180 South today at Banff – The Joy Trip Project

180 South today at Banff – The Joy Trip Project

Adventure is not in the destination but in the journey. This philosophy is beautifully illustrated in the new movie produced by Woodshed Films called 180 South. Jeff Johnson, a surfer and sometimes climber sets out to recreate a classic road trip.
Perhaps described as sequel, 180 South is the second installment of film produced now more than 40 years. In 1968 Mountain of Storms followed the epic journey of four adventurers from the southern California surfing community of Ventura to the summit of Mount Fitz Roy in Chile. Champion alpine skier Dick Dorworth and British mountaineer Chris Jones partnered with climber/skier Doug Tompkins and climber/surfer Yvon Chouinard to ride tall waves and ascend unclimbed peaks down the pacific coast of the southern hemisphere. Inspired by clips of film footage he discovered Johnson heads south to retrace their journey and meet up with Tompkins founder of the outdoor equipment and apparel company The North Face and Chouinard the founder of the outdoor clothing company Patagonia.

The story that unfolds is a modern adventure film for a new generation. Johnson discovers through his journey the importance habitat conservation and the value of sustainable living. Breathtaking cinematography backdrops a shipboard romance, a guest appearance from climber/comedian Timmy O’Neill and a serious nod to the plight of indigenous people and the devastation of their wild land.

This review originally ran in the 2010 Spring/Summer edition of Wend Magazine