10 Women's Rock Climbing Films
When you Google ‘outdoor adventure films’ or ‘climbing films’, the top results that appear have male protagonists. Of course I still watch and love these films, but when I’m looking to be inspired personally, I always much prefer watching films with female protagonists; they make me incredibly psyched to be the best I possibly can be, and I also find women’s adventure films more relatable in terms of how we tackle emotions in the outdoors. I have attended Kendal Mountain Festival for the last 3 years and each time I leave, I am always inspired by the women I meet and watch on screen, so I thought I’d compile a list of films and short videos that you can watch during lockdown to keep your psyche high and your inspiration strong.
Most of these films, you can watch online for free, but a few require buying or renting. I like curling up under a blanket and watching some of these longer films on a Sunday afternoon, or putting on a short climbing video with a fingerboard session to keep me motivated.
Let me know in the comments if there are any others you would recommend! I’m always keen for new and inspiring videos :)
Within Reach
I thought this video by REI would be a great place to start this list, as it tackles the issue of sexism in climbing head on. This video made me smile ear to ear watching it, and say ‘me too’ a hundred times. Here’s a quote from Shelma Jun, the protagonist; “Once I was able to stop looking at other women through the lens of destructive stereotypes or as the competition, my relationships with women changed into something beautiful, supportive and strong. Women climbing with women isn’t the end-all solution to eradicating sexism. But it is creating an opportunity for us to see that negative social norms and pressures do exist, which make women feel in competition with one another to prove themselves strong enough, good enough, tough enough to hang with men in the outdoors (office, gym, etc)." I think sexism and feminism are often difficult issues to talk about without ‘offending’ people or causing controversy, but this video does it in such a brilliant way that is both confrontational yet contemplative. As someone who has certainly experienced a level of sexism in the outdoors, this film felt appropriate and necessary to me.
Operation Moffatt
This wonderful film by Jen Randall follows young writer and climber, Claire Carter, as she attempts to follow in the footsteps of the legendary Gwen Moffatt, a British climber who became the first Female Mountain Guide, and is widely known as a pioneer of women’s climbing. Jen and Claire embark on a journey that takes them scree running on Skye, wild swimming in Glen Coe, sea-cliff climbing in Wales and trad-climbing in the Peak District, all to help Claire find an inner courage she believes she doesn’t have. I loved this beautifully made and inspiring film and would watch it again and again.
Watch it free on Reel Rock here.
Spice Girl
This short film follows British trad climber, Hazel Findlay, as she becomes the first female to climb E9, on a route called Once Upon a Time in the South West. She then heads to Morocco to climb an 18 pitch sport route in the Atlas Mountains with American climber, Emily Harrington. Hazel is described as the ‘unlikely hero’ - small but bold - yet has set a place for herself on the climbing scene as the UK’s strongest British trad climber. This short film by Reel Rock proves that you you don’t always have to have ‘balls’ to be brave and climb boldly, and inspires you to push yourself and your confidence more in trad and multi-pitch climbing.
Watch the film on Reel Rock here.
Break On Through
In this short film produced for Reel Rock series four, 19-year old American climber, Margo Hayes, becomes the first woman to climb 5.15. First with her ascent of La Rambla in Siurana, and second with Chris Sharma’s legendary route, Biographie, in Ceuse. The film depicts Margo’s drives from a young age, and her intense focus and passion for climbing and pushing herself. This is actually one of my favourite climbing films as I find Margo really likeable, quirky and incredibly motivating. It’s one I’ll watch with a fingerboard session to inspire me to keep working on my goals.
Watch Break On Through on Reel Rock here.
China Doll
China Doll explores gender stereotypes, self-confidence, and what it takes to climb hard trad. The film follows Heather Weidner as she embarks on her biggest climbing challenge to date, a 5.14 trad route in Upper Dream Canyon, Colorado. Heather admits how little confidence she has in herself, and compares her own approach to climbing to that of her husband who she admits often helps her choose routes and offers endless support along the way. Yet ultimately, climbing China Doll is about Heather finding a confidence in herself to trust in her own abilities.
Emily Harrington Sends Golden Gate
Emily Harrington is fairly new to trad climbing and has never climbed a big wall when she decides she wants to free climb El Cap, on a route called Golden Gate. This video documents Emily’s journey from learning to haul at home with her boyfriend, to reaching the summit of El Cap after 6 days on the wall. I really like this video as I find Emily really relatable and humble. She admits that even a year ago she wouldn’t have been able to climb even one pitch of the route, yet finds an inner mental and physical strength to climb Golden Gate on El Cap.
Hannah Morris | YouTube Channel
I wanted to include my friend Hannah in this list because she is such an awesome film-maker, and her YouTube channel is dedicated to climbing videos! Hannah is mainly a boulderer and heads off on trips with her partner in their VW van all over the UK and beyond. I watch all her videos and have been enjoyed her new series learning to sport climb in El Chorro. She is incredibly humble yet such a psyched and passionate climber, which you can see clearly through her videos which are all so beautifully made. I love her series from Fontainebleau, a place she captures so well and where she seems to really come into her own.
Slaydies
Documenting an all-girls climbing trip to Mallorca, Slaydies follows Emily Harrington, Margo Hayes and Paige Claassen as they sport climb on limestone cliffs and sea cliff climb above crashing waves. Yet more than that, the film documents their friendship and admiration for each other throughout their time in Mallorca. It makes me want to find my own tribe of climbing women and head off on a trip somewhere - to be inspired by other strong women, and develop friendships through a shared passion and respect. This is a really nice short film to watch and be inspired, with beautiful landscapes, incredible climbing and a lot of giggles!
Michaela Kiersch & The Golden Ticket | 4.14c First Female Ascent
That a 21-year-old 5ft woman can climb what everyone describes as a ‘man’s route is what makes this film so inspiring. Michaela Kiersch is based in Chicago, where she is enrolled in college with a science major, and spends every weekend driving 7 hours to the Red to try a route called The Golden Ticket, with one notorious dyno that she falls on again and again. Watching her complete the route gets me so psyched for climbing and training, and means I enjoy watching this film again and again.
Pretty Strong
Ok so this film hasn’t been released yet, but I am so excited to watch it when it is! This is a new climbing film with an ALL-FEMALE crew, featuring Nina Williams, Katie Lambert, Daila Ojeda, Hazel Findlay, Fernanda Rodriguez, and more. The film involves 5.13 big walls and V14 boulders, and even watching the 90 second trailer gets me psyched and so excited for the full film. Pretty Strong was supposed to go on tour worldwide this summer, but due to COVID-19 they are now organising digital screenings instead. Keep checking their website for when the film will be released!