Few can have missed the last few years’ explosive rise in popularity of outdoor activities like hiking and camping. And the pandemic has only served to amplify our insatiable lust for adventure. According to one definition, an ‘adventure’ should be demanding and involve some form of risk or uncertainty. While this definition is perfectly adequate, we’d like to add that a true adventure should lead to some form of discovery, whether it be geographic or within ourselves. If the wanderlust is there, but the ideas are far from forthcoming, we can warmly recommend taking inspiration from the silver screen.

Wild

Wild tells the story of Cheryl Strayed, expertly portrayed by Reese Witherspoon, as the unexperienced adventurer takes on the USA’s 4 300 kilometre long Pacific Crest Trail. This inspirational story of overcoming obstacles both physical and psychological is based on Strayed’s autobiography Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail. Ideal inspiration for anyone thinking of embarking on a hiking or camping trip.

Kon-Tiki

The film Kon-Tiki tells the story of the legendary raft that took Thor Heyerdahl and his crew across the Pacific Ocean in 1947. Hoping to prove that South Americans made it to Polynesia by crossing the ocean, they set out on an 8,000 kilometer adventure on a balsa wood raft. Along the way, they encounter both wild sharks and devastating storms. Perhaps a somewhat radical journey to embark on in real life, but not least an adventure to be inspired by in the world of the film on a rainy autumn evening.

Everest

Everest retells the true story of a fateful day in May 1996 when two expeditions to the summit of Mount Everest are caught in a snowstorm. Having set off before sunrise in their quest to reach the top, mountaineers Scott Fisher (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Rob Hall (Jason Clarke) quickly find themselves beset by problems. Their tribulations only serve to prove that, when nature takes charge, anything can happen. Something to keep in mind for those planning a visit to more extreme environments.