Being stuck inside has only increased my desire to travel, hike, camp, and explore. That’s not feasible right now, so I’ve been living vicariously through adventure documentaries. You know, the ones that make your palms sweat and make you promise to yourself that you won’t ever climb a mountain so dangerous while also simultaneously making you want to summit every peak in the world. Note: I know that’s not an official genre, but it’s how I refer to them. Documentaries + documenting adventures = Adventure Documentaries.
These documentaries give me a little taste of real life that’s different from other documentaries and reality TV. They provide a kind of escape that differs from fictional narratives and I am here for it. They inspire you and make you want to do crazy things. You wake up the next morning with the sudden urge to buy out REI, sell the rest of your belongings and climb Everest. They scare you, intimidate you and wow you. They make you want to kiss the ground beneath you. They remind you how wondrous and intense Earth is. Below are 5 adventure documentaries that you should drop everything to watch, and I’ve included a bonus Netflix show as well!
1. The Dawn Wall (2017) – Netflix
This movie follows Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson as they free-climb the Dawn Wall on El Capitan. It’s sheer rock, and they’re finding the littlest cracks and flaws in the rock to place their hands and feet. A large portion of the movie follows their planning process before they do the real thing. It is interesting, stressful, and so entertaining. Tommy Caldwell has climbed every possible route on El Capitan, so you learn a lot about the mountain through this film. He is incredibly knowledgeable and it’s captivating watching how he moves up the mountain so gracefully.
2. Free Solo (2018) – Hulu
Free Solo also follows a climber on El Capitan. This time, it’s Alex Honnold, a solo climber. This means HE DOES NOT USE ANY ROPES OR HARNESSES OR SAFETY GEAR. There is no portaledge. He has to do it in one go and if he falls, he gets seriously injured, or possibly dies. Intense stuff. If you’re going to watch this (which I highly recommend), I recommend watching The Dawn Wall first. The Dawn Wall gives a better background to El Capitan, and Tommy Caldwell (the main climber in The Dawn Wall) is Alex Honnold’s friend and coach. The Dawn Wall does not have to be watched first, but it will give this one an interesting depth. Prepare for sweaty palms and sense of eternal gratitude for having your feet on solid ground.
3. Meru (2015) – Amazon Prime
This is another climbing movie following Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin, and Renan Ozturk as they attempt to climb Meru, a Himalayan big-wall climb that no one has summited before. These climbers face many emotional and physical setbacks on their journey. It’s fascinating to see how they overcome those setbacks, and it makes you feel a little bit lazy. As Jacob and I were watching this, we talked about how professional sports like climbing and running are so interesting, because the professional athletes representative of the sports just look like normal people. I think that’s part of the reason I love these sports — they’re relatable (to an extent of course). This one leaves you inspired and wanting to be in the mountains. Maybe not summiting Meru, but surrounded by mountains no doubt.
4. The Barkley Marathons (2015) – Amazon Prime
If you like weird stuff and running, or even if you hate running and just like weird stuff, WATCH THIS. Jacob and I laughed so much during this documentary. This film explains the most insane ultra-marathon and follows runners as they attempt the course. The regulations are slim. The exact mileage seems to be unknown. Only about 10 people have ever finished it. I could go on, but I don’t want to ruin the experience for you. Please watch it, you will not regret it. You’ll learn so many crazy details about the race, and just when you think it can’t get crazier, it gets crazier. I’m so glad this movie entered my life.
5. Paddle to Seattle: Journey Through the Inside Passage (2010) – Amazon Prime
Do you remember those dorky documentaries you had to sit through in Social Studies class? They were secretly really entertaining and even had funny moments, but it was so not cool to admit it? That’s this film. J.J. Kelley and Josh Thomas hop in their sea kayaks and paddle from Alaska to Seattle. They’re two goofy guys kayaking down the coast, exploring towns along the way, cracking jokes and living in the moment. Similar to The Barkley Marathons, this movie has a less serious vibe than some of the climbing movies and has a refreshing and humorous perspective.
BONUS TV SHOW: Win the Wilderness (2020) – Netflix Series
Imagine backpacking through Alaska, finding a spot on a Mountain and claiming it as your own slice of land. That’s what the Ose’s did. They claimed a piece of land on an Alaskan Mountain and built their (extremely large) log house by hand. They cultivated the land and made a way of life. No neighbors, no roads, and lots of bears. The Ose’s decided it was time to pass down their legacy to a capable couple. This show follows 6 couples from the UK as they compete in the wilderness to win Ose Mountain. Each episode tests the couples in their outdoor survival skills, a necessary skillset when living on the side of a mountain. That’s only accessible by plane. Alone. I found this show to be particularly wholesome, as all British reality TV typically is.
Kelliemarie Mash 