“In ’62, me and Chuck Pratt got arrested in Winslow, Arizona, for riding freight trains back home from the East Coast. We spent two weeks in jail and lost 20 pounds each eating the white bread and beans they fed us. Sons of bitches charged us with ‘no visible means of support, and wandering aimlessly.’ Back in Yosemite Valley we fattened up on cat food, oatmeal, potatoes, ground squirrel, blue grouse and porcupines that we assassinated a la Trotsky with an ice ax. It wasn’t easy but we had wild places and new routes to explore. We were completely free.”

That was Yvon Chouinard, a rock climber who fashioned  his own tools due to lack of funds. He also founded Patagonia gear and apparel which helped pave the way for environmentally friendly businesses.

Last year the excellent documentary titled 180 Degrees South: Conquerors Of The Useless was released, inspired by Chouinard’s 1968 trip to Patagonia, tackling broader environmental themes and finding your place in the world. Filmmaker Jeff Johnson followed Chouinard’s footsteps and hitches a ride on vessel to Patagonian Chile to climb a peak named Corcovado.

The soundtrack was amazing, featuring songs by Ugly Casanova. Here is an instrumental, fittingly named Corcovado:

 

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