Video: Tour Conrad, Jimmy, and Renan's "Tenthouse" Suite from the Mountaineering Film Meru

Yesterday I mentioned that the mountaineering film Meru is due to be released in theaters this week. Today, National Geographic brings us this fantastic clip that takes us up 20,000 feet (6096 meters) to the "Tenthouse" suite, which is of course the wall-tent that the three climbers – Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin, and Renan Ozturk – stayed in while ascending the Shark Fin on Mt. Meru. Jimmy gives viewers a quick tour of their home, which is held in place by a few ropes, over a 4000 foot (1219 meter) drop. If you've ever wondered what it is like to live on the side of a mountain for days at a time, this clip will certainly provide some insights.

The commute to the suite is a tough one, but the views are certainly spectacular.

Meru Film Opens This Week

Yesterday I shared the second trailer for the upcoming Everest film, which judging from the traffic on that post there is a great deal of interest amongst reader. But that isn't the only mountaineer movie that we'll be able to catch in theaters over the next few weeks, as Meru is also releasing to a more limited number of screens starting this week.

This documentary follows the 2008 expedition to Mount Meru by Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin, and Renan Ozturk to attempt to climb the Shark Fin, a 4000-foot (1219 meter) big wall in the Indian Himalaya. The trio of climbers faced difficult conditions, avalanches, harsh weather, and some of the most challenging pitches found anywhere on the planet on their way up the 21,000-foot (6400 meter) peak. Along the way they were pushed to their absolute limits as they gave into their obsession for reaching the summit.

For my money, Meru is the most important mountaineering film we'll see of the two new releases. It is raw and real, with the actual climbers telling the story. Everest on the other hand is a big Hollywood production that – judging from the trailer – is filled with melodramatic dialog. Don't get me wrong, the climbing scenes look well done for this type of movie, but Meru is using actual footage from the real expedition, and the scenes haven't been recreated for the purpose of telling the story.

The documentary will go into limited release starting this Friday, and will slowly make its way into other theaters in the weeks ahead. You can check to see where it will be playing in your area by clicking here. In my case, it arrives in my town on Sept. 4, two days after a depart for the South Pacific for my honeymoon. That means it may not be still playing here when I get back home, but I am eager to see it none the less.

For an idea of what Meru is all about, check out the trailer below. It does a fine job of showing us what to expect. Can't wait to see it at some point.

Video: Conrad Anker and David Lama Complete New Route in Zion National Park

25 years ago, climbing legend Conrad Anker attempted a new route in Zion National Park, and while partially successful, he was unable to complete his intended line. Recently, he returned to that iconic setting with David Lama in tow, and the two men were able to finish that ascent at long last. They called it Latent Core, and this video shows you what it is all about. Truly spectacular.

Video: Official Trailer for Meru

Back in 2008, Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin, and Renan Ozturk traveled to northern India to climb the infamous Shark Fin on Mt. Meru. That expedition turned into the challenge of their lives, as the three men faced the massive task of scaling a 1500 foot (457 meter) rock face on a 21,000 foot (6400 meter) mountain that is legendary for its degree of difficulty. The story of that climb has been made into an documentary that has been winning high praise at a number of film festivals in recent months, ahead of its release in theaters on August 14. The trailer for the film, which is simply entitled Meru, can be found below.

After watching this, I can honestly say that it is instantly on my "must-see" list. The level of intensity is so high here that even the trailer will leave you on the edge of your seat. It looks like we could have a modern mountaineering masterpiece on our hands here, and I can't wait to see the final product.

Video: Official Trailer for Meru - Climbing the Shark Fin

If you only watch one video today, make it this one. It is the official trailer for the film Meru, the film that documents the 2008 ascent of Meru Peak along the Shark's Fin that was completed by Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin, and Renan Ozturk. The trio spent days moving up the 6660 meter (21,850 ft) peak located in Himalaya of India. Their expedition has become the stuff of legends, and now the full story will be told. The trailer looks fantastic, with some images that are both incredibly beautiful and tension-inducing all at the same time. This was one of the most difficult climbs attempted, and the film will bring us all of the details directly from the men who did it themselves. I can't wait to see this.

MERU Official Trailer from Jimmy Chin on Vimeo.