FEEL IT.STREAM
Yvon Chouinard

Yvon Chouinard

Acting

Biography

Yvon Chouinard, born November 9, 1938, in Lewiston, Maine, USA, is an American climber, mountaineer, and entrepreneur of French-Canadian descent. From childhood, after moving to California, he discovered nature and developed an early taste for adventure, first through falconry and then quickly through rock climbing. In the 1950s and 1960s, he regularly frequented the walls of Yosemite, building a reputation as a fearless climber, willing to do anything to break new ground, often in precarious conditions and with very little means. Realizing that the climbing equipment of the time was not durable enough, he began hand-forging his own pitons and carabiners in his family's Burbank workshop, then selling them to finance his adventures. In 1968, he made mountaineering history during an expedition to Mount Fitz Roy in Patagonia, where he contributed to one of the most remarkable ascents of the time. He discovered the negative impact pitons had on rock, which led him to innovate with more environmentally friendly equipment, such as removable cams. His innovative spirit and environmental commitment extend far beyond mountaineering. In 1973, he founded the Patagonia brand, dedicated to manufacturing strong and durable technical clothing for mountain lovers. An atypical businessman, he developed the company around strong values: respect for nature, responsible manufacturing, and sustainability. Over the years, Patagonia has become a global icon of sustainable development in the outdoor industry, thanks to its innovative stance on environmental protection. After a long career in activism and entrepreneurship, Yvon Chouinard made a resounding gesture in 2022 by selling all of Patagonia to planet conservation organizations, thus realizing his desire to place ecology at the heart of his life's actions. Deeply introverted and passionate, this "Jack Kerouac of climbing" rejects consumerism, preferring to devote himself to nature, the mountains and the transmission of ethical values ​​through his exceptional career.

Known For

Corazón Salado

Patagonia Global Sport Activist Ramón Navarro joins with the Kawésqar—a traditionally nomadic Indigenous community who had their practices stripped from them during the colonization of Chilean Patagonia—in a fight for their homeland and ancestral waters. The salmon industry is creeping deeper and deeper into the region, polluting and destroying its wild and delicate ecosystem. For the locals, the fish no longer bite here, forcing the Kawésqar to stray farther from home to feed and support their families. Navarro connects with Leticia Caro and her father, Don Reinaldo, a traditional fisherman and elder, who show him the damaging effects of the salmon farms and the need to establish a marine protected area in the Kawésqar National Park. Along the way, they find common ground in their love for the sea.

Corazón Salado

2023Movie
Vertical Frontier
9.0

From John Muir in the 1860s to today's super-athletes, Vertical Frontier tells the rich and captivating saga of these free-spirited climbers whose contributions to the techniques, equipment, and ethics of mountaineering enabled them to be the first to conquer Yosemite's legendary big walls. Illustrated with spectacular footage, both old and new, shot on these granite walls, the story is told by the climbers whose artistry and relentless determination helped launch a sport now enjoyed by millions around the world, including David Brower, Warren Harding, Royal Robbins, Yvon Chouinard, Tom Frost, Jim Bridwell, Lynn Hill, Hans Florine, Dean Potter, and many others. Their epic feats range from the first ascent of El Capitan, which took 45 days over a year and a half, to today's speed climbers who complete the same route in under three hours.

Vertical Frontier

2002Movie
No image

As awareness grows about the consequences of environmental disregard, the sustainability movement is gathering momentum, and the institutions with the furthest reach and the highest stakes - corporations - are being asked by customers to take the lead. Those ahead of the curve already realize that there is a way for industry to permanently coexist with its environment, that fitting in to natural systems is smarter than trying to control them, and that sustainability is the most expansive profit frontier yet to be explored. One business striving for these ideals deserves recognition above the rest for its inspiring leadership: Interface Inc. led by Ray Anderson. What is most remarkable about all companies making this positive shift is not the change of mind - but the change of heart they experience as they realize that environmental stewardship is an ethical imperative for the future.

So Right So Smart

2009Movie
Final Ascent: The Legend of Hamish MacInnes

The legend of Hamish MacInnes began early. At 16 he climbed the Matterhorn. At 17 he built his first motor car – from scratch. He attempted Everest in 1953 with his friend Johnny Cunningham, and almost stole the peak before Hillary and Tenzing. As an explorer, expedition leader and engineer he achieved world fame. As inventor of the all metal ice axe, author of the International Mountain Rescue Handbook and founder of Glencoe Mountain Rescue he has been responsible for saving hundreds of lives, if not thousands. But at the age of 84, his accomplishments could not save him from being institutionalised against his will, suffering from delirium. After a spell in psychogeriatric detainment in a hospital in the Highlands of Scotland, during which he made many escape attempts – he emerged to find his memory gone. This film tells the story of his life by mirroring his greatest challenge: to recover his memories and rescue himself.

Final Ascent: The Legend of Hamish MacInnes

2019Movie
Sentinel - The West Face
10.0

1967: Two of the world's best climbers, Yvon Chouinard and Royal Robbins, tackle the west face of Sentinel Rock, an iconic 2,100-meter granite peak located in Yosemite National Park, considered one of the most difficult in the world. The film's atmosphere is immersive, driven by a sober narrative that highlights the intimate relationship between man and the wall. The technical difficulty of the route, the prolonged physical effort, and the isolation reinforce the heroic dimension of this ascent. The documentary also reveals the essential solidarity between the climbers: each progression requires rigor, inventiveness, and total trust in both the equipment and the partner. This film is considered a benchmark in the history of mountain cinema. It testifies to the pioneering spirit of the era and the evolution of climbing techniques, perfectly illustrating the transition to a more athletic and thoughtful approach to large rock faces.

Sentinel - The West Face

1967Movie