Sentinel: The West Face (1967) - Vintage rock climbing film 

Lovely film. Yvon Chouinard and Royal Robins were true pioneers, breaking new territory and making the rules as they went forward. Things hadn't progressed much when I began climbing in the late 70's. There were just two choices for climbing shoes, but they were too expensive for guys like me. We were still using hip belays and tying into the rope with a bowline wrapped around our waist. The leader simply DID NOT FALL!

just imagine how this was filmed with cameras of that time.....

What a nice film.. please don’t remove it. The younger set needs to see pitoncraft as it was. That film had spirit.

John Long - “The West Face now goes all free at 5.13, FFA by Kevin Jorgeson and Ben Rueck. Crux is on the 3rd pitch involving a huge leap/dynamic. But there's a lot of 5.12 on this pitch and it's 135 feet long. The splitter crack 2nd pitch is supposed to be one of the finest 5.11 cracks in the Valley and the upper wall is classic. It's also super clean and retrofitted with new bolt anchors (where needed) thanks to Ryan Sheridan and his YOSAR crew who put in 3 whole days cleaning and re-tooling this all-time classic. It's "museum quality" now. I suspect it will become a popular test piece for the modern free climber and a welcome change from binging on El Cap.”

Chouinard is wearing Kronhoffers and Robbins has on Pivetta Spiders.

Had me at the “harness . Even knowing these two would live on for decades, It was still thrilling. Top five for me.

Chouinard and Robbins truly climbing Royalty, in more than just name. In the time I have spent on Yosemite walls I never had orchestra accompaniment! Didn't know this film existed. Wonderful piece of essential Valley history.

That was so amazing to watch. The swami belts, hammers and pitons. The old school version of the modern day portaledge, the hammock. Absolutely loved it.

To see a climb of this nature, on a mountain of such acclaim, filmed in 1967, is just amazing. Wonderful introduction to mechanical climbing as I think they used to call it in the 'olden days'.

This 55-year-old film is fascinating. The cinematography is fantastic, the colors amazing! I am always curious how the soundtracks on older films, even documentaries, sound so loud and overbearing these days. I started rock climbing in the decade this film was made, and never noticed the soundtracks being so loud and intrusive. When I go back and watch films like Apocalypse Now, the Deer Hunter, or just about anything else from that era, I almost can’t watch because of the blasting musical score that sometimes even drowns out the dialogue. I’ve become so used to (and appreciative of) videos with minimal soundtracks - and better yet, just the captured ambient sound of, for example, the wind and the jingle of gear hanging from the rack and the climber’s breathing - that it’s a bit distracting watching the oldies. But this film is pure gold! ✌🏼

"It is human expression, as individual as a name or a signature." very romantic

Nice, nice movie !!! Royal Robbins is unmistakable with his glasses and beret. And Chouinard is about to make the third ascent of Fitz Roy in 1968, with friends, coming from USA in a van.... With boots and pitons.... Hats off.

this is a magnificent film, a classic in its own right, regardless that its happens to be climbing. Incredible that this was filmed back in 1967. Starting at Stoney Point and continues to the valley is truly inspiring. Granite calls, and the perfect granite of New Hampshire is quite far away and yosemite is so close. It isnt a desire I have to feel the power of that stone but a feeling of necessity, something I will regret not having done when I reach old age. And at the end showing the names of the mountaineers, two of the most important figures in modern activity of ascending stone. Thanks so much for this upload, this is incredibly inspiring, the stone calls, and I must answer.

To read "Camp IV" from Steve Roper about the Yosemite's legend climbers ! Royal Robbins, Yvon "Patagonia" Chouinard, Tom Frost, Chuck Pratt, Jim Bridwell etc etc... Thank you for this great film.

1200 ft (364 m), 11 pitches FA: Yvon Chouinard and Tom Frost (June 1960), FFA: Ben Rueck & Kevin Jorgeson (Sept. 2016)

Wow what an incredible film! From the kinesthetic beauty to the cinematography, narration, and sound, this is a timeless masterpiece encompassing the liberating human expression we call climbing. I was wondering how this was shot but upon seeing the names Chuck Pratt, Tom Frost, and Roger Brown... of course!

My first "big wall" solo late 70s. Sort of remember some of the aid being really scary for me at the time.

Those were some the top dogs. In my career, I'd never seen this. Thanks for keeping it up.

Classic climbing. Kudos to the camera team

pin scars make many of the valley's classics climbable. thanks for sharing, it's truly awe inspiring what the valley warriors were able to do with just grit and cajones.

Phenomenal. Thank you for sharing.

I encourage anyone with a recency bias to attempt a 5.9 in heavy boots, and having to let go to hammer in your protection.

Bruh this is freakin insane.

love old climbing footage! thanks.

crazy, these legends have probably long since passed

I really lked this movie and the climb , so inspired to me.

Excellent ! Thank you very much Donut Smasher..

Back then, being a climber meant a lot more than it does now. Great film, it's awesome to see how people climbed during those times.

Super cool movie. Pioneers.

peak documentary

West Face of Sentinel. Was VI, 5.9, A4. Don't know what it is now. Robbins and Chouinard. Looks like Chouinard is wearing Kronhofers.

awesome !

Royal and Yvon

Anybody else watching the footwork? Ball of the foot, rather than toe. Interesting, how footwork evolved with the shoes. Did the shoe change the footwork, or did guys design the shoes to get more out of the toe?

I wonder why it took so long to realize that nuts are far easier and often more secure than pitons? Who invented them when?

Great

Wow…those guys where basically soloing & taking his partner with him if the leader falls

Seen this because of the Messner Film which has clips of cool climbing films. Dont climb though. l think these guys are crazy, but the vids are fascinating!

Please don't remove this material , I think that one of the climbers is Ivon Chouinard , one leyend .

26:00… “Sport❤ climbing!? Never heard of it! What’s that?”

Royal Robbins and Yvon Chouinard in the early years.

Wonder how many climbers fell wearing a swami belt back in the day & were severely injured. Like the old lap seat belt it may have saved your life but you still likely sustained serious injuries.

Why is there morning sun on the West Face of Sentinel?

great film. what are the names of these two climbers? thank you

what was the Spanish song named?

Didn't see them climb the dogleg

Royal Robbins and Steve Roper?

I think im gonna just buy a van and drive around having adventures. Rather actually live life to the fullest like these guys while im young and be poor when im old. Whats the point of having money if you cant live your dreams.

what if they lose the hammer :|

OMG, fucking hilarious. Those goofy-ass knickers and knee socks. Did they think they were Swiss climbing the Matterhorn circa 1900? The dude wearing the passe white golf cap looks like my old dead pal Royal. Talk about the evolution of climbing. All those Lost Arrows and bongs laid out on that tarp. I last used any version of a piton over 50 years ago. And that old school way of making a waist harness. Thanks for this amusing walk back into my distant past.