Where can Squamish's climbers be found when the temperature drops, and meteorologists begin measuring the Pacific Northwest's precipitation in cubic meters?
At the Howe Sound Brew Pub, watching films, evidently.
The Reel Rock Film Tour, which visits five continents this year, packed the Brew Pub with a capacity crowd Wednesday (Oct. 28).
Words like surreal, impossible, epic, quest, progress and evolution were in no short supply throughout the evening.
Ivan Hughes and the Media Arts Society of Squamish hosted the event
Hughes was enthusiastic about the atmosphere the new venue helped create. Previously, the film tour had played at the Eagle Eye Theatre.
"It's a fantastic venue that has energized the audience," he said. "[The films] really seemed to resonate with the audience."
Hughes said he was excited to have a crowd that "on a rainy, cold, October week day, [is] so jacked about climbing."
The evening of climbing documentaries began with three brief films that were winners of the 2008 Reel Rock Filmmaking Competition winners in the humour/spoof, inspiration/action, and Judge's Choice categories.
During the first of the two feature films, a sneak peak at the Nat Geo Adventure Channel's new series First Ascent, the audience was transported to Patagonia, Argentina, as well as Brazil.
Climber Sean Leary enlisted two of his closest climbing partners to help him grant the final wish of his departed partner, Roberta Nunes. During an emotional journey, the trio pioneered a first ascent in Patagonia, and then spread the Brazilian climber's ashes in the mountains she loved.
The second half of First Ascent featured 24-year-old free soloist, Alex Honnold, and his rope-less conquests of the Yosemite big wall, Half Dome and Moonlight Buttress in Zion National Park, Utah. While some in the climbing community question the ethics and sanity of such free soloing endeavours, the film portrayed Honnold, "the leading soloist of his generation," in a largely playful manner.
The final film, Progression, featured a selection of rock climbing's biggest superstars, and various mediums in which today's climbers are pushing the envelope.
From Chris Sharma to Adam Ondra to Tommy Caldwell and indoor competition climbing to bouldering, this film had it all - including climbers with a flair for the extraordinary, if not the dramatic.
The evening wasn't entirely voyeuristic, however. There was also a philanthropic element, as more than $700 was raised for the member-owned and member-operated Grand Wall Bouldering Co-op in a silent auction.
Co-op co-founder Jeremy Smith was enthusiastic about the evening's success.
"It was a smashing success for the co-op. Sponsor support exceeded expectations," said Smith.
Smith himself received a hearty ovation from the crowd when he appeared fleetingly in Progression, commenting on a "damn big" wall.
Hughes summarized the event as a perfect "celebration of climbing, celebration of culture and celebration of Squamish."
Memberships for the Bouldering Co-op can be purchased at Climb On, while the Media Arts Society's next film will be Food, Inc. Nov. 26 at the Adventure Center.
