Randy Leavitt

A high adventure film about Tim Macartney-Snape's incredible expedition to climb Gasherbrum IV - a 8000 metre symmetrical pyramid mountain of rock and ice on the border of Pakistan and China in the Karakoram Range of the western Himalaya. Tim was the first in the team to reach the summit, and as he says 'the climb was harder than Everest'. This was Gasherbrum IV's second complete ascent and first ascent of the northwest ridge. The mountain, first climbed in 1958 by Italians Walter Bonatti and Carlo Mauro is one of the most difficult ones in the Himalayas and has registered only a handful of ascents.

The keys to success in rock climbing are the same as in any difficult endeavor - patience, flexibility, stamina, attention to detail and mental discipline. In Upward Bound you'll see top climbers performing in spectacular settings, while explaining how they attained the pinnacle of their sport - high achievers who are inspiring examples of excellence. Adapted by Roger Seiler from the film: On the Rock by Katheryn Johnston and Iain Stobie.

An overview of the sport of gymnastic rock climbing including 5.13 routes in California, Colorado and Wyoming and interviews with John Gill and Warren Harding.