El Capitan (1978)

US Colour 57m, Colour
Director: Fred Padula; Cast: Gary Colliver, Glen Denny, Richard McCracken, Lito Tejada-Flores

El Capitan is both the name of this film and the 3000 foot high rock formation in Yosemite Valley which photographer Glen Denny and his friends climbed over a period of three days in 1968. This is a landmark documentary shot on 16mm film that chronologically follows their ascent utilizing aided climbing equipment such as webbed ladders and ascenders.  While this traditional style of climbing seems old-fashioned compared to modern free climbing techniques, the documentation of their ascent was, nevertheless the first of its kind, and remains as an inspirational benchmark in the history of climbing films (Klaus Ming January 2019).