Boone, North Carolina. A magical place, where there’s plenty of hard bouldering, some well known, some the word-of-mouth “locals only” sorts. In 1996, Climbing Magazine put out an article about this well kept secret (for some reason, I have a copy) and a fire was lit. “Witness This” (Trailer) opens with Dean Melton, and the unmistakable voice\humor of Jim Horton, bantering about the publication – surely there was an influx of crushers coming to the now ‘World Famous’ Boone boulders, and the locals better step up and pick the plums before someone else swoops them.

“Witness This” is the quintessential early ’00s climbing film, sponsored by the names you’d expect (Pusher, ClimbXmedia, etc). Think of it as a local’s version of Rampage or Frequent Flies, shot on VHS during the late 90s. Electronic and K.R.S. soundtrack, “minimal” pads by todays standards, opening montage, and Jason Kehl screaming move-by-move through a send. Because of the era and it being the locals crew of the early 90s, the mostly V-single-digit sends might not seem impressive by today’s standards – every gym has some kid that climbs V10. However, for mortals like me who have tried to send hard in Boone – it’s serious stuff. In fact, THE hardest V5 in the world is in Boone, and is captured in this film.

Standout moments in this film include:

• A little bit of overlap with the aforementioned Frequent Flyers, capturing the locals trying hard on multiple sessions trying to send a new line before their fears are realized and travelling crusher Obe Carrion swoops the FA with Lisa Rands and Boone Speed looking on.
• THE James Litz is seen casually flashing V9 and later, with just 3 sentences, giving the longest video interview I’ve ever seen out of him.
• The evolution in the local scene – both in the highs of showing the dedication ceremony for Grandmother Mountain, cringeworthy local news coverage of this newfangled bouldering thing, and the lows of bouldering no longer with us after being bulldozed for access roads. While that, and countless driving shots ala Rampage, would usually be frustrating filler in a film that’s shy of an hour, it still packs in 40ish sends by a dozen and a half people.

Verdict: Watch It. I get it, a lot of this is nostalgia speaking, and my personal admiration for the people and the boulders of Boone, but this has the charm of a ‘low budget’ local film, and then hits you out of nowhere with well constructed zoom-out shots, thoughtful cuts\angles, and banging music that even high-production value films don’t get right.

The Who: Kirk Brittain, Obe Carrion, Jason Kehl, Matt Childers, Jim Horton, Sean Peppin, Jon Lane, James Litz, Joe Crocker, Joan Padden, Chad Oliver, Ashley Overton, Chad Safferstone, Lisa Semple, Robert Semple, Kurt Smith, Chris Van Luven.

The What:
Roadside Arete
Cigarette
Elephant Grade Peanuts
Colt 45
Ominous Roof
The Horn
Roof of Death
Lowboy
Thresh Weasel
Preferential Treatment (FA)
Center 45
Desperate Bitch
Tendon Sandwich
Mushroom Traverse
Raw Meat (FA)
Ebonics
R.I.P. Arete (Destroyed)
The Erection (Destroyed)
S.L.O.R.B.
Commando Crack
Have Guns Will Travel
Left El Peppin
Defoliator
Got Milk
Mighty Mouse
Shinister
Grope the Pope
Haptos
Hod Rod
Stumpy
Nintendo Thumb
S.L.O.R.A (FA)
Flagyl
Patio Arete
Aquafresh
Beasley’s Face
Witness This (Roll Credits….)
Two Pop