COLD
Title: Cold
Running Time: 19 minutes
Director: Anson Fogel
Cinematographer: Cory Richards
Produced by: Julie Kennedy and Forge Motion Pictures
For the past 26 years 16 expeditions have tried and failed to climb one of Pakistan’s 8,000 metre peaks in mid-winter. On 2nd February 2011, Simone Moro, Denis Urubko and Cory Richards became the first. Cory is now the only American to summit any 8,000 metre peak in winter.
This film charts their arduous, traumatic and almost deadly journey up and down Gasherbrum II (the mountain also known as K4) in brutally harsh conditions. With freezing temperatures night and day (normally around minus 40°C) and limited sunshine to guide them, the climbers question their motivations for taking on the challenge. Thoughts of home may push the men forward, but those thoughts also fuel doubts and give them reason to turn back. That combined with the frozen bodies from the failed attempts of the past remind them of the magnitude of their task.
Affected by altitude sickness and getting little sleep in ice-covered sleeping bags, just to survive becomes the biggest challenge. Though they may reach the peak, the mountain will still try and reclaim the climbers during the descent – universally recognised as far more difficult than the ascent. There is little celebration or feeling of achievement, only the renewed sense of a gruelling journey ahead.
Through his lens, Cory tells the raw, honest story of pursuing a goal surrounded by death and danger. The film explores the interwoven roles of pain, mortality, doubt and community and invites the audience to look at their own lives in new ways. Though many men may have scaled many mountains, few have done it like this. This is extreme, harrowing and… cold.
Did you know?
Gasherbrum II is the 13th highest mountain in the world at a height of 8,035 metres.
The mountain was first climbed by an Austrian expedition in July 1956 – it was 19 years before a team successfully made the second ascent.
To this day, the number of ‘first’ ascents and descents of Gasherbrum II is less than 10.
Four of fourteen 8,000+ metre peaks still remain unclimbed in winter: K2 (two attempts), Nanga Parbat (nine), Gasherbrum I (one) and Broad Peak (six).
This film charts their arduous, traumatic and almost deadly journey up and down Gasherbrum II (the mountain also known as K4) in brutally harsh conditions. With freezing temperatures night and day (normally around minus 40°C) and limited sunshine to guide them, the climbers question their motivations for taking on the challenge. Thoughts of home may push the men forward, but those thoughts also fuel doubts and give them reason to turn back. That combined with the frozen bodies from the failed attempts of the past remind them of the magnitude of their task.
Affected by altitude sickness and getting little sleep in ice-covered sleeping bags, just to survive becomes the biggest challenge. Though they may reach the peak, the mountain will still try and reclaim the climbers during the descent – universally recognised as far more difficult than the ascent. There is little celebration or feeling of achievement, only the renewed sense of a gruelling journey ahead.
Through his lens, Cory tells the raw, honest story of pursuing a goal surrounded by death and danger. The film explores the interwoven roles of pain, mortality, doubt and community and invites the audience to look at their own lives in new ways. Though many men may have scaled many mountains, few have done it like this. This is extreme, harrowing and… cold.
Did you know?
Gasherbrum II is the 13th highest mountain in the world at a height of 8,035 metres.
The mountain was first climbed by an Austrian expedition in July 1956 – it was 19 years before a team successfully made the second ascent.
To this day, the number of ‘first’ ascents and descents of Gasherbrum II is less than 10.
Four of fourteen 8,000+ metre peaks still remain unclimbed in winter: K2 (two attempts), Nanga Parbat (nine), Gasherbrum I (one) and Broad Peak (six).
