Last Thoughts On The Dirtbag

Words by: Luke Mehall
Director: Greg Cairns
Mehall is the author of five books, including The Desert, a dirtbag climbing book. He is also the publisher of The Climbing Zine.
You can score one of his books and/or zines here:
squareup.com/store/the-climbi...
Greg Cairns of Cairns Film is a filmmaker, storyteller, and river guide. Check out more of his material here:
www.cairnsfilm.com/
Two years ago I pitched an idea about a film I really had nothing more than a spark of an idea for to Greg Cairns. I’d seen Cedar Wright and James Lucas’s “The Last Dirtbag” and felt compelled to offer something of my own to this conversation about dirtbags and whether or not any real ones exist anymore.
Of course the question is bullshit, people still live in the dirt, out of bags, we have just entered a new era, one where technology can take away a lot of the mystery of climbing, and it is getting harder and harder to make extended stays on public land.
In the end the question did not matter. What mattered was how I felt about my time as a dirtbag. I ended up structuring the piece I wrote to go with the film similarly to how Bob Dylan structured “Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie“. Climbing and the characters I’ve met along the way mean everything.
In the end I don’t care about the word dirtbag, it’s just a word. And our film, it’s just a film, but we labored over it in love, and I have a lot of love for our community. And I wrote this piece from the heart, and as a writer that is all I can aim for. I hope you enjoy it, as much as we enjoyed making it.
-Luke Mehall

[@lukemehall6896]

Thanks Greg for your awesome work on this!

[@wkealy1302]

They mentioned Devil's lake, which is my home crag!

[@Bigum99]

Dirtbag Lives!

[@theclimbingzine]

Visit here to subscribe to The Zine/ pick up a book by Mehall: the-climbing-zine.myshopify.com/

[@jomoland]

James Lucas still out there?

[@tdawg713]

I lasted until 2:10 - I think that's pretty good.

[@5jjt]

Christ in you, the Hope of Glory. That's what it's all about. He's more than just an experience; He's a living Person. Flesh mingled with Divinity, and you are supposed to be too. I honestly mean it.
I sought Christ in 2006 after I had a run-in with an angel, and went to my mother's church to find out more. It's not a boring church with no flow where everyone sits and listens to a clergy member. Each saint, or member, is involved and is like a clergy member.
Keep a genuine prayer in your heart that He would fill you up with Himself, and ask Him to get you to the right people who can Shepard you accordingly.
Good job on the video, btw. I enjoyed it.

[@slumdogpreacher6964]

Having climbed a fair number of mountains in the Pacific Northwest, much backpacking and 100 day ski seasons; I found that elixir itself is but a small taste of the Creator that even inspired appreciation of the grandeur of it all. That thirst quenching and ongoing Water of Life continues on in the Living, Daily fellowship with the very one who first caused me to seek. This God revealed Himself most fully in the very humanity and loving sacrifice of Jesus the Messiah; and He is drawing you to Himself, as He did for me. Don't fight Him; seek Him willfully and His very presence will embrace you!

[@skipgaynard4045]

Nice try. You need to read more before posting dribble.

[@billr5842]

If everyone pursued this lifestyle like these clowns, society would fall apart. The only reason these people can pursue this lifestyle is because of everyone else working 9-5

[@averagejoegrows]

makes no sense but okay dipshit

[@gregmiller7484]

Woke