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The Documentary "Meru" (involves extreme mountain climbing, in case you have not heard of it)

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Tskware

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Jan 26, 2003
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Because I had previously watched Free Solo, I watched "Meru" last night (instead of the Cats, good call amirite?) featuring Conrad Anker, and Jimmy Chin, who filmed Free Solo

First, I had two 3 word thoughts going through my head while watching the movie: "Three F-ng idiots" + "No F-ing Way"

Second, the film work is incredible. But it will make you sick to watch it. Even if you don't get killed or horribly maimed, extreme mountaineering looks miserable to the 1000th degree even under the best of circumstances.

Third, I did not realize they made two attempts, and one guy had survived a terrible head injury right before the 2nd attempt went with them. As an aside, Chin survived an avalanche before the 2nd attempt as well, which the way he described it was a total miracle he is still alive.

Fourth, Anker remined me of the guy from Free Solo, i.e., there is something just a bit "off" about his personality.

Definitely worth 90 minutes of your time though.
 
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Guess Who

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I don't think I'd get any sleep in that "hanging" tent setup on the face of the mountain. Great film!!
 
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Tskware

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TexKat said:
I don't think I'd get any sleep in that "hanging" tent setup on the face of the mountain. Great film!!
Click to expand...

Yeah, me either, have no idea how you even set it up every night, in howling winds and snow, I guess you drive steel pylons in the rock above and then drop back down to the tent, for a nice comfy snooze. I mean, HELL no.

The worst moment for me was when they reached the "House of Cards" which is a shear granite wall 21,000 feet in the air - only it is semi hollow, meaning if you put your climbing pylon in the wrong crack, it can all just come loose in one big piece of rock and fall straight down to the valley below, hence the name "House of Cards"

Doesn't that sound fun???
 
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UK4number9

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Tskware said:
Because I had previously watched Free Solo, I watched "Meru" last night (instead of the Cats, good call amirite?) featuring Conrad Anker, and Jimmy Chin, who filmed Free Solo

First, I had two 3 word thoughts going through my head while watching the movie: "Three F-ng idiots" + "No F-ing Way"

Second, the film work is incredible. But it will make you sick to watch it. Even if you don't get killed or horribly maimed, extreme mountaineering looks miserable to the 1000th degree even under the best of circumstances.

Third, I did not realize they made two attempts, and one guy had survived a terrible head injury right before the 2nd attempt went with them. As an aside, Chin survived an avalanche before the 2nd attempt as well, which the way he described it was a total miracle he is still alive.

Fourth, Anker remined me of the guy from Free Solo, i.e., there is something just a bit "off" about his personality.

Definitely worth 90 minutes of your time though.
Click to expand...
The guy in Free Solo was definitely off. He just seemed to have no fear.
 
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KyCatFan_rivals45723

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May 6, 2002
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I can't watch stuff like that. For some reason anything that shows high up places gets to me. I've never liked heights but tolerated it ok. That was until I went up in the Sears Tower about 10 years ago. Feeling that building sway in the wind about caused a panic attack. Now I can't hardly even go out on the balcony of a hotel's upper floors without being nervous.

Watching a video of a guy climbing a cell phone tower had my heart beating fast, hands sweating, and had me nauseous. I haven't even been on a plane in the past 10 years (flew nearly 30 times in the past). I was actually going to face my fear and fly to Las Vegas back in June but Covid-19 stopped that. I guess heights are just my kryptonite now it seems.
 
Catman100

Catman100

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This thread motivated me to finally watch Free Solo that I have had on DVR since June.
Jesus H............
That was the damndest thing I have ever seen. I have never been so nervous during a movie. The last 20 minutes where absolutely tense, and the 70 minutes leading up to the last 20 minutes were tense as well. I just have no idea how somebody does something like that. I used to think climbing Everest was the peak, but now I believe free soloing something like El Cap tops that.
Like it was said in the movie, its like going after an Olympic gold medal, and you either get the gold medal, or you die. WOW
 
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Catman100

Catman100

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Watched Meru last night. Amazing movie. Free Solo stressed me out a lot more but Meru was pretty good too. I just don't understand those guys. I guess it's basically a Vision Quest, but man you have to be 70% insane to want to do some of that crap.
 
UKwizard

UKwizard

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I spent the whole movie debating in my head which would be the worst: the potential fall to my death or being that effin cold for that amount of time.

Dude flew off a cliff and split his head open like a cantaloupe was like I got to go on Meru again! Took off without even consulting his girlfriend.
 
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Deeeefense

Deeeefense

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UK_fanatic said:
I watched it several years ago. Great documentary! “The Dawn Wall” is another great one. It features Tommy Caldwell and is on Netflix.
Click to expand...

I really enjoyed The Dawn Wall, but it constantly reminded me of why I never went for mountain climbing "because it's there" seems sorely inadequate to me 😄
 
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Tskware

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ukwizard said:
I spent the whole movie debating in my head which would be worst: the potential fall to my death or being that effin cold for that amount of time.
Click to expand...

QFT. As I stated earlier, even under the best of circumstances, seems like just pure misery, e.g., you get to eat couscous mixed with heated snow 3 meals a day!! Now doesn't that sound tasty.
 
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Ahnan E. Muss

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Nov 13, 2003
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Just watched Meru. Thanks for the recommendation.

The most shocking thing is that they smoked a cigarette in the tent. I mean, don't they know how risky that is?

Side note: Conrad Anker suffered a major heart attack in 2016 at around age 54, but he survived. Maybe that cigarette caught up to him.
 
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pitinoshairplugs

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I saw both Meru and Free Solo in the theater. highly recommend watching these films in theaters if you can.

A. The big screen makes it more intense.
B. People's reactions are also really fun.
 
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