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Browse annual editions

Selections from the annual Top Ten lists, including their special mentions.

Annapurna III – Unclimbed

Top 10 Climbing Videos : 2017

The highly skilled team of David Lama, Hansjörg Auer & Alex Blümel endeavour up the south-east ridge of Annapurna III (7,555m)

Producers: David Lama, Florian Klingler, Robert Trenkwalder

Director: Jochen Schmoll

Camera: Menk Rufibach, Martin Hanslmayr

Edit/Colouring: Christoph Gripentrog

Sound: Jankowski Soundfabrik

12:22m

Prinzip Hoffnung

Top 10 Climbing Videos : 2016

Between the precarious footwork, tiny trad protection, and a wild street party below, there was a lot to test Barbara Zengerl's mental strength and concentration as she attempted to become the first woman to climb Prinzip Hoffnung. The name of the climb translates to “The Principle of Hope”, but in Zangerl's estimation "hope is not enough. In the end it comes down to gaining the self confidence, and the belief that you can do it."

Producer: Alpsolut Moving Pictures

Climber: Barbara Zangerl

Route: Prinzip Hoffnung (5.14a / 8b+) - Vorarlberg, Austria

Length: 5:47m

Practice of the Wild

Top 10 Climbing Videos : 2016

This look at Dave McLeod working Chris Sharma's hardest boulder problem is everything a project video should be. McLeod's calm and soft spoken narration are a great contrast to the effort he put into the send. It's inspiring to know, after twenty-two years of climbing, the potential to surprise oneself can remain.

Producer: Dark Sky Media/Chris Prescott

Climbers: Dave MacLeod

Boulder: Practice of the Wild (8C / v15) - Magic Wood, Switzerland

Length: 4:44m

Bakers Dozen

Top 10 Climbing Videos : 2016

With most sport climbing footage being taken from one angle, and usually from the ground, it's not often we get so see the finer details of a climb. This video, on the other hand, expertly stitches together a variety of camera angles to provide us with a top quality look at what it takes for Tom O'Halloran to climb his newest project.

Producer: Adventure Types

Camera & Editing: Simon Madden / @VerticalLifeMag & Kamil Sustaik

Sound: Jimmy Allen

Climbers: Tom O'Halloran

Route: Baker's Dozen (35 / 9a / 5.14d) - The Pit, Blue Mountains, Australia

Length: 5:53m

Mirror Wall

Top 10 Climbing Videos : 2016

A superb film that follows Leo Houlding and team up a massive unclimbed wall in Greenland. Throughout their ascent great attention was given to capturing the small details and emotions of big-wall life. The end product is a film which notably succeeds in yanking the viewer along for a bold mission into unknown terrain.

Producers: Adrian Samarra/Coldhouse Collective & Leo Houlding

Director & Expedition Filming: Matt Pycroft/Coldhouse Collective

Editing: Matt Pycroft & Ryan Goff

Sound Design: Chris Prescott

Climbers: Leo Houlding, Waldo Etherington, Matt Pickles, Joe Möhle

Route: Mirror Wall Northwest Face (25 pitches, 7b+/5.12c, A3, 1200m/4000ft) - Greenland

Making-of Commentary with Leo Houlding

Length: 39:02m

Orbayu

Top 10 Climbing Videos : 2016

There was a lot working against Nina Caprez and Cédric Lachat as they attempted to climb Orbayu. There was the climbs namesake, a fog that would settle suddenly over the climb, leaving it dripping and obscured. There was the climb itself with it's crimpy 8c crux and intimidating exposure. But, for Nina especially, possibly the most difficult aspect to overcome was her own mental state.

Directors: Mathieu Rivoire & Julien Nadiras

Climbers: Nina Caprez& Cédric Lachat

Photography: Julien Nadiras, Diego Defila & Sam Bié

Route: Orbayu (8c / 5.14b 500m) - Picu Urriellu, Spain

Length: 26:55m

High Spirits in Nepal

Top 10 Climbing Videos : 2016

Recently, the unclimbed Himalayan mountain Lunag Ri opened for climbing permits which caught the attention of alpinist David Lama. To realize his dream, he was joined by the legendary Conrad Anker to travel to Nepal and embark on what has proven to be nothing short of a monstrous challenge. This video documents their first attempt to climb the mountain.

As a dramatic continuation, the following year Lama and Anker returned for a second round of struggle on the same high granite ridge. Watch the video and read the story of their harrowing struggle on their second attempt.

Producer: Servus TV

Camera: Martin Hanslmayr, Menk Rufibach, David Lama, Conrad Anker

Editing: Florian Klingler & Bernhard Stern

Climbers: David Lama, Conrad Anker

Mountain: Lunag Ri (6907m / 22660ft) - Nepal

Length: 9:15m

Battle Cat

Top 10 Climbing Videos : 2016

Lena Herrmann is a driven climber, both competitively and outdoors, a trait that was instilled by her father, whose presence she still feels when she's projecting a hard route. In this video she makes history, becoming the first german woman to send 8c+, but in the final frames it becomes clear how much more personal this accomplishment was.

Producer: Florian Pusch / Alexej Funke / Stephan Vogt / Cinecircle

Climbers: Lena Herrmann

Route: Battle Cat (8c+ / 5.14c) - Frankenjura, Germany

Length: 13:30m

Le Bronx

Top 10 Climbing Videos : 2016

As you might imagine, we watch a lot of climbing videos. And while many are great, many are also formulaic. This quirky gem from James Pearson is anything but that. Follow James through the trials and tribulations of doing whatever it takes to climb La Bronx, including finding a guru and eating all the cheese.

Producer & Writer: James Pearson

Cinematography: Pietro Porro, Francisco Taranto Jr

Climber: James Pearson

Route: Le Bronx (8c+ / 5.14c) - Orgon Canal, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France

Length: 12:13m

Colins First Climb

Top 10 Climbing Videos : 2016 · Special Mentions

Compared to most of our top ten picks, this video doesn't mark a momentous achievement in the sport, or feature an elite climber pushing their limits. But this very personal story of Colin Goodey returning to the place where he did his first climb, knowing it might be his last, reminds us why making the time to do the things we love really matters.

Producer: Bryn Williams

Filmed, edited and directed: Rob Johnson - Filmuphigh

Time-lapse: Kris Williams

Climbers: Colin & Sue Goodey with Bryn Williams

Location:Tryfan Bach, Snowdonia, North Wales, UK

Length: 5:21m

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