Outdoor Movie Review: 180 South

Jeff Johnson: The best journeys answer questions that in the beginning you didn't even think to ask.

Thank God for Netflix. Out here in small county, CO my only other options for movie rental are RedBox and On Demand cable (usually the same releases as RedBox). While the kiosk is great in an entertainment pinch, it’s usually stocked only with the newer releases and seem to hold a disproportionate number of horror films…ew. On Demand is a complete waste of money unless you’re completely desperate.

  I recently rented 180 South, an adventure documentary about trusting the journey. Free spirit Jeff Johnson found some old video footage filmed by Yvon Chouinard (Patagonia founder) and Doug Tompkins, the man who brought us North Face. The video was of a journey the two of them took in 1968, driving all the way to Argentina to climb rock and mountain.and find surfable waves wherever they could. Jeff’s journey has him retracing the steps of these outdoor gear pioneers 40 years later.

  If this film doesn’t make you want to quit your job, load up your own car and take off into the sunset, I’m not sure that anything could. Watching Jeff rebuild a sailboat of the coast of Easter Island, meeting locals and learning about environmental conservation in South America makes me want to A) expand my composting B) buy some goats and chickens C) heat my home with a wood stove and D) move all of it to Conservacion Patagonica, where I will ride with the gauchos in protest of new dam construction.

   In all seriousness, these men, Yvon and Doug, have become incredible champions for the protection of wild lands and indigenous peoples and their culture. Doug has helped to amass a staggering 460,000 acres in National Park land in Argentina.

  This movie is part eco-activism and part adventure filmmaking…and it works. In fact, I felt so inspired that I’ll just say, if you someday find that someday the blog just stops and I’m nowhere to be found, send the search party to look for a sailboat somewhere in the waters near Easter Island. Or I might have gone to climb the Andes. Or I could be with the gauchos. 

WHOOP WHOOP! Competition comes to Granby!

Constantina Tomescu of Romania. Photo Credit:Guo Dayue/Xinhua

Lookout! I may just start up with that running after all! It has been announced that this coming July, Grand County will hold it’s first HALF MARATHON! Now I no longer need to travel to get that numbered bib! In case you’re not picking up on my enthusiasm based on the excessive exclaimation points, let me just reiterate that this is big news.

  I used to run. I used to run a LOT. Marathons, half marathons, 10k, 8k, 5k…if it was organized, I’d run it. There’s something about the energy that comes with running races:

The Clif Shots

The Running Shoes

The Salt on your Skin

The Playlist

Trying to keep from wetting your pants

What’s not to love? If anyone’s interested in coming out for it, you’ve always got a place to crash. Think about it. What better way to train for your other races than by completing a half marathon at 9,000feet?? More to come.

Team In Training

 Months ago there was some discussion of the chicks coming together to support women-specific causes. I posted that there were some in the Omaha crew that were rallying behind women's rights in the Congo and Breast Cancer. I just received an email that Carla, another Omaha chick, is getting ready to push her body to the limit and doing so in honor of those who struggle with blood cancers.

 She doesn't know I'm writing this but it turns out her cause has recently become very personal for me. One of the best friends I've made since moving to Colorado was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia in October. In fact, this particular friend was supposed to co-lead the October Chicks trip with me until getting the news just days before the Adventure Weekend group arrived. Understandably, she was crushed. And many of you who came out for that trip generously took up a collection to help a woman you had never met. I never cease to be amazed by your personalities and spirit of solidarity.

 This friend of mine, Anne, is a RC to the core. She is independent, intelligent, creative, passionate about the outdoors and one of the most kind people I've met. After being diagnosed, we were shocked to have her diagnosed reversed a few weeks later (just before chemo started). It seemed an absolute miracle when the doctor told her they were changing her chart to "undiagnosed." She came back from the hospital and started to resume her life. Last week, the bottom dropped out again...re-diagnosed with leukemia. I'm sure you can only imagine her emotional state through all of this.

 So, it is by no means a women-specific cause, but as I agreed to financially support Carla in her fundraising to race through Team In Training, I thought of Anne and I was encouraged...hopeful that someday we will not only be able properly diagnose these blood cancers but that treatments for prevention and/or cure could someday exist. I know that there are too many illnesses, cancers and causes to count and most are worthy of our time and resources. We have all been affected in different way, through all sorts of tragedies. Should you feel compelled to help Carla reach her $1400 personal or $4200 team goal to fight leukemia and lymphoma, please visit her fundraising page here.

 If this is not the cause for you, no worries. I would jsut ask, on a personal note, that if you have a moment to spare, please keep Anne in your thoughts and prayers as she begins chemotherapy this week.