSuyQXBYA39qNT6bwlYk8D7pL_qRv3yOMOSNdWwAvuL3qJK_WcG-jvOg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><div><br /></div><div> </div>Alstrin Filmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13522901795951451228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3838526640487154875.post-64544941397811352982008-01-14T17:19:00.000-08:002008-01-16T06:38:22.637-08:00Ouray Ice Festival<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXEmgGS9PKjDDQ2U9CLs_ylC9wBmPb7I8_0XAtKVqQSOitMsaLPmHYTz2CPcrlCJFy8HwUvymvVWbOOZfTaGR-LBMHmK4Y49RgxYB3wIXBepOUNWi4V0pdHjz6CwxBmm2kyvmKKa1XsQ/s1600-h/100_3489.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXEmgGS9PKjDDQ2U9CLs_ylC9wBmPb7I8_0XAtKVqQSOitMsaLPmHYTz2CPcrlCJFy8HwUvymvVWbOOZfTaGR-LBMHmK4Y49RgxYB3wIXBepOUNWi4V0pdHjz6CwxBmm2kyvmKKa1XsQ/s320/100_3489.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155517716807043666" border="0" /></a><br /> The 2008 Ouray Ice Festival. Another fun time out ice climbing and hanging with friends. I arrived to Ouray with my friends Scott Flower, Tara Garson from OZ, a few other friends from Colorado Springs and my brother Grant. Grant's never been ice climbing but he's the one who got me into rock climbing when I was 14 yrs old so it was good to get out with him again and let him have a go at this ice stuff. We woke up in the Springs to 6 inches of fresh snow and it was still coming down hard. We were still keen on driving down, the roads were absolute shit. We stopped in Gunnison and for the first tim<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkAKxo0bVkO22WrtU7yNajc6Da7YuFXZ0j9Eq4tjKNR-6trqq55SioxzfK8b4GNCelpqei1U6m9zJ64LhSUUcJZmQHIU3hiDvpMNQzeJGTN8h5lNL2660oLRIhrrnka72jKiabwxcfqY/s1600-h/243987162-L.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkAKxo0bVkO22WrtU7yNajc6Da7YuFXZ0j9Eq4tjKNR-6trqq55SioxzfK8b4GNCelpqei1U6m9zJ64LhSUUcJZmQHIU3hiDvpMNQzeJGTN8h5lNL2660oLRIhrrnka72jKiabwxcfqY/s320/243987162-L.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156083372589861522" border="0" /></a>e in 2 years I ate McDonalds. Don't ask why we ate there I still don't know the chicken was not good. It took us a good 2 hours longer than normal but we all made it down to Ouray safely. Woke up in Ouray to it dumping more snow. I've never seen this much snow in Ouray, it must have been some sort of record. Great for skiing, not so good for ice climbing especially when a lot of the climbing we wanted to do was up the pass which was closed for 5 days. <div> </div><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTP6MJ6F2-QGxOZlih13TuxHsDC8FxqNU89g3kgvJBNF1b1JMYs1bnb_82ItRJFHyuJ_8tAJxT_9VaMZq6D8DMdVnVl2R5Lif73aQ5MWA2rhPlr3CN7cr4qa98VIiztmdKLNu_2Tg6Gt4/s320/243977691-L.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156079176406813282" border="0" /><div>Getting out in the box canyon is always good fun. It's a great place to warm up and get in the swing of things before getting on big routes and scaring yourself high above your last piece of protection. I climbed for two days with my brother and friends and of course I caught the fl on day 3 so I was pretty worthless through the festival. So after 3 days of lying in bed and doing absolutely nothing I started feeling better. I didn't get a chance to watch the competition because I woke up feeling great that morning and had to get out and climb.<br /></div><div> Now the crowds have left, the snow stopped falling, and the sun is out. It's time to get out and climb again. <a href="http://brilliantphoton.com/">Lower photos by Winn Jewett</a></div><div>-chris</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Alstrin Filmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13522901795951451228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3838526640487154875.post-14112851102260233472007-12-30T20:19:00.000-08:002007-12-30T20:23:22.506-08:00We have a winnerCongratulations to Kyle Walcott of Maybrook NY for answering the Supercrack question correctly. Earl Wiggins, Ed Webster, and Bryan Becker were the guys who first climbed Supercrack. Kyle will receive a free copy of Higher Ground. Thanks for everyone who participated in the trivia.<div>-chris</div>Alstrin Filmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13522901795951451228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3838526640487154875.post-55173422852338782792007-12-27T07:40:00.002-08:002007-12-27T08:05:30.546-08:00Starting the new year<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>This is the first blog for HG Productions. For those of you who are new to this which is all of you because I created this site today I hope you enjoy. Any questions please feel free to send an e-mail my way. <div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The New Year is about to begin and we will do our best to entertain you with quality climbing footage from the mountains. I just purchased the Panasonic HVX 200 HD camera. Had a little fun down at Shelf Road last weekend with a friend Ben Schmitt. He's climbing a hard route down there. If you want to view it you can have a sneak preview at our website <a href="http://www.hg-productions.com/shelf.mov">http://www.hg-productions.com/shelf.mov</a> or Check out Alpinist TV on Monday Dec 31 and they'll post it for the rest of the world to see.</div><div><br /><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>What are we up to for the New Year? I have a friend flying in from Australia on Jan 4th - 24th so we will be traveling around the southwest to climb. I will be in Ouray starting Jan 6th - the festival. Should be a good time, it's been cold as shit here in Colo Spgs so I image the ice is forming up very nice in the southwest. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I'm sure many of you are asking yourself, "What's with this Supercrack film I keep hearing about". Or maybe you haven't heard of it till now and you're wondering what Supercrack is. I've teamed up with Stewart Green who filmed the first ascent of Supercrack in 1976 with a 8mm camera. I begin interviewing tomorrow with some of the boys who climbed this popular Indian Creek climb. Can anyone guess? Or does anyone know the three guys who climbed the first ascent of this? The first person to e-mail me the correct answer (first and last name of the climbers) before Jan 31 will receive a free copy of "Higher Ground". <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>That's it for now but keep posted for updates of what we're up to. <br /></div><div>enjoy the day!</div><div>-chris</div></div></div>Alstrin Filmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13522901795951451228noreply@blogger.com1