Rab Climbing Film El Valle del Silencio Set For World Debut at Boulder International Film Festival

February 20, 2024

Chilean Climber and Rab Athlete Felipe Tapia Nordenflycht, Blind Adventurer Erik Weihenmayer Tackle Patagonia’s Torre Norte

Louisville, CO /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – Rab and Lowe Alpine, industry leaders in merging the development of quality outdoor gear and apparel with sustainability and environmental awareness, announced today that the company’s new film, El Valle del Silencio, will make its world debut at the 2024 Boulder International Film Festival Feb. 29 – March 3.

El Valle del Silencio chronicles the friendship and unforgettable journey of Rab athlete Felipe Tapia Nordenflycht and blind adventurer Erik Weihenmayer, who met years ago in Wyoming and eventually began training together to make Weihenmayer the first blind person to stand atop the Torre Norte, a remote tower in Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park.

Watch the trailer for the new RAB film El Valle del Silencio here. Passes for the Boulder International Film Festival are now available for purchase here. The film’s world premiere will be followed by an exclusive Q&A session with Tapia Nordenflycht and Weihenmayer.

A celebrated athlete, adventurer, author and motivational speaker, Weihenmayer became the first blind person to reach the summit of Mount Everest in May 2001. He also completed the Seven Summits in 2002 and added the Carstensz Pyramid in 2008, and he has also climbed up the Nose of El Capitan in Yosemite in 1996.

“When Erik and I teamed up with Rab for a trip to Chile, I knew the climb had to be something meaningful and epic,” said Tapia Nordenflycht, who is originally from Chile and is an accomplished climber and action adventure photographer now based in Colorado. “Watching Erik trust every single step to reach a summit is something I still learn from. The way that he moves on the rocks is so natural.”

“Erik is constantly scanning and memorizing every inch of the rock with his hands and feet while looking for the next hold, which requires a lot of power and energy. I’ve seen a lot of people with dropped jaws watching Erik climb in climbing gyms or at the crags.”

Although the duo had already spent years together conquering in the Rocky Mountains, the adventure in El Valle del Silencio marks a giant step forward for Tapia Nordenflycht and Weihenmayer. Renowned for its wild weather, long approaches, and unforgiving terrain, climbing in Patagonia is a challenge for even the most accomplished adventurers, and the toll taken on both men is obvious as they strive to reach the summit of Torre Norte.

“I have heard countless horror stories of folks heading to Patagonia to climb, only to be tent bound for weeks at a time, only seeing brief glimpses of climbable weather,” Weihenmayer said. “I knew, as always, that I would need a Grade A team to have a chance at success in this fabled region. But when you show up with good intentions and an open heart, sometimes the mountains smile upon you and gift you with the happy ending.”

El Valle del Silencio is dedicated to the memory of Juan Señoret.

About Equip Outdoor Technologies Ltd.

Equip Outdoor Technologies UK Ltd is an international business with the head office based in Derbyshire, UK. We are proud to own both the Rab and Lowe Alpine brands. We design exceptional products to meet the needs of our active customers. We encourage our teams to thrive and be part of our success. Our passion for the outdoors and adventurous spirit sets the foundation for what we do. We are proud to be a certified Climate Neutral Company and a Fair Wear Member since 2020. www.equipuk.com.