Ron Kauk
Acting
Biography
Ron Kauk, born September 23, 1957, in Redwood City, California, is an American professional climber. He is a pioneer of rock climbing and a resident of Camp 4 in Yosemite National Park. Ron Kauk's first experiences with rock climbing date back to when he was fourteen, when he hiked through Yosemite on a school backpacking trip. That same summer, he and his brother enrolled in a climbing course in Tuolumne Meadows. "In town, I climbed the school walls, did at least 100 pull-ups a day, and practically memorized the Yosemite route guidebook." During the summer of 1973, Ron spent his weekends in Yosemite and was drawn to the "Stonemasters," a group of climbers who stayed at Camp 4 in tents and old buses. After spending the entire summer of 1974 in the valley, he returned to high school but only stayed for one day, declaring he never wanted to breathe the air of a classroom again. He then moved to Camp 4 to live among climbers including Jim Bridwell, Dale Bard, and John Bachar. "It was Jim Bridwell who set the tone; he started tackling very short and very physical routes. The most important thing was to climb a route, if possible onsight, and increasingly difficult ones." By 1974, Ron was able to onsight Nabisco Wall, at the time the hardest route in the valley. In 1975, he achieved the first free ascent of Astroman and several other first ascents, such as Tales of Power, Separate Reality, and Midnight Lightning. At the age of seventeen, he battled for five days on the 1,000-meter vertical drop of El Capitan's Great Wall. Then, still on El Capitan and with Steve Sutten, he climbed the North American Wall in winter during a freezing storm. With Dale Bard, he successfully climbed Window Tears, a difficult icefall in Yosemite. In 1978, he led the Nose in a single day. That same year, Ron and Chapman went to Canada to climb Mount Kitchener and successfully ascended the north face. In 1979, Ron participated with John Roskelly and Kim Schmitz in an expedition to Uli Biaho Tower in the Karakoram. Upon his return, Ron felt he had accomplished everything he could and his motivation waned. He settled on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada and earned a living sometimes as a lumberjack, sometimes as a miner, occasionally climbing in Tuolumne. In 1986, Ron Kauk won a bouldering competition in the USA, and Yvon Chouinard offered him a ticket to come to France to participate in a competition. "During these competitions, I rediscovered the spirit of the 70s: the European climbers piqued my curiosity and motivated me." For several years, Ron successfully participated in numerous international competitions. Then, in 1993, difficult routes attracted him again. "I've always been open to evolution in the sport. I also believed that Spits bindings could give new impetus to the rather stagnant climbing scene in Yosemite and revive free climbing." The purists refused to even consider it, until Ron established Crossroads in 1993, considered at the time to be a revolutionary route. Thanks to systematic training, on his thirty-seventh birthday, Ron became the first American to climb an 8c route, Burn For You.
Known For
A year after losing his friend in a tragic 4,000-foot fall, former ranger Gabe Walker and his partner, Hal, are called to return to the same peak to rescue a group of stranded climbers, only to learn the climbers are actually thieving hijackers who are looking for boxes full of money.
Cliffhanger
In the shady campgrounds of Yosemite valley, climbers carved out a counterculture lifestyle of dumpster-diving and wild parties that clashed with the conservative values of the National Park Service. And up on the walls, generation after generation has pushed the limits of climbing, vying amongst each other for supremacy on Yosemite's cliffs. "Valley Uprising" is the riveting, unforgettable tale of this bold rock climbing tradition in Yosemite National Park: half a century of struggle against the laws of gravity -- and the laws of the land.
Valley Uprising
THE SEARCH FOR FREEDOM is the story of a cultural revolution fueled by the human desire to live in the moment and do what makes you feel the most alive. We discover how an electrifying new world came about through pure energy and imagination and the infinite possibilities of self-expression available to anyone willing to drop in. This documentary, written and directed by Jon Long (IMAX® Extreme), is a visceral, visual experience told through the eyes some of the brightest pioneers, legends, visionaries and champions of surfing, snowboarding, skiing, skateboarding, mountain biking and more.
The Search for Freedom
Lonnie Kauk’s personal journey to honor his indigenous Yosemite roots, and to connect with his legendary father by repeating his iconic climbs.
Deep Roots
Masters of stone I is a documentary about rock climbing that takes place in City Of Rocks and American Fork Canyon. It was directed by Eric Perlman in 1991 and produced by Perlman Productions. It is a part of the series Masters of stone (1/6). It features Ron Kauk, Tony Yaniro, Dan Osman, John Bachar, Todd Skinner, Boone Speed and others.
Masters of Stone 1
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
Jim Bridwell was one of the best climbers in the world in the 70s, 80s. The documentary chronicles Bridwell's career from those early days to his final ascents in 2001. The film traces Jim Bridwell's journey through numerous interviews with other legendary free climbing personalities such as Leo Houlding and Ron Kauk. See him climb some of Yosemite's historic routes with today's young climbers paying homage to this true legend of free climbing. In an unpublished document from 1981, he is seen in one of his famous Zodiac ascents in El Capitan with and Fred East.
Jim Bridwell, The Yosemite Living Legend
DAN OSMAN Speed Free-Solo / Major Air RON KAUK5.14b Yosemite and Tuolumne CA CHRIS SHARMA5.13d Mickey's Beach and Pinnacles CA ALEX HUBER 5.14d Siurana SPAIN JOHN BACHAR 5.12 Solo Red Rocks NV KATIE BROWN5.13+ Red River Gorge KY JB TRIBOUT AND BOBBI BENSMAN: Rifle CO
Masters of Stone IV - Pure Force
Dosage III has it all: Top climbers, exotic locations, historic first ascents, and a variety of styles (bouldering, sport climbing, trad climbing, and deep water soloing).
Dosage III
Climber Patrick Edlinger visits various climbing areas in the American West, including Joshua Tree (routes and bouldering), Yosemite (bouldering), Hueco Tanks (bouldering), and Smith Rock (routes). He is seen climbing alongside Russ Clune, Ron Kauk, Jean-Paul Lemercier, and Todd Skinner in numerous sequences accompanied by Native American-inspired music composed by Benoît Fromanger. Less well-known than his two previous films, "La Vie au bout des doigts" and "Opéra Vertical," it remains a benchmark for all climbing enthusiasts and admirers of Edlinger, the world's most famous climber. His familiar voice provides narration throughout many sequences with iconic phrases that encapsulate the man, such as: "Climbing, this useless thing to which I dedicate my life."
Arrowhead
Experience Yosemite's incredible wonders with breathtaking cinematography, including such icons as the granite monoliths El Capitan and Half Dome, and the spectacular Bridal Veil and Yosemite Falls. Learn about Yosemite's fascinating history as the first land set aside for preservation that inspired John Muir and photographer Ansel Adams and discover why Yosemite is one of America's Crown Jewels.
Yosemite: America's Treasure
Two climbers, a photographer and an eagle in the western setting of Monument Valley, USA. The climbers, who are experts, reveal the secrets of their acrobatic skill. The photographer is the spectator who often involuntarily creates comical situations.
Totem
This is a gorgeous ode about rock climbing and time passing, with John Gill, the spiritual genius, at its center. Remarkable voices emerge to paint the picture of the great master boulderer, John Gill. Individuals who have been part of it all, such as Ron Kauk, Rich Goldstone, Tom Higgins, Royal Robbins, John Sherman, and filmmaker Pat Ament himself. New footage uncovered of Gill enriches these images, and his voice too comes alive with detailed analysis of some of his iconic climbs. As deep and touching as the first film, 'The disciples of Gill', this second incarnation continues but stands alone as well, as a work of art itself.
John Gill Across Time
Masters of Stone I & II feature 2 hours of climbing action in renowned locations including Yosemite, The Needles, Smith Rock, American Fork, Owens River, City Of Rocks, Donner Summit, Wild Iris, Red Rocks, Mt. Charleston and more. This is classic "old school" climbing at its best.
Masters of Stone II - Hard Rock
Masters of stone III - Third stone from the sun is a documentary about rock climbing that takes place in Montagne De Céüse and Verdon Gorge. It was directed by Eric Perlman in 1994 and produced by Perlman/Hatchett. It is a part of the series Masters of stone (3/6) .Non-stop climbing action from the top edge of the sport. America's toughest boulder problems at Hueco Tanks and Yosemite. 5.14C redpoints at the hottest climbing cliffs in southern France. Zone 3 soloing. Women's climbing. Mega free-climbing. Training tips from the best. Freeway climbing. Bandaloop cliff dancing. Live body rope testing with 100+ foot falls.
Masters of Stone III
A breathtaking look at The French Spiderman, Alain Robert, a lone climber who scales tall buildings, bridges and cliffs all over the world. His physical training and climbing technique allows him to climb using window sills and frames. From its height of 180 meters, the Citigroup Center in Chicago will be the first of a long series of more than 170 buildings that Alain Robert will climb.